Citrus Heights, California
6060 Sunrise Vista Drive #1180, Citrus Heights, CA 95610
(916) 560-9100
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What Is Alzheimer's Disease?

Comfort Keepers In-Home Care in Citrus Heights, California.


What Is Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's is a progressive neurological disorder that causes the brain cells to die and the brain to atrophy (shrink). Alzheimer's disease is recognized as the most likely cause of dementia. Dementia is a term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities that interfere with daily life. It is estimated that Alzheimer's accounts for nearly 60-80% of dementia cases.

In the United States alone, roughly 5.8 million people aged 65 and older are diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Approximately 50 million people worldwide have dementia, and about 60% to 70% of these patients are estimated to have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

The most significant known risk factor of Alzheimer's is increasing age, with the majority of Alzheimer's patients being 65 and older. If the patient is under age 65, it is considered younger-onset Alzheimer's, affecting people in the early, middle, or late stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Due to its progressive nature, Alzheimer's worsens over time. In the early stages of Alzheimer's, patients can experience mild memory loss. However, with late-stage Alzheimer's, patients lose the ability to conduct and hold a conversation and respond to their environment.

The average person with Alzheimer's lives from 4 to 8 years after their Alzheimer's diagnosis, but in some cases, patients can live up to 20 years.

There is a worldwide effort to discover a plan to treat, delay the onset and prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease.



Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's

Forgetting recent events or conversations is one of the early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's. A person with Alzheimer's will lose the ability to carry out everyday tasks and will develop severe memory impairment.

While medications may show temporary improvements and slow down the progression of Alzheimer's symptoms, there are no current cures for the disease. New treatments can help patients maximize function and maintain independence for a period of time.

Different services and programs can help patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's and their caregivers.

In the advanced stages of Alzheimer's, complications can cause severe loss of brain functionality, leading to malnutrition, infection, dehydration, and death.

Patients with Alzheimer's disease can experience the following;

  • Repeat statements and questions over and over.

  • Difficulty with concentration and cognitive ability.

  • General forgetfulness, both short-term and long-term.

  • Misplacing possessions.

  • Memory loss, both short-term and long-term.

  • Inability to express thoughts, take part in conversations, or identify the correct words.

  • Multitasking is complicated, and managing finances, balancing checkbooks, and paying bills on time may be challenging.



Planning and Performing Familiar Tasks

Alzheimer's causes a decline in the ability to make reasonable decisions and judgments in everyday situations. For example, a person may make poor or uncharacteristic choices in social interactions, or wear clothes that are inappropriate for the weather. It may be more difficult to respond effectively to everyday problems, such as food burning on the stove or unexpected driving situations.

Once-routine activities that require sequential steps, such as planning and cooking a meal or playing a favorite game, become a struggle as the disease progresses. Eventually, people with advanced Alzheimer's often forget how to perform basic tasks such as dressing and bathing.



When to See a Doctor

Several conditions, including treatable conditions, can result in memory loss or other dementia symptoms. If you are concerned about your memory or other thinking skills, talk to your doctor for a thorough assessment and diagnosis.

If you are concerned about thinking skills you observe in a family member or friend, talk about your concerns and ask about going together to a doctor's appointment.

The most common early symptom of Alzheimer's is difficulty remembering newly learned information.

Like the rest of our bodies, our brains change as we age. Most of us eventually notice slowed thinking and occasional problems with our memory. However, profound memory loss, confusion, and other significant changes in how our minds work may indicate that brain cells are failing.

Alzheimer's changes typically begin in the part of the brain that affects learning. In most cases, Alzheimer's patients will need some form of in-home care services and in extreme cases, patients will need both respite and even hospice care. 

As Alzheimer's advances through the brain, it leads to increasingly severe symptoms, including:

  • Disorientation 

  • Mood and behavior changes 

  • Deepening confusion about events, times, and places

  • Unfounded suspicions about family, friends, and professional caregivers

  • Severe memory loss

  • Difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking 

To better understand the symptoms, it is always ideal to speak to healthcare professionals like those at Comfort Keepers of Citrus Heights, CA.

People with memory loss or other possible signs of Alzheimer's may find it hard to recognize they have a problem. Signs of dementia may be more evident to family members or friends. Anyone experiencing dementia-like symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible.

 If you need assistance finding a doctor with experience evaluating memory problems, your local Alzheimer's Association can help, as well as in-home care services such as Comfort Keepers of Citrus Heights, CA, and other respite and palliative care services. Earlier diagnosis and intervention methods are improving dramatically, and treatment options and sources of support can improve quality of life.