President Reagan, having suffered from Alzheimer's disease, brought about an important dialogue on how to cope with this progressive brain disorder. While it gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations.
While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's, every day new treatments are discovered as a result of the current research into the biology of the disease. Studies have also shown that effective care and support can improve the quality of life for individuals and their caregivers over the course of the disease from diagnosis to the end of life.
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. Vascular dementia, another common form, results from reduced blood flow to the brain's nerve cells. In some cases, Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia can occur together in a condition called mixed dementia.
Alzheimer's disease advances at widely different rates. The duration of the illness may often vary from three to twenty years. The areas of the brain that control memory and thinking skills are affected first, but as the disease progresses, cells die in other regions of the brain. Eventually, the person with Alzheimer's will need complete care. If the individual has no other serious illness, the loss of brain function itself will cause death.
The early stage of Alzheimer's disease occurs when problems with memory, thinking and concentration may begin to appear in a doctor's interview or medical tests. Individuals in the early stage typically need minimal assistance with simple daily routines. At the time of a diagnosis, an individual is not necessarily in the early stage of the disease; he or she may have progressed beyond the early stage.
Early onset refers to Alzheimer's disease that occurs in a person under age 65. Early onset individuals may be employed or have children still living at home. People who have early onset dementia may be in any stage of dementia; that is, early, middle or late.
While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's, every day new treatments are discovered as a result of the current research into the biology of the disease. Studies have also shown that effective care and support can improve the quality of life for individuals and their caregivers over the course of the disease from diagnosis to the end of life.
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. Vascular dementia, another common form, results from reduced blood flow to the brain's nerve cells. In some cases, Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia can occur together in a condition called mixed dementia.
Alzheimer's disease advances at widely different rates. The duration of the illness may often vary from three to twenty years. The areas of the brain that control memory and thinking skills are affected first, but as the disease progresses, cells die in other regions of the brain. Eventually, the person with Alzheimer's will need complete care. If the individual has no other serious illness, the loss of brain function itself will cause death.
The early stage of Alzheimer's disease occurs when problems with memory, thinking and concentration may begin to appear in a doctor's interview or medical tests. Individuals in the early stage typically need minimal assistance with simple daily routines. At the time of a diagnosis, an individual is not necessarily in the early stage of the disease; he or she may have progressed beyond the early stage.
Early onset refers to Alzheimer's disease that occurs in a person under age 65. Early onset individuals may be employed or have children still living at home. People who have early onset dementia may be in any stage of dementia; that is, early, middle or late.
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