DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ALZHEIMERS?
Dr. Alois Alzheimer a German neuropathologist, first described the disease now called Alzheimer's.
One of his patients, a woman, had been besieged by a storm of puzzling symptoms. Fits of jealousy toward her husband were followed by memory loss, depression, hallucinations and rapidly progressing dementia. Within five years of her first visit to Dr. Alzheimer, she was dead.
In his landmark 1906 paper examining the case, Dr. Alzheimer wrote that the woman's early symptoms deviated from any known disease pattern. He then described his autopsy of her brain in which he saw signs of general atrophy but detected no tumors or evidence of a stroke. However, when examining her cerebral cortex, Dr. Alzheimer found lesions, extensive tissue distortion and cell damage - hallmarks of what is now known as Alzheimer's disease. Three years after Dr. Alzheimer presented his paper the newly identified condition entered the medical literature.
Dr. Alzheimer was born in Germany on June 14, 1864. He received his medical degree from the University of Wurzburg in 1887 and in 1904 became head of the anatomy department at the clinic of noted psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin in Munich. In 1912, Dr. Alzheimer was named professor of psychiatry and neurology at the University of Breslau, Germany and continbued his research there until his death on December 19, 1915
TEN WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Some change in memory is normal as we grow older, bu the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are more than simple lapses in memory. People with Alzheimer's experience difficulties communicating, learning, thinking and reasoning - problems severe enough to have an impact on an individual's work, social activities and family life.
The Alzheimer's Association has developed a checklist of common symptoms to help recognize the difference between normal age-related memory changes and possible warning signs of Alzheimer's disease. Because there is no clear-cut line between normal changes and warning signs, it's always a good idea to check with a doctor if a person's level of function seems to be changing. The Alzheimer's Association Believes that it is critical for people diagnosed with dementia and their families to receive information, care and support as early as possible. The 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's are:
1. MEMORY LOSS. Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of edementia. A person begins to forget more often and is unable to recall the information. What is normal? Forgetting names or appointments occasionally.
2. DIFFICULTY PERFORMING FAMILIAR TASKS. People with dementia often find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. Individuals may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game. What is normal? Occasionally forgetting why you came into a room or what you planned to say.
3. PROBLEMS WITH LANGUAGE. People with Alzheimer's disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. They man be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead as of "that thing for my mouth." What's normal? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
4. DISORIENTATION TO TIME AND PLACE. People with Alzheimer's disease can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home. What' normal? Forgetting the day of the week or where you were going.
5. POOR OR DECREASED JUDGMENT. Those with Alzheimer's may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers. What's normal? Making a questionable or debatable decision from time to time,
6. PROBLEMS WITH ABSTRACT THINKING. Someone with Alzheimer's disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used. What's normal? Finding it challenging to balance a checkbook.
7. MISPLACING THINGS. A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. What's normal? Misplacing keys or a wallet temporarily
8. CHANGES IN MOOD OR BEHAVIOR. Someone with Alzheimer's disease may show rapid mood swings - from calm to tears to anger - for no apparent reason. What's normal? Occasionally feeling sad or moody.
9. CHANGES IN PERSONALITY. The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member. What is normal? People's personalities do change somewhat with age.
10. LOSS OF INITIATIVE. A person with Alzheimer's disease may become very passive, sitting in font of the TV for hours, sleeping more than normal or not wanting to participate in usual activities. What is normal? Sometimes feeling weary of work or social obligations.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALZHEIMER'S AND NORMAL AGE-RELATED MEMORY CHANGES.
SOMEONE WITH NORMAL AGE-RELATED MEMORY CHANGES:
Forgets part of an experience
Often remembers later
Is usually able to follow written/spoken directions
Is usually able to use notes as reminders
Is usually able to care for self
SOMEONE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE SYMPTOMS
Forgets entire experiences
Rarely remembers later
Is gradually unable to follow written/spoken directions
Is gradually unable to use notes as reminders
If gradually unable to care for self
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