With Alzheimer’s disease expected to become more prevalent in the next 50 years, education is the key to facing the challenges it presents.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association website, 5 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s, a number that is predicted to increase to 16 million by 2050.
”Alzheimer’s is a cause of dementia and the most common form of dementia,” said Highland District Hospital psychiatrist Dr. Ramesh Shivani.
According to Shivani, dementia is a global term, referring to problems with memory and function that can have several causes, including complications with HIV, tumors, and Parkinson’s Disease, among others.
Yet, Shivani said, though there are several types of dementia, 70 to 80 percent of cases are caused by Alzheimer’s.
”It affects memory function, language, and, later, personality changes and behaviors,” he said.
Additionally, Shivani said that during later stages of Alzheimer’s, patients require extensive care and may need to be in a nursing home.
Alzheimer’s disease, according the the Alzheimer’s Association, is among the top 10 causes of death in America, and is the only one with no means of prevention or cure.
Deaths from Alzheimer’s, the website continues, “increased 68 percent between 2000 and 2010, while deaths from other major diseases, including the number one cause of death (heart disease) decreased.”
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the major medical problems facing the United States. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “another American develops Alzheimer’s disease every 68 seconds.” Signs of Alzheimer’s vary depending on its stage.
Early signs, Shivani said, include memory problems, such as forgetting names, misplacing things, or not recognizing faces.
Eventually, Alzheimer’s begins to affect cognitive function, which may show in patients as difficulty with judgement or organizing.
Patients will also begin to forget skills, Shivani said, such as brushing their teeth.
In later stages, he said, changes in personality and mood will occur. The patient may become angry, irritable, withdrawn, depressed, apathetic, and even paranoid.
For example, if the patient misplaces something, he or she may accuse someone of stealing it.
Hallucinations, he said, are another possible symptom during later stages of Alzheimer’s.
Generally, he said, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s is as follows: 5 percent of those 65 and older; 10 percent of those 75 and older; and 20 percent of those 85 and older. That guideline, he said, is the same for all areas, including Highland County.
”It applies to any area,” he said.
And though there are “no known causes” of Alzheimer’s, Shivani said there are several factors that can affect the risk of developing the illness.
In cases of early onset Alzheimer’s, Shivani said, there are genetic origins.
Additionally, he said, “One thing to remember is that factors which make someone more vulnerable include past head injuries, diabetes, and high cholesterol.”
Though those are not necessarily causes, Shivani said, “If people can manage a healthy lifestyle – if they can exercise, avoid head trauma, watch blood sugar and cholesterol – it can help in some way to prevent risk.”
Generally, however, Alzheimer’s has roots in the aging process.
”Something in the brain chemistry does not function properly,” Shivani said.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association website, “two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells” within the brain.
Plaques are deposits of a protein fragment that builds up in the spaces between nerve cells in the brain.
Tangles are twisted fiber of another protein that builds up inside brain cells.
And though the exact affect of these protein-based problems is unknown, “most experts believe they somehow play a critical role in blocking communication among nerve cells and disrupting the processes that cells need to survive.”
Even though aging brains usually have plaques and tangles, brains affected by Alzheimer’s tend to have many more.
The aging brain, therefore, is a main cause of Alzheimer’s, according to Shivani.
”And we do not have control over that,” he said.
For those concerned that family members may have Alzheimer’s, Shivani said, “The number one thing is to make sure they talk with the physicians to see if there are any changes in memory above normal aging.”
And though Alzheimer’s can be a difficult subject, Shivani said it is important to discuss it, as some memory problems may have other causes that can be more easily treated.
”Discuss it and get a clear diagnosis,” he said.
Yet, caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can be challenge.
Nationally, the cost of Alzheimer’s in 2013, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, was $203 billion. This number included Medicare, Medicaid, and out of pocket expenses.
On a more individual level, the Alzheimer’s Association website states that “more than 60 percent of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers rate the emotional stress of caregiving as very high; more than one- third report symptoms of depression.”
Further, “nearly 15 percent of caregivers are long-distance caregivers, living an hour or more away from their loved ones.”
In addition, the Alzheimer’s Association website states that due to the physical and emotional toll of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, “caregivers had 9.1 billion dollars in additional health care costs of their own in 2012.”
To help with caregiving responsibilities, individuals, Shivani said, should “be sure they, themselves, get educated about the illness.”
Education opportunities are numerous he said, ranging from doctors to the Alzheimer’s Association website.
Locally, the Alzheimer’s Association will be hosting a series of seminars at the Highland County Senior Citizens Center in the upcoming months. They are as follows:
• “Getting a Diagnosis” on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 1 p.m.
• “Know the 10 Warning Signs” on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m.
• “Making Nursing Home Visits More Meaningful” on Wednesday, March 5 at 1 p.m.
For more information about the above seminars, call 937-779-6990.
Education, Shivani said, will “help people equip themselves.”
While caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, it is crucial, Shivani said, to make sure the patient is safe and closely monitored.
In early stages, he said, it is important to make decisions concerning power of attorney as well as long-term back-up plans, such as nursing homes.
In addition, those with Alzheimer’s, Shivani said, are “prone to wander” in the later stages of the illness. If that occurs, caregivers should not confront them, as they will become defensive.
And though there is no cure, Shivani said there are medications available that can slow the process and help with personality changes.
In addition, Shivani said proper nutrition, sleep, and basic hygiene can also help an Alzheimer’s patient.
Caregivers, he said, should also remember to use the many resources available to them through the Alzheimer’s Association and medical facilities.
Highland District Hospital, he said, has an Alzheimer’s support group that meets the third Monday of every month, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
”It’s OK,” Shivani said, “to ask for help.”
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