Alzheimer’s:
Symptoms, Care, and Treatment
Growing old is a part of life. For some the ideal is to grow old with their families around them, enjoy grandchildren, and generally enjoy their golden years. For those that suffer from the disease known as Alzheimer’s however, it is a time of great uncertainty.
Alzheimer’s Disease is seen to affect older individuals and is known as an “old person” disease. It has been seen, only rarely, to have an early onset within a span of age 30 to 60. When this occurs it is very likely that the afflicted individual shares the necessary trait with a family member. Only about 5 percent though are reported to have early onset Alzheimer’s. The belief that it is an age-related disease is due largely in part to various research and extensive studies that have seen something of a relationship between the aging process in the brain and the harm that is done to neurons during this time. The age-related changes show such marked differences as atrophy within parts of the brain, inflammation of other parts, and the production of free radicals that can cause a breakdown of energy production within a person’s cells. (Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet, 2014)
There is a definite mystery as to why Alzheimer’s affects older individuals, but studies have shown that it is attributed to the reasons stated above. Lifestyle is an important factor, as it has been reported that 66 percent of the elderly that do have Alzheimer’s are in poor physical condition due to poor life decisions or other matters. (National Academy on an Aging Society, 2014) There is no precursor to indicate that poor health is the only cause of Alzheimer’s, but the indicators that this is a well-documented relationship between the two are hard to ignore.
It is very difficult to know exactly what can be expected to happen within the normal aging process, and judging where the norms stop and where pathological neuro-degeneration begins is more difficult. With Alzheimer’s Disease it is very difficult to pinpoint any age-related changes from the effects of an undetected disease. Research performed on changes of the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus and the effects of natural aging upon both leads to speculation on the borders that lie between normal aging and AD (Alzheimer’s Disease). It can be argued that prominent cortical reductions are evident in front temporal regions in the elderly even with the lower probabilities of AD, which would include any regions that experience overlap along the default mode network. These regions are important as they show high levels of amyloid deposition in AD and are structurally and functionally vulnerable in the early onset of the disease.
Aging is the major risk factor for unexpected and sporadic AD, thus the changes might be a part of normal aging, and might indicate why the aging brain is so much more susceptible to AD than a younger mind. It is suggested that regions of the brain that normally display a high degree of life-long plasticity will become more vulnerable to any detrimental effects brought on by normal aging. Also the age-vulnerability renders them far more susceptible to additional AD-related changes. It is extremely difficult to understand AD without being able to understand why the disease affects older brains rather than younger. (Fjell, McEvoy, Holland, Dale, Walhovd 2014)
AD shows its effects in many ways, as will be listed here. (Genden, 2011)
Amnesia is the loss of memory that could be something as innocent as turning off the stove to an event as frightening as getting lost on the way home. Short-term memory is normally affected first, so long-term memories might remain, but what was done only moments before might be lost.
Agnosia is an effect of AD in which recognition is greatly diminished. Agnosia deals with an individual’s inability to identify everyday things using one’s senses. Many unrecognized symptoms of agnosia are common and can be dangerous as they can allow individuals the inability to feel pain or to understand the pressing need to perform even as mundane an act as making their way to the restroom.
Aphasia is what affects the area of the brain that controls communication, creating a sort of language barrier in the understanding and expression of spoken words. In terms of being expressive this stage of the disease makes it difficult to communicate with others due in large part to the loss of the ability to write, speak, or even recall words. The receptive portion of this malady makes it impossible for the afflicted individual to understand anything that another person says.
Apraxia is the inability to remember one’s simple motor activities. An individual can lose the knowledge of how to do such simple tasks as brush their teeth or even dress themselves. It can get so bad that almost every last motor activity acquired from birth to old age is slowly forgotten, which would include such simple functions as chewing, walking, and swallowing as well.
AD also has noticeable effects when it comes to an individual’s normal behavior. Those individuals that do suffer through AD are noticed to exhibit drastic changes in personality and even become difficult to deal with, generally becoming irritable and easily frustrated. This can often lead to depression that will only make the condition worse as it evokes a feeling of helplessness that many people cannot abide. Unfortunately depression has no clear and concise warning signs and will come when it comes. This depression can come at any stage and create an emotional distance from the individual and those who care about them.
Those who have been through the grief and suffering of knowing or caring for those with AD know the effects that it has upon the minds and attitudes of those afflicted, and know that at some point and time the only balm for this disease is to occupy the individual as much as possible. Caregivers that watch over such individuals are normally carefully selected to insure that their temperament is sound enough that they will not grow angry or frustrated with residents that display any of the symptoms listed above.
There is really no worse aspect of AD than the effect it has upon the afflicted. The effect it has upon their families, significant others, and even friends is no less painful. People who must watch their loved ones slowly forget who they are, who can no longer recognize their families and friends, and ponder over whether they will go through the same are just as much the victims of AD as anyone. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the worst and most emotion-invoking maladies to befall the elderly, and it is one for which there is currently no viable cure.
Healthy living, taking care of one’s body and even to some extent keeping the mind fresh and active might be ways to stave off the disease for a time, but they are not absolute. Some have found ways to cope, to get along in order to simply retain some pride and dignity, while others find it simply too difficult and will virtually abandon their afflicted relative(s) in a nursing home where they will often receive minimal care and even less attention.
This is a dim view of nursing homes, but it is accurate in some cases. The average nursing home relies heavily on the resident or whoever is paying for their care, as Medicare will only cover a portion of their stay and services. While this doesn’t seem fair or ethical it is a matter to be taken up with the facility within which the individual is to be placed.
If the cost of a nursing home is too great some individuals will turn to the option of caring for them at home. Caring for an Alzheimer’s patient is more difficult than any other type of in-home care, and requires not only a trained and certified nurse, but a great deal of patience and time, as well as funds. The latter portion will be primarily to cover any expenses the caregiver will incur after they are forced to either give up their job, career, or other activities in order to provide the needed care for the individual.
At this time there is no solution for Alzheimer’s disease, though through taking care of oneself and paying close attention to the symptoms preparations can be made to at least plan ahead in an instance when the disease takes hold. No one wants to admit that such a thing can happen, but it is better to be as prepared as possible rather than to be caught unaware.
Alzheimer’s disease is a malady that affects many people throughout the world, the majority of them elderly, and can bring many families to both emotional and financial ruin. No one wants to forget who they were or even lose the simplest motor functions that take so long to perfect. Dealing with Alzheimer’s is one of the hardest challenges any family can face, and it is still a widely studied subject.
References
Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia: A growing challenge. (2000) National Academy on an
Aging Society, Retrieved from
http://www.agingsociety.org/agingsociety/
Alzheimer’s disease Fact Sheet. (2014) Alzheimer’s disease Education and Referral Center.
National Institute on Aging, Retrieved from
http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet
Fjell, Anders M. et. al. (2014) What is normal in normal aging? Effects of
aging, amyloid and Alzheimer's disease on the cerebral cortex
and the hippocampus. Elsevier 117, p20-40. Retrieved from
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301008214000288
Genden, Jojo. (2011) What are the Effects of Alzheimer's Disease? LIVESTRONG.COM, Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/101787-effects-alzheimers-disease/
