While most people have heard of Alzheimer’s disease, few know more than that it impacts memory. Yet, the disease impacts more than 3 million people each year. Below are answers to ten frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s disease.
No, dementia is a term used to categorize a group of symptoms that impact a person’s ability to think and interact with others. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. The National Institute on Aging lists four major classifications of dementia, each of which impacts the brain and body in different ways:
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, only about 1% of Alzheimer’s cases are considered “familial early onset” forms of the disease. Research, however, has also found that 40-65% of those who develop Alzheimer’s are carrying the APOE-e4 risk gene, although that does not necessarily mean an individual will develop Alzheimer’s.
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s. Research, however, has led to improved medications, which are designed to treat underlying causes and to help slow the progression of the disease.
The Alzheimer’s Association has identified several signs of Alzheimer’s disease, including:
There are seven stages of Alzheimer’s as outlined by the Global Deterioration Scale. We have summarized them below:
Yes, while memory loss is the symptom most often attributed to Alzheimer’s, the disease also impacts behavior as well as physical health and well-being. During the later stages of Alzheimer’s, mobility becomes impaired, and ultimately the individual will become bed ridden.
That depends on the overall health of the individual and what stage of Alzheimer’s they are in at the time. Those who are in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s can live independently but will eventually need assistance with their daily activities. Living alone can pose greater dangers in the form of leaving a stove burner on, forgetting to turn off water in the sink or tub, and a variety of other issues that will worsen in time.
There comes a time when living independently becomes more difficult as the disease progresses. Some signals that it’s time to seek a memory care environment may include:
Memory care communities provide specialized care for individuals with dementia. The benefits of living in a memory care community are as follows:
Yes you can, and you should. Medicare will cover both a basic cognition test as well as more advanced testing when cognitive impairment becomes evident. Early testing is key to getting early therapy and medication to help the individual live as normal a life as possible for as long as possible.
There are many resources available to help you better understand Alzheimer’s and how to cope with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Please visit Anthem Memory Care for more information at AnthemMemoryCare.com.
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