Dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia. It is marked by progressive mental deterioration that can affect memory and reasoning abilities. An individual suffering this condition undergo various behavioral changes that include failure to concentrate, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, withdrawal and bad temper. People with Alzheimer’s may wander around and eventually lose their way because they cannot remember their address.

They may have temper tantrums and engage in obsession behaviors like repeatedly washing the dishes. It can be accompanied by delusions and depressions. In later stages of the disease, it will worsen because sufferers will lose bladder and bowel control. The diagnosing of Alzheimer’s in its early stages is hard because there are no laboratory tests that could identify it not to mention that symptoms can be warning signs of a different condition. Physicians can only consider physical examination together with laboratory tests.

Physicians will also require CT (Computed Tomography) scan, EEG (Electroencephalogram) and assessment of family’s medical history regarding the mental state. Even if the condition is diagnosed with certainty, there is no cure. But some symptoms like depression and delusions can be treated thereby slowing the progress of the disorder. If Alzheimer’s is accompanied by Parkinson’s or heart problems, treatments include alleviation of those conditions. If you have an Alzheimer’s patient, the key is to be patient.

They may lose their way or lose bladder control but they should be given importance. They didn’t ask for it, the only thing that you can do is understand their situation and do your best to ease the pain and the discomfort they are feeling. Old age is a force to be reckoned with but with the right attitude, you can deal with it.