When it comes to Alzheimer’s Disease, there are lots of questions that both individuals and their family members may have and can sometimes be misunderstood. In this post we will cover some of the most common questions people have about this disease.
It is a sad fact that 1 in 10 people aged 65 & older will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Statistics show that Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the US. This disease affects more women than men, and the progression of the disease is very unpredictable. Now one thing to keep in mind is that although the disease may not be physically painful per se, the emotional and mental trauma that it inflicts on its victims, as well as their family members/caregivers is substantial.
Assisting a loved one with their day to day life is top priority. This is a disease that takes an emotional toll on families, and can lead to expensive medical bills. Let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about AD.
#1 – Is Alzheimer’s and Dementia the same thing?
Nope they are not! Alzheimer’s disease is a specific disease. Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a loss of one’s mental faculties such as memory, decision making and so on. Alzheimer’s is just one of the diseases that falls under the dementia category.
#2 – Is Alzheimer’s inevitable with old age?
No! Alzheimer’s disease does not affect most seniors. While there are millions who suffer from AD, there are millions more who don’t. While one can expect their memory to fail now and then as they age, an occasional lack of mental clarity doesn’t necessarily denote AD.
#3 – Is Alzheimer’s hereditary?
While studies have shown that genetics do increase one’s risk, it is not certain. If your father had Alzheimer’s, that does NOT mean that you will inherit it as well.
#4 – Are you safe if no one in your family has had AD before?
Once again, Alzheimer’s Disease is highly unpredictable. Even if there is no family history of Alzheimer’s, this disease has been known to strike. Research is still being done to determine what causes AD, but we’re still some way off from finding an absolute answer.
#5 – Is there way to reduce your risk of getting Alzheimer’s?
Yes there is! In fact, studies have shown that obesity in one’s forties and fifties raise their risk of getting AD later in life. Cleaning up your diet, losing excess weight, de-stressing and exercising often will keep your body and brain healthy – this can also in turn help reduce your risks of getting Alzheimer’s.
#6 – Do natural remedies help cure AD?
Now this is a relatively controversial topic. There are many online sources that recommend foods and supplements such as fish oil, curcumin, coconut oil, gingko biloba, etc. to combat Alzheimer’s. The hard truth is that the efficacy of these natural remedies has still not been proven. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they do not work. The body is a highly unique organism that’s always trying to heal itself.
Trying these supplements out may be beneficial and even retard the progress of the disease. One thing to keep in mind when doing this is that what works for you may not work for someone else because our bodies are unique and while the anatomy may be the same, we’re all different individuals. So, it’s really a matter of trial and error to find out what works for you/your loved one.
#7 – What are the stages of Alzheimer’s?
There are 3 stages of Alzheimer’s – mild, moderate and severe. In the mild stage, the patient will notice a lack of energy and may have difficulty learning/remembering things. They may also become very irritable, confused and prone to mood swings because they don’t understand what’s happening to them.
In the moderate stage, the symptoms worsen and the individual will need help with many tasks. They may only be able to do the most basic tasks by themselves. Memory loss also occurs and they may start to forget names, faces, etc.
Now in the severe stage, the patient’s health weakens and they become vulnerable to other diseases. Their cognitive decline is so bad that they may be unable to speak, feed themselves or control their bodily functions.
We hope that this post was able to give you an insight into Alzheimer’s and it’s most common questions. If you are caring for a loved one who has been diagnosed with AD, and you need a hand caring for them on a daily basis, be sure to give us a call at (865) 332-5000 our caregivers are highly trained in Dementia Care and are available to help you care for your loved one.
Help Support Research & Families Living With Alzheimer’s Disease And Dementia
If you live in the Knoxville area, we would love to see you on Sunday, June 27th as we come together with Alzheimer’s Tennessee to raise money at the Knoxville Walk & Benefit Concert. Registration for the walk begins at 3pm at Lakeshore Park 5930 Lyonsview Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Come out with your family and friends and enjoy a picnic, as well as a Benefit Concert after the walk.
If you would like to help us as we raise money for the walk you can click on the image below which will take you right to the Your Home Team Care Donation Page. We have successfully raised $1025 and we’re looking forward to raising more to support this cause.
If you are donating from the main fundraising home page be sure to type in “Your Home Team Care” in the participant search bar – you have to search for Your Home Team Care as a PARTICIPANT (not team). Our name will then be shown on the next page, you can then click on our company name to be taken to the Donation Page.
Please know that we appreciate each and every one of you and we hope to see you at the Alzheimer’s Walk on Sunday June 27th.