Is it memory loss or Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer’s disease represents just one form of dementia, a general term for abnormal loss of memory and other intellectual capabilities which significantly interfere with daily function. There is yet no cure for dementia, but some research suggests that at least in certain cases, Alzheimer’s prevention may be possible.
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.
Alzheimer’s and dementia drastically change lives — not only for those experiencing it, but also their families and caregivers, who generally must undertake those aspects of life the ill person can no longer handle. Moreover, the emotional aspects are complex, and can weigh heavily.
Incidence: Dementia impacts 1 in 14 people over age 65, according to the Alzheimer’s Society. Alzheimer’s is a specific disease, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. The remaining 20 to 40 percent of dementias are due to other factors, such as strokes. Regardless of cause, dementia is not a “normal” part of aging.
Hope: Recent research suggests up to two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases are attributable to nine risk factors, some potentially preventable. A comprehensive study published in the online Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry linked these nine to two-thirds of global Alzheimer’s cases in 2015: obesity, carotid artery narrowing, low educational attainment, depression, high blood pressure, frailty, smoking habits, high levels of homocysteine (an amino acid), and type 2 diabetes. As most are preventable or addressable, experts now believe certain lifestyle changes may help reduce Alzheimer’s risk.
Signs: While age (older than 65) is the greatest risk factor, family history increases risk. Also, about 5 percent of patients develop early-onset Alzheimer’s as young as 40. So while the brain’s aging can bring symptoms, age alone does not cause it. Alzheimer’s goes beyond experiences common to aging, such as occasional forgetfulness or slower thinking.
According to The Alzheimer’s Association, the 10 early signs of Alzheimer’s are:
1. Memory loss which interferes with life. Forgetting an appointment remembered later is normal; forgetting it ever happened, not so.
2. Newly developed difficulty planning or solving problems.
3. Difficulty completing daily tasks, such as locating places once-familiar, or managing bills
4. Confusion over time or place
5. Visual-spatial problems, such as with reading (other than simply vision), judging distance, or image contrast
6. Word problems, such as not knowing how to continue, frequent repetition, or using the wrong words
7. Misplacing things (more often than the average person, or in unusual places), or the inability to retrace steps
8. Poor judgment and decision-making; inappropriate actions
9. Withdrawal (beyond simple weariness) from work or social activity, or new difficulty with old hobbies
10. Mood changes — depressed, irritable, confused, suspicious (beyond those commonly associated with aging, such adhering to routines)
Some or all of these may indicate Alzheimer’s, or dementia of another form, as a professional medical diagnosis can distinguish.
Support is critical for families coping with these diseases. Two Coeur d’Alene support groups for caregivers meet monthly on third Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. at Kootenai Health in the main building’s community classrooms, and on third Tuesdays at 2 p.m. at Bakery By The Lake, 601 E. Front Ave. Help, support, and information (for those diagnosed and their caregivers) are always available from the local branch of the Alzheimer’s Association (208) 666-2996, online at Alz.org, or via the Alzheimer’s hotline (800) 272-3900.
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Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com.