Alzheimers And The Effect On Family

The hallmark Alzheimer's symptom is forgetfulness. Not the usual loss of keys in someone who has always lost his keys, or the forgetting a nephew's birthday, but true forgetfulness. According to the National Institute on Aging, there are seven danger symptoms of Alzheimer's. They are: Asking the same question over and over again. Repeating the same story, word for word, again and again, forgetting how to cook, or how to make repairs, or how to play cards - activities that were previously done with ease and regularity. Losing one's ability to pay bills or balance one's checkbook. Getting lost in familiar surroundings, or misplacing household objects. Neglecting to bathe, or wearing the same clothes over and over again, while insisting that they have taken a bath or that their clothes are still clean. Relying on someone else, such as a spouse, to make decisions or answer questions they previously would have handled themselves. Depending on the stage of Alzheimer's disease (mild, moderate, or severe), there are other symptoms such as personality changes, hallucinations, losing control of the bowel and bladder, and wandering away from home for no reason. (NIA Abstract, 2002)

Researchers do not yet know the cause of Alzheimer's disease. The most important risk factor appears to be age. According to the National Institute on Aging, the number of people with Alzheimer's doubles every 5 years after the age of 65. (NIA Abstract, 2002) Another risk factor or cause of Alzheimer's appears to be family history. A family form, or familial Alzheimer's disease, is a rare form of Alzheimer's that usually occurs early--between the ages of 30 and 60--and can be inherited. The more common form of Alzheimer's, which occurs later in life, does not have an obvious link to family history.

However, one risk factor for this type of Alzheimer's disease is a protein or gene called the apolipoprotein E or the apoE gene. ApoE helps carry cholesterol in the blood. The apoE gene has three forms. One seems to protect a person from Alzheimer's. One appears to be neutral and neither protects nor assists in the development of the disease. And finally, the last form appears to make a person more likely to develop Alzheimer's. Without a doubt, there are other genes that increase the risk of AD that are yet to be discovered. Weight, environment, level of education, and gender are all associated with Alzheimer's. (Alzheimer's Society, 2003)

With the exception of gender (more women have Alzheimer's than men); these factors may slow down or speed up the course of the disease, rather than contribute to the cause of Alzheimer's. Recently, a study of women in Sweden revealed that obesity in women is associated with a decrease in brain matter-whether or not this will be associated with Alzheimer's remains to be seen, but it is an example of how overall health can affect the course of the disease. In another study, researchers discovered that the more formal education a person has the better his or her memory and learning ability will be, even in the presence of Alzheimer's disease. In other words, formal education preserved memory and function, even among those persons with Alzheimer's. There are no definitive imaging or laboratory tests for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease while the patient is alive. Definitive diagnosis is made by an autopsy of the brain, which occurs after the patient's death. The autopsy will reveal brain changes that include neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques. While the patient is alive, tests can assist with diagnosis. At most Alzheimer's specialty clinics, the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is correct over 90% of the time.

Alzheimer's disease creates major stress in families. It can magnify conflicts, especially when family members have different ways of coping with caregiving responsibilities. By being honest about your feelings and working through them, you can minimize family conflicts. Then you can focus on caring for your loved one and enjoying your time together.

Alzheimer 's disease is a terminal illness because it does not get better and the individual diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease will eventually die of medical complications due to the disease process. This raises a very interesting question in research currently because it has been discussed in geriatric literature that some individuals diagnosed with the disease live for long periods of time and eventually do die from complications like heart failure, kidney failure, pneumonia, dehydration and starvation. And then on the other side of the coin we have individuals who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease who die very rapidly after the diagnosis is given. Some examples would include people who simply live up to a year or less after the diagnosis. So an interesting question in research right now is this: "Is there more than one form of Alzheimer's disease, or are we looking at actually two different illnesses?" Alzheimer's is a deficiency in neurotransmitters, which is important for the reader to understand right off the bat. Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals, which send messages between neurons, or brain cells. Alzheimer's destroys neurons and neurotransmitters. An example of a neurotransmitter would be serotonin, which is responsible for mood and our sleep/wake cycle. Another neurotransmitter, which Alzheimer's destroys, is acetylcholine which is responsible for our cognition, our clarity in thinking, our ability to plan, short-term and long-term memory. Alzheimer's mainly attacks acetylcholine. It eventually