Alzheimer's in a nutshell

Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia that sees a steady decline in cognitive function.  Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease of the brain and shows up as white plague like tangles during a brain scan.


Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include memory loss, especially the short term memory in the early stages.  Furthermore, logical and abstract thinking is lost and any reasoning becomes impossible in time.  Often a person living with Alzheimer's feel disorientated and can forget where they are.  Moreover, they can be frightened, as they are not sure what is wrong with them, but they know something is not right, which can lead to frustration and depression.  As a loved one, you may notice that they are losing the ability to write and may have problems putting the key in the lock.  You may notice that they are still appearing to be reading, but find that the magazine/book is the wrong way round.   In addition, you may notice that they are being frustratingly repetitive and telling you the same old story over and over again.  Some people living in this fog like world may become angry and lash out, whereby others may withdraw.

As Alzheimer's progresses, cooking, cleaning, shopping becomes a problem.  Eventually, they will no longer be able to carry out their own personal care.  Towards the end of the disease, all systems eventually shut down.  However, a number of people who have lived with Alzheimer's tend to die of a related illness, such as pneumonia.


What you, as a care giver should remember is that it doesn't matter how many times you tell a person with Alzheimer's to do something, it is not going to be remembered.  If that ability is lost, then it is gone, if you carry on repeating yourself, not only are you going to frustrate yourself, but you will be frustrating your loved one.  You can not learn a poem, if that part of your brain is lost! 


Alzheimer's does not need to be the end of the relationship for you...you can still be there, hold their hand and guide them through..read stories, sing to them...ensure that they stay as active as they can for as long as possible.  Above all, do not suffer in silence - ask for help and advise - try to develop a network of support around you for when you are in need of that extra hand.