Alzheimer’s

As one progress in age, one tend to discuss health more often than any other topic. But in spite of million people afflicted by this devastating illness ''Alzheimer's'', it is rarely discussed either by seniors or by youngsters. Though Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging, still all those who cross the age of 60; must know what the disease is.

Origin of the term Alzheimer's dates back to 1906, when Dr,Alois Alzheimer's a German physician presented a case history before a medical meeting of a women who suffered from rare brain disorder .A brain autopsy identified the plaque and tangles that today characterizes Alzheimer's disease.

It's important to acknowledge that your dear one may be afflicted with Alzheimer's and then take the person for a through checkup. If we take into account not only the victim but also the immediate family who are equally affected by this illness then we must conclude that it is the stigma attached to any mental disease, which makes the family hide it. Unless the society is educated about Alzheimer's, disease we cannot give any help to the victims, which is ever-growing in numbers.

The hope for world lies in preventing, slowing, or even reversing the disease and bolstering health-care system to meet the ever-increasing number of cases.

 Dementia means a gradual worsening in memory and other mental abilities as a result of brain damage. The most common form of Dementia is Alzheimer's.

Dementia is most unrecognized, under diagnosed. The reason being-

1. It happens to old people.

2. There is no known cure.

3. There is lack of facility to give proper care or support.

4. Lack of information about the disease.

5. Stigma attached to mental disease.

  The first reaction to the suggestion that your dear one may be suffering with Alzheimer's is denial. It's important to acknowledge that your family member has Alzheimer's disease, if one finds the symptoms related to it and then take the person for through checkup to identify it.

.

   The most common form of the disease called late onset of Alzheimer's acurse at around 65 years of age. Such cases arise out of complex combination of genetic and non-genetic factors rather than single cause. Some treatable conditions such as depression, drug interaction and thyroid problems can cause symptoms that mimic Dementia. The duration of the disease averages to about eight years but can vary to twenty years. No two people experience the disease in then same way.

We can identify the disease by some of the glaring symptoms-

1.  Forgetting recently learnt information. While it is normal to forget appointments, names or numbers, those with Dementia will forget such things more often and not remember them later. But may be able remember some old event.

2. Difficulty in performing familiar tasks, finding it hard to complete everyday tasks like not knowing steps for preparing meal, using household appliance or participating in a life long hobby.

3. Trouble finding the right words and substituting unusual words making speech or writing hard to understand.

4. Dis orientations of time and space.

5. They Could  become lost on their own street; forget where they are, how they got there and how to get 6. Poor or decreased judgment: may dress without regard to the whether. They show poor judgment about money too.

6  Problem with abstract thinking, balancing a checkbook may be hard.

7. Misplacing things. Person with Alzheimer's may put things in unusual places like the phone in the freezer.

8. Rapid change in the mood for no apparent reasons.

9. Change in personality-does take place with age but people with Alzheimer's change a lot, become very confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member.

10. Loss of initiative-, become passive   like not wanting routine chores, sitting in front of T.V.

13. forgetting   and demanding meal after having it.

  Most people with Alzheimer's live at home with caregiver having the responsibility of meeting the patient's physical needs managing daily routines and making important medical and legal decisions. Many people with Alzheimer's and their family members find support groups to be helpful. Support group offer a forum to discuss their day-to-day situation and gain practical help in coping with the changes and challenges as the disease progresses.

  Alzheimer's disease progressively destroys cells in the brain and gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn,   reason, make judgment, communicate and carry out daily activities.

 As Alzheimer's progresses people may also experience changes in the personality of the patient and behavior. In the late stages people may need help with dressing, personal hygiene, eating and other basic activities. The plight of the care   giver is pathetic as they have to deal with their elders who behave weirdly as the disease advances, so much so that they need to be housed in a shelter where such cases are taken care of. This causes anguish to the near once. So the relatives too need counseling.

The most glaring symptoms as the disease advances -

1.      Complaining that they were never served meal and argue. No reasoning works with them.

2.      Tearing paper, books, clothes etc and collecting them.

3.      Walking off from the house.

4.      Forgetting one's relation with their children or spouse and mistaking them for some other relation and insisting on it.

Research has also shown that effective care and support can improve quality of life for individual and their caregiver over the course of the disease from diagnosis to the end of the victim's life. For Alzheimer's care-giver, the three fold impact  of physical, emotional and financial aspect of the disease often are horrendous and overwhelming. The care    giver needs support from not only the family but professional agencies to give advice about-

1. Educating the family about Alzheimer's.

2.  Giving home safety lessons.

3. Creating support group

4. Give Caregiver training.

How can we contribute to the cause of Alzheimer's?

=Learn more about the disease and progress made in research.

=Donate to the Alzheimer's association.

=Maintain a healthy brain so as to reduce the risk of the disease by keeping mentally active.

=Manage weight, cholesterol, B.P and blood sugar.

=Follow healthy, low fat diet.

=Exercise regularly.

=Stay socially active, connected to society whatever once age may be.

Alzheimer's and related disorder society of India says, Dementia will be a major challenge that we in India will be faced. Unfortunately neither the Government nor the public has fully understood the repercussion of this mind crippling, devastating illness.

How can Government, societies and business houses contribute in bringing awareness among public and professionals?

=Consistent, continuous information of the disease through media.

=By raising the issue in Assembly and parliament.

=Propagating information at grass- root level by the Government.

=Make available information about the disease in regional languages.

=Producing feature film, documentaries and serials.

=By holding exhibition of photos and written material.

=To organize Alzheimer's fund by the Government.

=The medical practitioners should organize associations through rotary, lions etc in every area.

The world is moving from hopelessness to hopefulness without Alzheimer's.

It's only less than two decades since we have understood the disease. Now it can be diagnosed with 90% accuracy.

The case of an Alzheimer’s patient getting lost as they wonder off forgetting even their names is very common. There are cases where the family shuts them off and refuses to register a case of lost person.  Anyone coming across such a case must help them with the support of police or ‘Elder’s Helpline.’