What You Need to Know About Alzheimer s Disease

Learning about Alzheimer"s disease can increase the quality of life for anyone you know who suffers from this condition. By learning what you can do to help and how to care for these individuals, you"ll be giving them a better life and you may even be able to delay the onset of severe symptoms. While your doctor may give you some information, you can also research the topic yourself and learn from other caregivers and those with the disease.
Alzheimer"s disease is the most common reason for dementia in older adults. The disease generally begins in individuals after the age of 60 and some estimates place the rate of Alzheimer"s at over fifty percent for those over the age of 85. Scientists don"t know what causes Alzheimer"s, but they believe that age and genetics play a role in the changing brain patterns.
There are many aspects of Alzheimer"s disease that you should know about in order to help you and your loved ones cope with the disease.
Alzheimer"s disease begins slowly for most people. Individuals may experience memory problems, disorientation, mood swings, and problems doing daily tasks that they once had no problem doing.
Early diagnosis is key as it can give doctors and patients the ability to find treatments for some of the symptoms, delaying more severe symptoms. It also allows patients, doctors, and families to come up with care plans and talk about the future and what can happen.
No treatment can cure or stop Alzheimer"s disease. However, some drugs may delay severe symptoms or improve the quality of life for patients. Other medications can make patients more comfortable during the illness.
Research is ongoing for drugs that may prevent Alzheimer"s or improve symptoms once they begin. Scientists are also working on finding early signs of Alzheimer"s or tests that can show if a person is likely to experience the disease in his or her lifetime.
Individuals with Alzheimer"s or those who have a family history can often participate in clinical trials to help find new medications and other treatments. If you are interested in participating, talk to your doctor or search online for a clinical trial that you can be involved with.
Several organizations provide support for caregivers as they help the Alzheimer"s patient. If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer"s, seek out support for yourself. Both you and your loved one will benefit from this support. The Alzheimer"s Association is one place to begin looking for local help.
Alzheimer"s disease will continue to have a large social impact unless a cure can be found. Some estimates suggest that the number of individuals with Alzheimer"s will triple in the next thirty five years. Other estimates suggest that the number of Americans with the disease will increase by 350 percent by mid century.
Learning about Alzheimer"s disease can help both you and your loved ones if you know what to expect and how best to treat the symptoms that come with the disease. Most experts agree that caregivers need to find support in order to best care for their loved ones with Alzheimer"s and knowledge about the disease should be a part of this support.

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