Alzheimer's disease is brain disorder named for german physician Alois Alzheimer who first described it in 1906. It is a common brain disorder affecting more than 5 million Americans. The first problems people notice is forgetfulness severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies and social interaction.


Steps

1. The disease will progress over time to include confusion, trouble with organizing and expressing thoughts, misplacing things, getting lost in familiar places, and changes in personality and behavior.
2. Some change in memory is normal as we age. Symptoms of Alzheimers disease are more simple than lapses in memory.
3. People with Alzheimer's have difficulties with communicating, thinking or reasoning. These problems progress and become severe enough to affect work, social life and Family life.

Tips

• If you suspect a family member might have Alzheimer's contact a health care provider.
• If you suspect a family member might have Alzheimer's consult with other family members to see if they have also noticed changes in this person.
• Remember Alzheimer's disease does not happen over night. It occurs in stages.
• The stages of Alzheimer's are as follows:
• Stage 1 No impairment-Normal function with a few concerns noted
• Stage 2 Very Mild Cognitive Decline (may be normal age-related changes or earliest signs of Alzheimer’s Disease)-Individuals feel concerns with
• forgetting things or misplacing things. However, healthcare providers,
• family members, co-workers or friends may not notice or be concern.
• Stage 3 Mild Cognitive Decline (early stage Alzheimer’s Disease-Can be
• diagnosed in some but not in all)-Friends, family and co-workers begin to
• notice that person is having problems with memory, concentration and
• completion of tasks. Have problems with remember names of family and
• friends. Decreased ability to remember names of new people when
• introduced to them. Performance issues in work and social settings. Can't
• complete assignments on time and with precision as once did. Problems
• with reading a passage and remember what they read. Losing and misplacing
• valuable items. Decline in ability to sort, plan and organize.
• Stage 4 Moderate Cognitive Decline (mild or early stage Alzheimer’s
• Disease). At this stage clear cut medical interview can detect
• deficiencies. Decrease knowledge of recent events. Impaired ability to
• perform challenging math problems. Can not repeat words in a row
• Decreased capacity to perform complex tasks such as planning dinner
• for guests, paying bills and managing money. Reduced memory of
• personal history. The person may appear subdued or withdrawn,
• especially in social or mentally challenging situations.
• Stage 5 Moderately Severe Cognitive Declines (Moderate to Mid-Stage
• Alzheimer’s disease). Major gaps in memory and deficits in cognitive
• function emerge. Some assistance in day to day activities become
• essential. During medical interview unable to recall important details
• such as telephone number, home address, etc. Become confused about date or
• day of week or season. Have trouble with less challenging Math
• problems such as simple addition. Need help with choosing appropriate
• clothes for the season. Remember their name, name of spouse and
• Children's name. Can eat and toilet by self.
• Stage 6 Severe Cognitive Decline (Moderate or mid-stage Alzheimer Disease). Memory difficulties become more pronounced. Significant personality changes. Need extensive help with customary daily activities. Loose awareness of recent experiences and events as well as their surroundings. Can not remember their own personal history May cofabulate (create memories that are not real to fill in gaps of memories not remembered). Occasionally will forget spouse's name or primary caregiver but can distinguish familiar from unfamiliar. May think a grand-daughter is a the daughter or daughter is a sister. Experiences disruption in the sleep/wake cycle. Prone to wandering. Needs help with toileting such as reminders, wiping and flushing. Episodes of urinary and fecal incontinence. Significant personality changes. Have episodes of suspiciousness and delusions. May think spouse is an impostor. May have hallucinations that are auditory, tactile or visual. May have compulsive behaviors such as wringing hands or tissue tearing.
• Stage 7 Very Severe Cognitive Decline (Severe or Late Stage Alzheimer’s
• Disease). This is the final stage of the disease with end result of death. The person will loose ability to respond or interact in environment. Will loose the ability to speak. Will loose the ability to control movement. Even though have lost ability to speak, may utter words or phases occasionally. Need aid in eating. May have feeding tubes. Is usually incontinent. May be wheelchair or bed fast. Will eventually loose ability to smile, hold head up, reflexes become abnormal, and muscles grow rigid. Swallowing is impaired or not present at all.

Warnings

• A simple check list can be done. If the family member is having difficulty with memory loss more often and is unable to recall information later this is a warning sign. Simple forgetting names or people's faces is okay because normal ages happens. Usually the person can remember later. However, if they can not this is warning sign.
• If the family member has problems completing a simple task such as dressing or buttoning a shirt, preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game this a a warning sign. Simple forgetting why you came into a room or what you planned to say is normal in aging process. However, forgetting over and over again then this can be a warning sign.
• If a family member has problems with language. The person may substitute made up words for common items. The toothbrush may become a "calabash" for my teeth or something like that. The person may also say that I need that thing for my teeth. Finding the right word to say is part of normal aging.
• If the family member has problems with time and place. A person with Alzheimers may become lost in their own neighborhood. They may wander around not knowing where they are in a place they have lived for over 20-50 years. However, forgetting the day of the week or where you were going is part of normal aging. Ofttimes you will remember later on during an appropriate timeframe.
• If a family member has poor or decreased judgement. A person with Alzheimers may dress inappropriately wearing several layers of clothes on a warm day or too little clothes on cold day. However, making a questionable decision from time to time is normal part of aging.
• If a family member has problems with abstract thinking. Someone with Alzheimers may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used. However, finding it challenging to balance a checkbook is normal.
• If a family misplaces things in unusual places. Placing an iron in a freezer or wristwatch in the sugar bowl. However, we have all misplaced our keys from time to time. This is normal.
• If a family member has changes in moods and behavior. A person with Alzheimers may move from calm to tears to anger for no apparent reason. However,it is normal to feel sad or moody from time to time.
• If a family has a change in personality. The personality of a person with Alzheimers can change drastically. They can become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful, or dependent on a family member. However, people do have some personality changes with age.
• If a family member has loss of initiative. A person with Alzheimer's will become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual or not wanting to do usual activities. However, sometimes feeling weary of social obligations or work can be normal
• Remember one thing to help set your mind at ease. If you have the telephone in your hand and you know that it is used to make call that is okay. However, if you have the telephone in your hand and don't know what to do with it or what it is used for then there might be some concern.