It is a disease that leaves many of its sufferers with little to no cognitive abilities in the most severe of cases. It is heartbreaking for those whose loved ones have Alzheimer's and it is frustrating for those that suffer with it. Alzheimer's can steal away the one you love so it is important to know what you can about the disease, the stages and any possible treatments available and just as important, resources for you in interacting with the person that has Alzheimer's.
Usually, the first noticeable sign or symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is going to be the short-term memory loss coupled with visual-spatial confusion. While in the beginning, the symptoms may seem like simple forgetfulness and difficulty getting oneself down an aisle, these two symptoms alone progress into forgetting yesterday and getting lost in your own neighborhood.
It will be a family member that notices these subtle changes first, so it is important that we all know the symptoms at early onset. This will help with diagnosis and treatment of the disease. You may also notice that the person in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease may seem a little more uninhibited, or they could become disorientated, there may also be sudden behavioral changes like a violent outburst, or passivity that was not present before. These are all symptoms that need to be reported to the doctor at the first notice of them.
As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, there is a deterioration of musculature and mobility. This often leads to bedridden patients who can no longer care for themselves if an external cause such as pneumonia does not take them first. The progression of Alzheimer’s disease is a very difficult and painful process to watch, especially when it is happening to someone you love. We need to know the stages of the disease so we know what to expect and when so that we are able to cope with it as well.
Once a person has been diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease, the average life expectancy is then another seven to ten years. We say "on average" because none of us have a crystal ball and I am pretty sure we were not born with expiration dates. Some people with Alzheimer’s have very long lives, and some do not. It depends on the when the disease is diagnosed and the stage and speed of progression of the disease.
There are three stages, each with their own set of symptoms:
Mild – this is an earliest stage of the disease. It is signified by a patient’s tendency to be less energetic. This is also the stage where the symptoms are missed by the family most often. Here a patient can receive a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment if the symptoms are not “severe” enough to warrant the diagnoses of dementia.
Moderate – the patient may still be able to take care of themselves independently as far as simple tasks are concerned such as brushing their teeth or using the bathroom, but they may need help with tasks such as cooking a meal or driving a car.
Severe – the progression of the disease here is drastic, it leaves a patient unable to care for themselves or be able to control bodily functions, and they often do not recognize those that they love. They are alone and have often given up by this point.
As far as treatment goes, it depends on when the disease is caught. There isn’t a cure for Alzheimer's disease yet. There are treatments that can slow the progression such as ginkgo biloba, NMDA antagonists and statin simvastatin are just a few that are being used to help slow the process.
For caregivers dealing with Alzheimer’s patients, whether you are related to them or not, understand that this requires a lot of patience and understanding on your part. It is very difficult to watch a grown adult deteriorate to the point of where they are a shell of someone that was at one point a vibrant human being. For loved ones that are being the care giver, the best advice is to find a support group and join it. It cannot be underestimated how important it is that you have someone to talk to. You have to remain strong, and you can not give up. It is not easy, but you can get through this.