September is World Alzheimer’s Month, so I
thought I’d write a little bit over the next 2 weeks about what Alzheimer's disease is, how we might be able to treat it, Alzheimer's disease as a disability, how we can care for people with Alzheimer's disease, and what hope there is for the future.
What is
Alzheimer’s disease?
The
NHS outlines what Alzheimer's disease is on this page, but here are some key points.
Alzheimer’s
disease is the most common type of dementia in the UK.
Dementia
is a syndrome, a group of related symptoms, associated with an ongoing decline
of brain functioning.
Alzheimer’s
disease is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms develop gradually
over many years, and eventually become more severe. It affects multiple brain
functions.
The
first sign of Alzheimer’s disease is usually minor memory problems but, as the
condition develops, memory problems become more severe and further symptoms can
develop, such as:
- Confusion
and disorientation
- Difficulty
planning or making decisions
- Problems
with speech and language
- Problems
moving around without assistance
- Personality
changes
- Hallucinations
and delusions
- Low
mood or anxiety
How common is
Alzheimer’s disease?
The Alzheimer's
Society state
that more than 520,000 people in the UK have dementia caused by Alzheimer’s
disease, and that this figure is set to rise.
The NHS say that
Alzheimer’s disease is most common in people over the age of 65, affecting an
estimated 1 in 14 people over the age of 65, and 1 in every 6 people over the
age of 80.
Around
1 in every 20 cases of Alzheimer’s disease affects people aged 40 to 65. This
is called early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Can I prevent
Alzheimer’s disease?
The
following information has been taken from these pages on the NHS and Alzheimer's Society websites.
The
exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not yet fully understood, although a
number of things are thought to increase your risk of developing the condition:
- Ageing
- A
family history of the condition
- Untreated
depression
- Lifestyle
factors and conditions associated with heart disease
- Gender-
there are about twice as many women as men over 65 with Alzheimer’s
disease
Therefore,
there are a few things you can do that may reduce your risk, or delay the
onset, of Alzheimer's disease, such as:
- Stopping
smoking
- Cutting
down on alcohol
- Eating
a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy weight
- Staying
physically fit and mentally active
What is the
treatment for Alzheimer’s disease?
The NHS and Alzheimer's Society say that there’s
currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but medicines are available that can
help relieve some of the symptoms. For example, they can help with memory
problems, improve concentration, and increase motivation.
Various
other types of support are also available to help people with Alzheimer’s
disease live as independently as possible. Social services can get involved to help the individual with their daily tasks, and might encourage carers to make adjustments to the home
environment so that it’s easier for the person with Alzheimer's disease to move around and remember daily tasks.
Psychological
treatments such as cognitive stimulation therapy may also be offered to help
support memory, problem solving skills, and language ability.
Furthermore,
it is important for people’s with Alzheimer’s disease to stay as mentally,
physically, and socially active as possible.
Do you have any ideas for activities that could help someone with Alzheimer's disease to keep physically, mentally, or socially active?
Do you have any experiences with Alzheimer's disease that you'd feel comfortable sharing?
I've already got some ideas on what I'm going to post, but is there anything else on Alzheimer's disease you'd like me to cover in the coming weeks?
Read next:
Is Alzheimer's Disease a Disability?,
How can we care for people with Alzheimer's?, and
Is there hope for the future?
