Alzheimer Dementia is a type of dementia. Dementia is a condition that describes a wide range of symptoms. The symptoms are associated with physical and functional changes in the brain. Dementia usually affects a person’s memory, thinking abilities, and personality. In the later stages, a person who has dementia has difficulty caring for him or herself.
Alzheimer Dementia is the most common cause of dementia among older persons. However, other things can also cause dementia. Alzheimer Dementia most commonly affects people older than 65 years of age. People who are younger than 65 years of age can also have Alzheimer Dementia. This is called early onset Alzheimer’s Dementia. Early onset Alzheimer Dementia is not very common.
If you are worried you or a loved one may have Alzheimer Dementia, there are 10 primary symptoms to consider. Every person is different and may have more or fewer than these 10 symptoms. Talk to your doctor if you notice 1 or more in yourself or a loved one.
Alzheimer Dementia is called a “progressive” disease. This means that its symptoms usually start slowly and are mild. A person’s cognitive (brain) and functional (self-care) abilities get worse over time. In the later stages of the disease, a person who has Alzheimer Dementia is no longer able to communicate and depends entirely on other people for care.
Also, as the disease progresses, a person can experience health complications, including:
If you think that a loved one might be experiencing any of the complications listed above, talk to their doctor. He or she can provide medicine or other treatments to help keep your loved one comfortable.
Doctors don’t know what causes Alzheimer Dementia. One theory is that the disease develops when clumps of abnormal proteins grow in the brain. This growth likely begins with many small changes in the brain. This typically starts long before any symptoms are noticeable. Over time, these changes add up. Eventually, brain cells become damaged and die.
Also, doctors believe certain things increase a person’s risk for developing Alzheimer Dementia. Those risks factors include:
Alzheimer Dementia also appears to be more common in women than in men. Nearly two-thirds of people who have Alzheimer Dementia are women.
An Alzheimer Dementia diagnosis may take some time. There is no test that can tell your doctor whether you have the disease. Give your doctor plenty of information to help determine the cause of your symptoms. Your doctor may want to evaluate the following in you or your loved one:
Based on this information, your doctor can almost always tell whether you have dementia. Your doctor will likely be able to tell whether Alzheimer Dementia is the cause of your dementia. However, Alzheimer Dementia can only be diagnosed with certainty after death. That is when the brain is examined under a microscope. The brain of a person who had Alzheimer Dementia will show very distinct changes that only happen when Alzheimer Dementia is the cause of dementia.
If you are worried that you or a loved one might have some of the warning signs of Alzheimer Dementia, talk to your doctor. An early diagnosis will help you get treatment earlier. Also, it will give you time to address questions of care, finances, and legal issues with your family.
No one knows how to prevent or avoid Alzheimer Dementia. However, doctors believe that healthy living and keeping your brain active can help lower your risk. Or it may delay its onset. That means eating a healthy diet, lowering your alcohol consumption, not smoking, staying physically and socially active, and challenging your mental abilities with brain games.
Screening may be valuable in early detection for many diseases. However, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) states that there is not enough current evidence to show that routine screening for cognitive impairment is helpful.
There is no cure for Alzheimer Dementia. Instead, treatment may focus on:
Some medicines are currently being used to treat memory and behavior symptoms of Alzheimer Dementia. These medicines do not stop the disease. They may not work for every person or may help for only a short time.
Your doctor may recommend or prescribe medicine for behavioral changes. The type of medicine will depend on the behavior and the severity of the problem. Over-the-counter medicine might include pain relievers. Prescription medicine might include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medicines, and sleep medicines.
Drugs don’t always help relieve the symptoms of Alzheimer Dementia. Non-drug treatments for a person who has Alzheimer Dementia often include managing your loved one’s environment and establishing a routine to help reduce stress and anxiety.
The life expectancy for a person diagnosed with Alzheimer Dementia differs with each person. Most people live 4 to 8 years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer Dementia. Some live with the disease for up to 20 years.