August Topic Of The Month IS Alzheimers And Demntia: What Is The different between the two, what is typical aging, and, how to diagnose it properly

Resources used: alz.org 

Author Note: I am in no a professional of any kind. I am strongly against self-diagnosis, and encourage my audience to please seek the professional advice of their own trusted medical professional and any other trusted professional depending on the topic at hand. The Abler Blog:  ONLY PROVIDES LIMITED GENERAL INFORMATION. AND  ALWAYS CITES WHERE THEY FIND THEIR RESOURCES AND OR INFORMATION.

There are approximately fifty-million people worldwide with Alzheimers or other dementias. What is Alzheimers? It is a degenerative brain disease. It is also the most common form of dementia. Rather being a specific disease, it is more of an overall term that describes a group of symptoms. 

The 10 signs for early detection of the disease.

1. Memory loss that disrupts the person’s daily life IE. Forgetting information just learned. Specific events vs forgetting a name or number, but later remembering it.
2. Finding Challenges in planning/problem solving IE, the person with dementia may experience Issues with following through with a plan or have difficulty with numbers. Vs the typical making  errors 
3. May have difficulty doing tasks that are familiar to them. Such as, driving to somewhere they go to often, or remembering the rules to a game. Vs typical age related tomes, like needing help recording something on the DVR. 
4. Confusion with time and date. For Example, with this disease some can have trouble keep track of dates, seasons, or passage of time. They can also may forget where they are and how they got there. Vs typical behavior based on there age like forgetting what day it is, and later on remembering.
5. Having trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships such as, judging distance, or vision and balance. Vs typical age related behavior, issues with their vision because of cataracts.
6. Having problems with words in both areas of speaking and writing them. For example, they may find it hard to join or follow conversation with someone. Vs the typical age behavior like  occasionally having trouble finding the right word.
7. Missing placing things have having trouble retracing their steps. For example, the person may put things down in unusual places, they lose things, and are then unable to retrace their steps to go back and get it. Vs typical age behavior like, misplacing their belongings from time-to-time, but having the ability to retracing their steps and getting it back.
8. Decreased or poor judgement for example, showing poor judgement handing their finances, or in the grooming of themselves. Vs typical age related behavior like, occasionally neglecting to put oil in their car.
9. Withdrawing from work and social activities because they make have trouble holding or following a conversation, the person may feel prompted not to make the attempt to join and instead start withdrawing Vs  feeling uninterested in attending family obligations and events. 
10. 10.Changes in their mood and personality. For example, they may become suspicious, fearful, or depressed. They may also get easily upset with family and friends, or when they are out of their comfort-zone. Vs the typical aged behavior like, when they have a specific routine for themselves, and they get upset when it’s disrupted.

What Are The Different Stages Of Alzheimers?

• Early stage(mild)-this is where the person starts expressing concerns about experiencing lapses in their memory like forgetting the meaning of certain words or the location to where the put certain possessions.
• Middle Stage(moderate)-This stage of the disease is the longest stage of the disease, and can last many years. During this stage of the disease the dementia becomes more pronounced. Damage to the nerve cells in the brain can also make it difficult for the person to express themselves, as well as do routine tasks without help. During this stage the person(s) with the disease can still remain active in their daily lives with help, this. Is why it is important to find out what additional help the persons  may need and what they don’t. 
• The Late Stage(severe)-in this final stage of the disease the symptoms of dementia is severe enough that the person with the disease loses the ability to communicate and react to their environment. The person may also lose control of their movements, at this stage of the disease the person(s) will mostly need around-the-clock care. 

For more detailed information on the stages of this disease please visit the following link. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/stages

What is the difference between Alzheimers and Dementia?

Dementia: Is a generalized term that describes the decline in a person’s mental ability. This can be severe enough that it can keep the person from participating in everyday life.

Alzheimers: Is the most common form of dementia effecting up to 80% of people, Alzheimers is a specific disease dementia is not. Dementia, is simply a term that describes a group of symptoms that is linked to the decline in a person(s) memory, reasoning, and other thinking skills. There many different types of dementia, and there are many conditions that can cause it. For instance, Mixed dementia. 

Mixed dementia: is where more that one type of the disease can happen at the same time within the brain. It is also important to note that dementia Is NOT part of the “normal” process of aging. Dementia which is caused by damaged brain cells that affect the person(s) communication skills, their ability to this, express feelings, how they think, and their behavior overall.

For further details on this particular part of the disease please visit: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/difference-between-dementia-and-alzheimer-s

How to diagnose Alzheimers?

Doctors may use the following to diagnose someone with the disease. They may use-medical history, mental status tests, physical and neurological exams, diagnostic testing, and brain imagery testing. 

For more information and resources about this particular disease, please visit the following website: alz.org  Or call the 24/7 hotline at:800.272.3900.