Inside the Brain: Unraveling the Mystery of Alzheimer's Disease [HQ]

10 Things a Person Living with Dementia Would Tell You If They Could

Dotty
Went to Heaven on May 25, 2012

Dotty's Ten Tips for Communicating with a Person Living with Dementia

1. You know what makes me feel safe, secure, and happy? A smile.
2. Did you ever conside this? When you get tense and uptight it makes me feel tense and uptight.
3. Instead of getting all bent out of shape when I do something that seems perfectly normal to me, and perfectly nutty to you, why not just smile at me? It will take the edge off the situation all the way around.
4. Please try to understand and remember it is my short term memory, my right now memory, that is gone -- don't talk so fast, or use so many words.
5. You know what I am going to say if you go off into long winded explanations on why we should do something? I am going to say No, because I can never be certain if you are asking me to do something I like, or drink a bottle of castor oil. So I'll just say No to be safe.
6. Slow down. And don't sneak up on me and start talking. Did I tell you I like smiles?
7. Make sure you have my attention before you start blabbering away. What is going to happen if you start blabbering away and you don't have my attention, or confuse me? I am going to say No - count on it.
8. My attention span and ability to pay attention are not as good as they once were,please make eye contact with me before you start talking. A nice smile always gets my attention. Did I mention that before?
9. Sometimes you talk to me like I am a child or an idiot. How would you like it if I did that to you? Go to your room and think about this. Don't come back and tell me you are sorry, I won't know what you are talking about. Just stop doing it and we will get along very well, and probably better than you think.
10. You talk too much -- instead try taking my hand and leading the way. I need a guide not a person to nag me all the time.

http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2013/12/10-things-person-living-with-dementia.html

10 warning signs of Alzheimer's

Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer's or another dementia. Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are 10 warning signs and symptoms. Every individual may experience one or more of these signs in different degrees. If you notice any of them, please see a doctor.

10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's
Typical age-related memory loss and other changes compared to Alzheimer's
What to do if you notice these signs
For your doctor’s visit, 10 Warning Signs Checklist

10 warning signs of Alzheimer's:

	Memory loss that disrupts daily life
	One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own. What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.

	Challenges in planning or solving problems
	Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. What's a typical age-related change? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.

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	Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
	People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game. What's a typical age-related change? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.

	Confusion with time or place
	People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there. What's a typical age-related change? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.

	Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
	For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast, which may cause problems with driving. What's a typical age-related change? Vision changes related to cataracts.

	New problems with words in speaking or writing
	People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock"). What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

	Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
	A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time. What's a typical age-related change? Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them.

	Decreased or poor judgment
	People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean. What's a typical age-related change? Making a bad decision once in a while.

	Withdrawal from work or social activities
	A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced. What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.

	Changes in mood and personality
	The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. What's a typical age-related change? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.

Copyright © 2009 Alzheimer's Association^®. All rights reserved.

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Typical age-related memory loss and other changes compared to Alzheimer's

Signs of Alzheimer's	Typical age-related changes
Poor judgment and decision making	Making a bad decision once in a while
Inability to manage a budget	Missing a monthly payment
Losing track of the date or the season	Forgetting which day it is and remembering later
Difficulty having a conversation	Sometimes forgetting which word to use
Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them	Losing things from time to time

What to do if you notice these signs

If you notice any of the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's in yourself or someone you know, don't ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor.

With early detection, you can:

Get the maximum benefit from available treatments – You can explore treatments that may provide some relief of symptoms and help you maintain a level of independence longer. You may also increase your chances of participating in clinical drug trials that help advance research.
Learn more about treatments.
Learn more about clinical studies.

Have more time to plan for the future – A diagnosis of Alzheimer's allows you to take part in decisions about care, transportation, living options, financial and legal matters. You can also participate in building the right care team and social support network.
Learn more about planning ahead.
Learn how to get a personalized action plan by using Alzheimer’s Navigator.

Help for you and your loved ones – Care and support services are available, making it easier for you and your family to live the best life possible with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Learn how the Alzheimer's Association helps families.

Additional information:

• Researchers seek paths to earlier diagnosis
  Information on the scientific studies researchers are pursuing to earlier diagnosis
• Video: Alzheimer’s Association Chief Medical and Scientific Office Dr. William Thies discusses the benefits of early detection

When you see your doctor

"It took my mother having a stress-related heart attack before we quit dismissing my father's progressing dementia to 'senior moments' and got him a proper diagnosis of Alzheimer's. Had we paid attention to the warning signs of this disease, a lot of prevention could have been in place."-Brent

Your doctor will evaluate your overall health and identify any conditions that could affect how well your mind is working. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist such as a:

• Neurologist – specializes in diseases of the brain and nervous system
• Psychiatrist – specializes in disorders that affect mood or the way the mind works
• Psychologist – has special training in testing memory and other mental functions
• Geriatrician – specializes in the care of older adults and Alzheimer's disease

Learn more about diagnosing Alzheimer's.
Learn more about different types of dementia.

For your doctor’s visit, 10 Warning Signs Checklist

Download our free 10 Warning Signs Checklist and list any concerns you have. Take this sheet with you to the doctor. 

 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp

Alzheimer's Disease: Overview and Current Research

Parkinson's disease

Photo by: www.parkinsondisease.in

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects your movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. But while a tremor may be the most well-known sign of Parkinson's disease, the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement.

In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, your face may show little or no expression or your arms may not swing when you walk. Your speech may become soft or slurred. Parkinson's disease symptoms worsen as your condition progresses over time.

Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured, medications may markedly improve your symptoms. In occasional cases, your doctor may suggest surgery to regulate certain regions of your brain and improve your symptoms.

What are the primary areas of Alzheimer's research?

Source: sierram.web.unc.edu

Scientific research about Alzheimer's can be broadly categorized into five general areas:

1. Research about possible causes, which includes the identification ofrisk factors for Alzheimer's and the clarification of the underlyingbiological processes associated with the disease;  major breakthrough in Alzheimer research.
2. Research aimed at improving early diagnosis of Alzheimer's, including the identification of cognitive and biological "markers" (or tell-tale signs) for the disease and the use of brain-imaging techniques to identify brain changes even before symptoms are present;
3. Research to develop new treatments, including medications that target the underlying biological changes (or pathology) in the brain, and non pharmacological approaches to managing behavioral symptoms;
4. Research focused on prevention, which includes understanding whether certain drugs or lifestyle factors may exert a protective effect against Alzheimer's;
5. Research about caregiving, including what types of educational programs are most effective and what types of support are most useful.
   • Vital Research Continues as Alzheimer's Burden Grows
   • High Blood Pressure Linked to Alzheimer’s in Seniors
   • Weight Loss May Be Early Sign of Alzheimer's
   • The Clinical Stages of Alzheimer's disease
   • Find Alzheimer's resources near you
   • Donate to Research

What have we learned already?
Though ancient writings suggest that Alzheimer's has been around since the dawn of civilization, scientists have only begun to unravel the mysteries of the disease. The last few decades have seen an explosion in scientific knowledge, laying the foundation for medical breakthroughs that will eventually lead to a cure.

Every day that passes, scientists are learning more about what causes Alzheimer's, what happens to the brain as the disease progresses, and what can be done to help prevent it, diagnose it, care for those suffering with it, and ultimately, to cure it. Exciting new insights about disease processes, most notably regarding the role of the protein beta amyloid, have driven drug development to a frenzied pace. Today, dozens of possible new drugs are being tested and scientists are working hard to develop a safe beta amyloid vaccine that would harness the body's own immune defenses to fight Alzheimer's. These efforts raise hope that truly effective treatments - ones that target the root cause of the disease - may soon be available.

As the race to develop new Alzheimer's drugs continues, progress has also been made in improving early diagnosis and predicting who is at high risk for Alzheimer's to enable treatment early in the course of the disease. A significant research effort, spearheaded by the National Institute on Aging, is also focused on preventing Alzheimer's, rigorously testing several different interventions that early studies have suggested may be protective against the disease (for example, estrogen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins). In addition, a growing body of research is driving a better understanding of the challenges and stresses encountered by caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and the development of more effective research-based interventions to ease these burdens.

Why is it important to continue to fund research about Alzheimer's?
Today, an estimated five million* Americans and their families suffer the devastation of Alzheimer's disease. By 2050, that number is expected to climb as high as 16 million, unless something is done to delay or prevent the onset of the disease. Direct medical costs associated with Alzheimer's are now estimated to exceed $250 billion each year, a number that increases exponentially when indirect costs, such as lost productivity and wages, are included. In 50 years, these costs will be even more astronomical, potentially bankrupting the entire healthcare system.

Compare those costs to the $971 million the U.S. Congress appropriated in 2003 to the entire National Institute on Aging, only a portion of which is earmarked for Alzheimer's research. That's only a tiny fraction of the disease's annual cost.

Scientific research offers the best hope for helping those who suffer from Alzheimer's today, and for sparing future generations from this scourge. Public support for research on Alzheimer's is critical to ensure that generous government funding continues via the National Institutes of Health. As with any disease, however, government-funded research alone cannot solve all the puzzles or answer all the unresolved questions about Alzheimer's disease. Private sources of funding must fill these gaps. That is why the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation was established. Through scientific discovery comes hope for a solution to Alzheimer's.

Sources: Evans et al, The Milbank Quarterly; Brookmeyer et al, American Journal of Public Health

How can I support Alzheimer's research?
There are a number of things you can do to support Alzheimer's research to help ensure that the promise of scientific discovery is fulfilled. For example, write to your Congressional representatives to ask them to be involved in the problem of brain disorders. If you're caring for someone who has Alzheimer's, consider participating in a clinical trial for caregivers, or involving your loved one in studies that test new treatments or track the natural course of the disease. Such studies provide the answers needed to find a solution to Alzheimer's.

Contributing to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation is another way that you can help. The Fisher Center Foundation funds important research aimed at identifying the cause of Alzheimer's, ensuring optimal care of those affected, and finding a cure for this dreadful disease. In 1995, the Foundation established the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research at The Rockefeller University, the nation's largest, best-equipped and comprehensive research center devoted to Alzheimer's research. Under the direction of Nobel laureate Dr. Paul Greengard, the Fisher Center is leading the battle against Alzheimer's disease and helping find the solutions so desperately needed. Your contribution to the Fisher Foundation directly supports this effort.

To learn more about how you can support the Fisher Center Foundation's pioneering Alzheimer's research initiatives, click here.

What is Alzheimer's disease?