Alzheimers Death: Part Of The Progression Of The Disease
Alzheimers is a fatal disease. Many people associate this disease with memory loss and the ability to function, but Alzheimers death is the eventual outcome of this disease.
Alzheimers was first discussed in the early 1900s the disease was brought to the attention of the medical community by Dr. Alzheimer of Germany. One of his patients had these strange symptoms and Dr. Alzheimer was baffled by the condition. In the end, the woman died and Dr.Alzheimer performed an autopsy and discovered that her brain had been altered by something.
We now know that patients with Alzheimers have a condition where their brain is under attack and the cells are being destroyed. Researchers are trying to find ways to stop the progression of this disease.
Stages And Alzheimers Death
This disease is progressive and stages have been identified that patients will go through leading to Alzheimers death.
In the first two stages, many people do not even realize that they have the disease. Patients report forgetfulness, not being able to recall names or even words have been noticed by patients. Overall, it is a sense of not being able to remember clearly.
The third stage is generally when family members or co-workers begin to notice a problem. The patient is having more difficulty remembering names, is misplacing objects and concentration is a problem.
Stage 4 and 5 show the continued decline of memory and confusion can be a problem for patients. They are still able to take care of themselves, but may need to be supervised as they get confused easily and dont remember what they are doing.
Stage 6 is when the patient begins having personality changes. These involve becoming suspicious of everyone. Thinking that people are out to get them, they may become volatile and unstable. The memory loss continues and they now will need assistance with hygiene.
Stage 7 is the last stage right before Alzheimers death. This stage is severe, where the patient needs full time care. They may no longer be able to speak and need assistance with everything from feeding to going to the bathroom. Alzheimers death is the end result of this stage.
Alzheimers death is caused by the cell destruction in the brain. In the initial stages of Alzheimers the cells that are being destroyed involve functions surrounding memory, organization and even communication. As the disease progresses the cells that are being destroyed control every aspect of the systems within a person. This will affect the ability to swallow and even breathe.
Alzheimers is a very destructive disease that will progress until death. A hoped for cure is being worked on, but this is a very complicated disease. Be aware of the symptoms of Alzheimers and communicate any concerns with your health to your physician.
Alzheimers And Baby Boomers
Depending on the kind of information or help youre looking for, you can find a lot of alzheimers disease help online.
Usually Alzheimers disease normally appears after a person turns 60-years-old. Caregivers preferred this patch method to the previously used pill form, and the effects seemed to be better when using the patch. For example, even walking regularly can help to keep a person functional longer.
This is also the Alzheimers stage where some patients begin to wander, leading to a great deal of concern and panic from family members when the patient cannot be located.
It is indeed a touching letter and the public should be glad that Reagan had the courage to go public with his condition. This means not only scouring the local stores, shops and doctors offices, but also maybe even making some phone calls to specialists in your area, or close to it. Definitive patterns in brain function and size are obvious in Alzheimers brains and as research continues, the more is learned. When initially diagnosed with Alzheimers, tests are given to find a base line of the patients ability to which future assessments can be compared. This is perhaps the most important Alzheimers information of all, because if you are able to understand the structure of the disease then if you do have a loved one who is suffering from it you are able to understand how they are feeling as the disease progresses in their case.
These exams also help doctors to get an overall picture of the patients health.
A CT or CAT scan (Computed Tomography) takes multiple pictures of a persons body from different angles very quickly. Treatment is still in the works. It is important to find out what the person wants and try to do it for them. While working on this, the Alzheimers Association also helps to ensure that patients and their families will not struggle by themselves. Other treatments may come in the form of medications. |