Suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or having a close person who suffers from it can be one of the most difficult situations in life. Currently, 47. 5 million people worldwide suffer from some form of dementia, of which about 60-70% of cases are Alzheimer’s disease. , according to figures from the World Health Organization.
It is a very difficult disease to accept, assimilate and treat, people with Alzheimer’s suffer a progressive deterioration, including sudden changes in their behavior and increased dependence.
- The situation is very painful for those with this form of dementia.
- As the person goes through moments of increasing confusion and deep depression; for those around him.
- The disease can be devastating.
- Especially because of the helplessness he experiences and the tiredness he produces.
- May be to care for the affected person.
Officially, Alzheimer’s disease is currently incurable. The diagnosis, which is made by elimination, usually occurs 5 to 6 years after the onset of the first symptoms, so it is only a matter of time before the affected person is expected to suffer a serious deterioration, which eventually leads to death.
The common thread is that people with Alzheimer’s have a life expectancy of 7 to 20 years, once the diagnosis is made, the disease basically goes through three phases: in the first, short-term memory problems, disorientation, decreased motor skills and behavioral changes, which can go unnoticed.
In the second phase, memory impairment and behavior is more evident, the person may not recognize relatives and have very aggressive reactions to others, without apparent cause.
In the last phase, the person is becoming less and less functional, can even forget how to use language and become totally dependent to perform the simplest daily activities, such as eating or going to the bathroom.
The family of an individual with Alzheimer’s disease faces very complex moments and extremely difficult decisions, the first difficulty is to make the diagnosis itself, because it is a disease that manifests itself in different ways in each person, while some people have typical symptoms, others do not do.
Alzheimer’s disease can easily be mistaken for deep depression, anxiety disorders or changes in old age; In fact, the diagnosis of 100% confirmed Alzheimer’s is made only after death, with a detailed observation of the brain during the autopsy. it is only possible to make a probability diagnosis.
However, the family must adapt their life to the patient’s situation, at some point it is necessary to decide whether it is necessary to maintain home care or if it is preferable to move it to a specialized center, this means, without a doubt, a very strong confrontation with different emotions and feelings.
Alzheimer’s disease can be treated in such a way that it does not have extremely serious effects on the family and the patient is able to maintain a significant percentage of quality of life. So far, the disease cannot be cured, but it can slow down. , that is, slowing down its progression.
Stress is known to increase the severity of Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease, so it’s important to take steps to reduce stress in every way possible.
A good idea is to establish strict routines for the patient and make the home a safe place. Fixed routines help reduce stress and help the patient reduce disorientation. Routines simplify the daily life of both the patient and their family.
If possible, it is advisable to hire an outsider to help with patient care, especially for problems such as bathing, changing clothes, food, and administering medications when and in the right order.
If this is not possible, it is advisable to distribute patient care among different family members, if this is also not possible, the caregiver should seriously consider taking the patient to a specialized center.
The good news is that scientists around the world are trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. In Australia, for example, they discovered a treatment that helps recover memory. The results to date are quite optimistic.
The American Academy of Neurology has also made great strides in this regard. Optimistic results were also obtained in memory recovery with the drug ORM-12741.
Meanwhile, neurologist Rodolfo Llinus, director of the? NASA Neurolab ?, known worldwide for his brain research, claims to have found a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Although some still question their findings, the truth is that New York University’s neuroscience professor says in his publications that in less than a decade the cure for Alzheimer’s disease will be available to everyone.
Images courtesy of Sara K Byrne.