September is annually observed as World Alzheimer’s Month, and Sep 21 is celebrated as World Alzheimer’s Day. One of the main aspects that can affect individuals and caretakers alike- is dementia and how to deal with it. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of massive numbers of functional neurons in specific regions of the brain- areas that specifically deal with memory retention, recall, and language processing. Dementia begins on a very mild scale where a person may forget seemingly unnecessary details. It has been said that the symptoms are due to the presence of excessive amounts of toxic proteins that build up in the brain.
The Significance Of Celebrating World Alzheimer’s Day
First celebrated in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the tenth-year anniversary celebrations of Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), which is a global organization that aims to spread more awareness about dealing with dementia and Alzheimer's disease systematically, this event has now come a long way. ADI is an umbrella organization of hundreds of Alzheimer Disease disease-related groups based all over the world. The name ‘Alzheimer’s’ comes from this doctor- Alois Alzheimer, who noticed this condition affecting a female patient, in 1901.
The theme for this year is ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s’ - which means you need to be aware of symptoms to get tested, and then put on the right medication regimen for a better prognosis. Since our brain is extremely good at compensating for any loss in function, it can be years before symptoms become apparent, which is why it is important to keep a close watch for symptoms.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
Some of the landmark symptoms associated with this condition include the following-
● Dementia or forgetfulness
● Loss of language and comprehension
● Being impulsive
Slowly, the symptoms can worsen to a point where someone forgets to take care of themselves or to eat meals in a day. There are gut related problems observed too, and respiratory issues come often.
Conclusion
Alzheimer’s Disease is mostly idiopathic (no known cause for it to happen), or can affect someone if their family has a history of similar cases. Making lifestyle changes greatly reduces the chances of at-risk people from developing full-blown dementia. Activities that help build alternative neural pathways and retain cognitive abilities are your best bet to beat Alzheimer’s Disease. But, there is one thing you should remember- it is not curable. Coming up with ways to improve an affected individual’s quality of life is one of the main goals for caretakers.
FAQs
1) Is Alzheimer’s Disease a normal thing to expect when people age?
No, aging can cause some completely normal forgetfulness. But dementia is on a very different scale, and it can be a pervasive occurrence that can affect your daily quality of life.
2) How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will prescribe cognitive tests, get a thorough medical and family history, and even opt to get some imaging done to see if there are any marked changes in brain pathology and structure.
3) What are the treatment options available?
Enzyme inhibitors are used as drugs that can act on symptoms but not stop any loss in cognitive ability. The mood is also a big area for treatment.
4) Is Alzheimer’s Disease curable?
No, only symptoms may be managed for as long as possible. Special care is needed for affected individuals as after a few years, they don’t remember anything about themselves. It can destroy families in the process as caretakers often watch their family members go on a slow decline, which they can never recuperate from.
5) How can caregivers help?
By being supportive, and helping affected members stay home in a safe environment. They need constant reminding to get any stuff done, and this can be jarring for some people. Hiring support staff can lighten loads significantly.