Aging and Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is likely one of the causes of Dementia. It is a chronic disease of the brain which in actuality starts in the cerebral cortex. It is usually defined by the gradual and progressive decay in a person’s mental abilities. It impacts both sexes normally those who are over the age of sixty. Alzheimer’s has been known to happen in people as young as forty.

The most advance symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is mere forgetfulness. This is often neglected especially if the individual is elderly, however it slowly progresses to more serious symptoms such as difficulty in doing simple or normal jobs like fastening buttons or tying shoelaces.

There is a progressive worsening in both the individual’s mental and physical condition along with their abilities and their memory. There is also an adjustment in the behavior and individuality of the person with Alzheimer’s, with their normal demeanor a thing of the past. For example, somebody who has always been easy and kind may begin to speak filthy language and make improper sexual advances or become hostile and begin hitting and lashing out at people.

In the more advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, the person finally becomes incapable of doing any task at all. They also start not having control over urination and defecation, lose their ability to speak, lose the ability to walk right, suffer paralysis and lose their total memory.

If care is given early enough, it can slightly delay the disease, but unfortunately is not curable at this time.

As soon as Alzheimers disease is diagnosed, then the person should be handed as much help and support as can be done especially in the early stages. Most people who start with Alzheimer’s disease are alert at first than something is not right with them. Knowing you are losing your mind can be a very disturbing and frightening experience.

Their family should also be consulted so they can come to terms with the diagnosis as it can have a crushing effect on them especially if the person with Alzheimer’s is young and responsible for part of the household income.

There are a lot of support groups out there they can join who will assist them with adapting and coming to terms with the life changing disease that has happened to their loved one.

In the last stages of Alzheimer’s disease, the person becomes so stressing that many families have no alternative but to place their loved one in a nursing home so they can be cared for by professionals. This can also be disturbing for both the family and the person who is ill.

The reason for Alzheimers disease is not known, although scientists and physicians have many ideas about its beginnings. There have been many explanations such as the storage of aluminium in the brain to fluoride in the water. None have been verified.

Tags: Illness, Aging

Popularity: 1%