Is It Alzheimer's Or Simple Forgetfulness? An Alzheimer's Definition
By Mike Herman
Find out the real Alzheimer's definition. Learn what to do if you or someone you know seems to have Alzheimer's.
Do you or family members seem to be having memory problems? Always losing the keys? Forgetting to take your medicineor worse yet dont remember whether you took it or not? If youre worried that you or someone close to you may have Alzheimer's dont delay consulting a professional. Early diagnosis means early treatment. Some of the medications today are delaying the progression, thus allowing a more normal lifestyle.
Alzheimer's Definition This disease is a severe type of mental deterioration, or dementia, usually affecting older people. Occasionally affecting people younger than sixty. It accounts for half of all dementias. The other half results from drug and alcohol abuse, infections, or stroke. Alzheimer's disease is estimated to affect 10% of all people older than sixty-five and nearly half of those older than 85.
Alzheimer's Definition of Symptoms
Early symptoms of Alzheimer's include general intellectual deficiency, memory loss, short attention span, moodiness, disorientations, and irritability. The difficult part of recognizing Alzheimer's early is the fact that the symptoms are very similar to the normal aging process and the changes that occur in mental function. Thinking, remembering, and reasoning all seem to decline as we age. These are the same classic symptoms of Alzheimer's.
Symptoms of the early stages of Alzheimer's are often ignored. A person with mild symptoms of Alzheimer's often seems healthy when in fact they are having trouble. The on-looker will often have trouble realizing somethings wrong, because the early symptoms seem just like normal aging.
A person in the early stages of Alzheimer's will still br able to do most normal activities like driving a car. The problem is they may get lost going to familiar places. They may display sadness, decreased interest in normal activities, and loss of energy. Difficult learning and remembering new information is another symptom of early Alzheimer's.
Some evidence exists that Alzheimer's disease may have characteristics of a chronic inflammatory disease, similar to arthritis. Anti-inflammatory drug therapy has had some affect in slowing its progress. Estrogen treatment may decrease or postpone symptoms in women.
As the disease progresses the Alzheimer's symptoms changes dramatically. In the moderate stage more prominent and disturbing behavioral changes occur. Putting things in strange placesfor example the hair dryer in the refrigerator. Time and normal functions of daily life become severely distorted to the person with moderate level Alzheimer's. They may forget to eat. Ask the same questions over and over, as well as a host of other abnormal behaviors.
In the advanced stages of Alzheimer's physical problems occurs. People with advanced Alzheimer's require constant care. They lose control of bodily functions, and may have problems standing and walking and other body movements. The progression of Alzheimer's varies from person to person.
There are some medications that help with the symptoms of Alzheimer's. Research is continuous on this debilitating disease. Make sure to see a physician if symptoms warrant. Quality of life and the delay the progression of Alzheimer's can be improved with medication and care.
If you need to learn more about the stages of alzheimers or the causes of dementia click on over to http://www.Answers4Alzheimers.com Alzheimer's Or Simple Forgetfulness? An Alzheimer's Definition.
