| ALZHEIMERS |
| Alzhiemers/Dementia disease is an illness of the brain. It causes the brain to lose nerve cells, leading to problems with Memory,Thinking,Feeling, and Everyday Living. As many as 4 million people in this country may have Alzheimers disease. It sometimes affects people between the ages of 65 and 69 or even younger, but it is more likely to affect people over the age of 80. Because people are living longer than in the past, more and more American's are becoming affected by the disease. The exact cause of Alzheimers disease is not yet known. No one is sure why some people get it and others do not. The medical community believes that people whose family members have had Alzheimers disease may be more likely to develope it too. Scientists believe that the brain chemical called acetycholine (ah-see-ti-ko-leen) helps memory work. They also suspect that not having enough of this chemical plays a role in Alzheimers disease. Although it is not yet known how to prevent Alzheimers disease, It's symptoms can be treated. That is why it is important to learn as much as possible about Alzheimers disease. Knowing and recognizing the early symptoms can give you time to make medical,finacial,and legal plans for the future. There is no cure for Alzheimers disease today. But medicines, education, support groups, and community out reach programs are bringing new hope for living with Alzheimers disease. |
| SYMPTOMS OF ALZHEIMERS: What happens to you when you have Alzheimers disease.? Alzheimers disease can affect you in many ways, It can affect the way you think and how you act. It can affect your mood and even how you talk and move. Usually the first symptom is memory loss. Many people mistake early symptoms of Alzheimers disease especialy memory loss as a normal part of aging and therefore do not seek help. Below are some other common symptoms of Alzheimers disease. * Forgetting how to do everyday things at home and at work. * Problems naming common objects such as a watch or pencil. * Getting lost easily, even in familiar places. * Trouble solving everyday problems * Losing things alot, such as keys * Changes in mood and personality. * Unusual Behavior * Loss of intrest or not wanting to do anything. The symptoms are not the same in each person. Over time, often over the course of 8 to 10 years. people with Alzheimers disease move through diffrent stages of the disease. in which memory loss, judgement and reasoning get worse. |
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| STAGES OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE >Stage 1. No impairment >Stage 2. Very mild decline > Stage 3. Mild decline > Stage 4. Moderate decline (mild or early stage AD) > Stage 5. Moderately severe decline ( moderate or mid-stage AD) > Stage 6. Severe decline (moderately severe or mid-stage AD) >Stage 7. Very severe decline (severe or late stage AD) |
| Experts have documented common patterns of symptom progression that occur in many individuals with Alzheimer's disease and developed several methods of "staging" based on these patterns. Progression of symptoms corresponds in a general way to the underlying nerve cell degeneration that takes place in Alzheimer's disease. Nerve cell damage typically begins with cells involved in learning and memory and gradually spreads to cells that control every aspect of thinking, judgment, and behavior. The damage eventually affects cells that control and coordinate movement. Staging systems provide useful frames of reference for understanding how the disease may unfold and for making future plans. But it is important to note that all stages are artificial benchmarks in a continuous process that can vary greatly from one person to another. Not everyone will expirience every symptom and symptoms may occur at diffrent times in diffrent individuals. People with Alzheimer's live an average of 8 years after diagnosis. but may servive anywhere from 3 to 20 years. |
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