Alzheimer S: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging; it is a progressive and fatal disease. www.alz.org Is a progressive and fatal brain disease. More than 5 million Americans now have Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. ...
Source: www.oasislifestyles.net
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
It is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain in which brain cells die and are not replaced. It results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior, and is the most common form of dementing illness.
Source: www.seniorlivingresidences.com
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older people. It is marked by progressive, and at present, irreversible, declines in certain cognitive functions. These impairments may include declines in memory, time and space orientation, abstract thinking, the ability to learn and carry out mathematical calculations, language and communication skills, and the performance of routine tasks.
Source: www.alzcare.net
“The brain has 100 billion nerve cells (neurons). Each nerve cell communicates with many others to form networks. Nerve cell networks have special jobs. Some are involved in thinking, learning and remembering. Others help us see, hear and smell. Still others tell our muscles when to move. In Alzheimer’s disease, deposits of protein—plaques and tangles—impair communication among our nerve cell networks. Scientists are not sure exactly where the trouble starts. ...
Source: www.memorybridge.org
How is Alzheimer’s diagnosed and is there a cure?
Alzheimer’s disease can now be diagnosed with up to 90 percent accuracy. Neuropsychological tests are performed that gauge memory, attention, problem-solving abilities and language skills. Symptoms are much easier to manage when diagnosis is made in the early stages. Unfortunately there is currently no known cure although research in this field is ongoing.
Source: www.stafford-hill.com
What exactly is Alzheimer’s disease?
According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, Alzheimer’s disease is defined as a “progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain’s nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes”. Among those 65 or older, Alzheimer’s is the most common cause for the loss of intellectual function.
Source: www.stafford-hill.com
How is Alzheimer’s treated?
No treatment is yet available to stop or reverse the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. However, certain medications such as Cognex®, Aricept®, Exelon®, or Reminyl® can delay symptoms for a limited time for patients in the early to middle stages. There are also medicines available to help control behavioral symptoms such as sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, and agitation. ...
Source: www.stafford-hill.com
How is dementia different from Alzheimer’s?
Dementia is a clinical state characterized by the loss of function in several cognitive domains. It is a general term used to describe groups of symptoms such as loss of memory, judgment, complex motor skills and language. Many major disorders such as Alzheimer’s cause dementia. Several other diseases can also cause dementia, such as Parkinson’s, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Huntington’s and multi-infarct or vascular disease, caused by multiple strokes in the brain. ...
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What are the common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?
Short-term memory impairment
Familiar tasks become difficult to accomplish
Word-finding difficulties
Confusion about time and place
Impaired judgment
Impaired abstract thinking
Losing and/or hiding things on a regular basis
Behavioral changes
Personality changes
Loss of motivation/initiative
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How is Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed?
There is no single or simple test to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. A detailed medical history, physical examination and series of neurological tests are conducted. The process is intended to rule out any other possible cause of symptoms. A completely conclusive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can only be made by analyzing the brain following death. However, physicians today can accurately diagnose Alzheimer’s disease 80% to 90% of the time.
Source: www.seniorlivingresidences.com
Alzheimer’s disease can only be conclusively diagnosed by examining the brain after death in an autopsy to determine the presence of characteristics plaques and tangles in certain brain areas. However, doctors can make a clinical diagnosis of “possible” or “probable” Alzheimer’s disease in a living person. Several tools are used to arrive at this diagnosis. These include: a complete medical history and tests that measure memory, problem solving, attention, counting, and language abilities. ...
Source: www.alzcare.net
Is Alzheimer’s disease hereditary?
Both early- and late-onset Alzheimer's disease are hereditary (a person diagnosed with Alzheimer's before the age of 50 is said to have early-onset Alzheimer's disease) - a person with one or more parent or grandparent diagnosed with Alzheimer's is genetically predisposed to the disease and has a higher likelyhood of being diagnosed himself. Researchers have discovered the specific gene responsible for early-onset Alzheimer's disease, but do not yet know the genetic basis for the late-onset form.
Source: www.seniorlivingresidences.com
We are learning more and more about the genetics of the disease and it appears that there is a genetic component to Alzheimer’s Disease in some families and in many other Alzheimer’s Disease individuals no genetic link has yet to be found.
Source: www.memorycenternj.com
Is there a cure for Alzheimer’s disease?
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but progress in treatment options is being made every day. There are many medications available to Alzheimer's patients which delay the progression of and symptoms associated with the disease.
Source: www.seniorlivingresidences.com
Currently, there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease, although there are treatments to slow the progression of the disease and to improve cognitive functions.
Source: www.memorybridge.org
Not currently. A good deal of research time and money is being spent to investigate various treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
Source: www.uphs.upenn.edu
Are there effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease?
Yes! Current treatments for Alzheimer’s disease include cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon and Razadyne) and NMDA receptor antagonist (Namenda). Several new medications are currently in clinical trials. For further information on Alzheimer's disease treatments,
Source: med.emory.edu
What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?
“People with AD may have trouble remembering things that happened recently, or names of people they know. Over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care. This can cause great stress for family members who must care for them.” -- Medline Plus
Source: www.memorybridge.org
What are the stages of Alzheimer’s disease?
The Alzheimer’s Association recognizes seven stages of Alzheimer’s disease, they are: no-impairment, very mild cognitive decline, mild cognitive decline, moderate cognitive decline, moderately severe cognitive decline, severe cognitive decline and very severe cognitive decline. It is important to keep in mind that not everyone will experience the same symptoms in these stages or progress at the same rate. Santa Fe Assisted Living
Source: www.braswellfamilyseniorcare.com
What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and Dementia?
Dementia is a general term for the loss of memory and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia. Alzheimer’s destroys brain cells causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior. These problems become severe enough to affect work, life long hobbies and social life.
Source: www.braswellfamilyseniorcare.com
How accurate are tests for Alzheimer’s disease?
Doctors in specialized Alzheimer’s disease treatment centers can now diagnose Alzheimer’s disease with up to 90 percent accuracy in a living person.
Source: www.alzcare.net
What is an Alzheimer’s Garden?
Alzheimer’s Gardens, also known as dementia gardens and wander gardens, are customarily developed as part of senior residential communities and adult day care facilities. These gardens are specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals with memory impairment. Dementia gardens are enclosed spaces with smooth level pathways, non-glare surfaces, non-toxic and non-injurious plants, and familiar home-like features, such as wind chimes, birdbaths or a garden bench to sit on and enjoy the flowers. ...
Source: www.designforgenerations.com
Alzheimers: Is all memory loss related to Alzheimers disease?
Not all memory loss is directly related to Alzheimers disease. Some memory loss is natural as you get older. If memory loss starts to directly affect daily life than it could be Alzheimers. It is very important to ask your family doctor if you suspect something other than ordinary forgetfulness, only a doctor will be able to tell the difference.
Source: sanfordhealth.org
What causes Alzheimer’s?
Scientific research shows that there are three main risk categories for Alzheimer’s disease. There are those you cannot change (age, genetics, prior head injury, prior heart attack); those you must change (uncontrolled stress, too little sleep) and those you can change (diet & lifestyle).
Source: dearprogram.com
Who is afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease?
Ten percent of those over 65, and almost half of those over age 85 have the disease. However. Because of improved testing and greater public awareness, physicians are seeing an increase in diagnosed patients in their 40s and 50s. Alzheimer’s disease strikes equally at men and women, all races, and all socioeconomic groups.
Source: www.alz.org.pk
What causes Alzheimer’s disease?
Scientists still are not certain. Age and family history have been identified as potential risk factors. Researchers are exploring the role of genetics in the development of Alzheimer’s, but most agree the disease is likely caused by a variety of factors. Each year, scientists are uncovering important new clues about potential causes of the disease, which is helping to generate more accurate diagnostic tests and better treatment options for affected individuals.
Source: www.seniordirection.net
Research has shown that Alzheimer's disease patients’ brains contain a large volume of sticky senile plaques. The plaques’ main ingredient is beta-amyloid, a fragment of a normal body protein that goes awry in people with Alzheimer's disease. beta-amyloid is generated from APP (amyloid precursor protein) through cleaving action of beta and gamma secretase. Some patients produce too much beta-amyloid and others simply do not clear it out of the brain properly. ...
Source: www.corelifesource.com
What Is the National Cell Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease?
The National Cell Repository for Alzheimer's Disease (NCRAD) is a resource facility funded by the National Institute on Aging. The purpose of the Repository is to provide important and critical resources to assist researchers in identifying the genetic factors (genes) contributing to Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. ...
Source: ncrad.iu.edu
Do you accept Alzheimer’s residents?
Wildwood Canyon Villa has a specialized memory care area with private rooms. Staff at WCV are specially trained and practice the “Best Friends Approach” to Alzheimer’s and dementia care, emphasizing resident dignity and choice.
Source: www.wildwoodcanyonvilla.com
It depends. If they are ambulatory and do not wander, we will accept them. With the family, we will evaluate the needs and determine if the resident would be suitable for us.
Source: www.oakwoodplace.com
