Medical Questions > dementia, cause and effect
Trent:
We are sorry to hear that your father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) at the young age of 59, and can understand your anxiety. Indeed it is a debilitating disease which you need to learn as much as you can about to be a support to your father. However it is also important that family and carers also receive support and understanding for themselves. Firstly, you need to realize that there are two different types of AD - early-onset familial AD and late-onset AD. We will endeavour to help you glean some understanding with answers to your two questions, and provision of other necessary information.
Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes AD. There probably is not one single cause, but several factors that affect each person differently. Age is the most important known risk factor for AD. Family history is another risk factor. Scientists believe that genetics may play a role in many AD cases. For example, early-onset familial AD, a rare form of AD that usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 60, is inherited. The more common form of AD is known as late-onset. It occurs later in life, and no obvious inheritance pattern is seen in most families. However, several risk factor genes may interact with each other and with non-genetic factors to cause the disease. The only risk factor gene identified so far for late-onset AD is a gene that makes one form of a protein called apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Everyone has ApoE, which helps carry cholesterol in the blood. Only about 15 percent of people have the form that increases the risk of AD. It is likely that other genes also may increase the risk of AD or protect against AD, but they remain to be discovered.
AD is a complex disease. It develops over many years, and it appears to be affected by a number of factors that may increase or decrease a person’s risk of developing the disease. We don’t have control over some of the risk factors for AD. We can do something about other possible AD risk factors, though. The effect on any particular person of risk factor changes will likely depend on his or her genetic makeup, environment, and lifestyle. There is a higher risk when there is a genetic factor, such as a parent or sibling who has suffered the disease. It's common knowledge that a proper exercise regimen can do wonders for the body. Only recently, however, have psychologists and gerontologists aggressively applied the same principle to the mind. Among people who work with older adults, the concept of "cognitive fitness" has become a buzzword to describe activities that stimulate under utilized areas of the brain and improve memory. Proponents of brain-fitness exercises say such mental conditioning can help prevent or delay memory loss and the onset of other age-related cognitive disorders.
The maintenance of your learning process throughout life plays a significant role in the prevention of AD. The best thing one can do regarding self help is to live a healthy lifestyle by eating low fat high fiber heart-healthy food, keep cholesterol levels down, have regular exercise, no smoking, enjoy the pleasure of friendship and keep your mind stimulated, and an alert interest in things around you. For older folk after retirement - Take a few classes, read books, travel, volunteer, or even get a part-time job. Any, or all, of these activities keep life interesting and challenging, as well as fun.
Further information about AD:
AD can also be known as dementia, which is a term used to describe a number of physical disorders of the brain arising from several different causes. However they all have in common a decline in intellectual function, especially loss of memory, difficulty in finding the right words or understanding what people are saying, and mood changes. Because of these declines dementia interferes with daily activities and social relationships and reaches the stage where the patient is totally dependant and bedridden with loss of all psychomotor and verbal skills. Dementia is usually progressive, irreversible and ultimately fatal.
There is no time limit for each stage of the different stages of Alzheimer's to commence. This progression by stages is known as the "Seven Reisberg stages of decline" described in the book "Pocket Handbook of Clinical Psychiatry" 2nd edition, by Harold J Kaplan MD and Benjamin J Saddock MD:
1. Normal cognitive state.
2. Forgetfulness, subjective complaints only; no objective decline.
3. Early confusional stage: objective decline - work and social impairment; no retention of names or reading material; - loses things; - mild anxiety and denial.
4. Late confusional stage: concentration, complex skills decline; flat affect and withdrawal.
5. Early dementia stage: difficulty in interactions; unable to recall or recognize people or places.
6. Middle dementia stage: requires assistance with bathing, toilet activities; behavioral symptoms present (agitation, delusions, aggressive behavior.)
7. Late dementia stage: loss of psychomotor skills and verbal abilities, incontinence; total dependence.
Many accompanying problems can occur during the course of this disease, such as eating problems, pain from constipation or urinary tract infections which can cause agitation and aggression due to the inability to explain, wandering away etc. Should you require any further advice or information in future times, please feel free to contact us through this same avenue again.
Although the patient requires much care and support, it is extremely important for the caregivers to receive just as much understanding and support as the patient. In fact, the huge task and responsibility can be quite overwhelming if this is not acknowledged. The effects on the family can be many and varied, some of them being stress and confusion, and as time goes by, guilt and anger. It’s important to realize your own emotional vulnerability and to have someone to talk things over with. In particular, your own space and interests must not be lost. See the last link below.
These links below may be of further assistance to you.
http://www.healthandage.com/Home/?gid7=808
http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/ADPrevented/chap03.htm.htm
http://www.alzheimersupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/1690/
http://www.healthandage.com/html/min/adi/index.htm
We are sorry to hear that your father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) at the young age of 59, and can understand your anxiety. Indeed it is a debilitating disease which you need to learn as much as you can about to be a support to your father. However it is also important that family and carers also receive support and understanding for themselves. Firstly, you need to realize that there are two different types of AD - early-onset familial AD and late-onset AD. We will endeavour to help you glean some understanding with answers to your two questions, and provision of other necessary information.
Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes AD. There probably is not one single cause, but several factors that affect each person differently. Age is the most important known risk factor for AD. Family history is another risk factor. Scientists believe that genetics may play a role in many AD cases. For example, early-onset familial AD, a rare form of AD that usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 60, is inherited. The more common form of AD is known as late-onset. It occurs later in life, and no obvious inheritance pattern is seen in most families. However, several risk factor genes may interact with each other and with non-genetic factors to cause the disease. The only risk factor gene identified so far for late-onset AD is a gene that makes one form of a protein called apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Everyone has ApoE, which helps carry cholesterol in the blood. Only about 15 percent of people have the form that increases the risk of AD. It is likely that other genes also may increase the risk of AD or protect against AD, but they remain to be discovered.
AD is a complex disease. It develops over many years, and it appears to be affected by a number of factors that may increase or decrease a person’s risk of developing the disease. We don’t have control over some of the risk factors for AD. We can do something about other possible AD risk factors, though. The effect on any particular person of risk factor changes will likely depend on his or her genetic makeup, environment, and lifestyle. There is a higher risk when there is a genetic factor, such as a parent or sibling who has suffered the disease. It's common knowledge that a proper exercise regimen can do wonders for the body. Only recently, however, have psychologists and gerontologists aggressively applied the same principle to the mind. Among people who work with older adults, the concept of "cognitive fitness" has become a buzzword to describe activities that stimulate under utilized areas of the brain and improve memory. Proponents of brain-fitness exercises say such mental conditioning can help prevent or delay memory loss and the onset of other age-related cognitive disorders.
The maintenance of your learning process throughout life plays a significant role in the prevention of AD. The best thing one can do regarding self help is to live a healthy lifestyle by eating low fat high fiber heart-healthy food, keep cholesterol levels down, have regular exercise, no smoking, enjoy the pleasure of friendship and keep your mind stimulated, and an alert interest in things around you. For older folk after retirement - Take a few classes, read books, travel, volunteer, or even get a part-time job. Any, or all, of these activities keep life interesting and challenging, as well as fun.
Further information about AD:
AD can also be known as dementia, which is a term used to describe a number of physical disorders of the brain arising from several different causes. However they all have in common a decline in intellectual function, especially loss of memory, difficulty in finding the right words or understanding what people are saying, and mood changes. Because of these declines dementia interferes with daily activities and social relationships and reaches the stage where the patient is totally dependant and bedridden with loss of all psychomotor and verbal skills. Dementia is usually progressive, irreversible and ultimately fatal.
There is no time limit for each stage of the different stages of Alzheimer's to commence. This progression by stages is known as the "Seven Reisberg stages of decline" described in the book "Pocket Handbook of Clinical Psychiatry" 2nd edition, by Harold J Kaplan MD and Benjamin J Saddock MD:
1. Normal cognitive state.
2. Forgetfulness, subjective complaints only; no objective decline.
3. Early confusional stage: objective decline - work and social impairment; no retention of names or reading material; - loses things; - mild anxiety and denial.
4. Late confusional stage: concentration, complex skills decline; flat affect and withdrawal.
5. Early dementia stage: difficulty in interactions; unable to recall or recognize people or places.
6. Middle dementia stage: requires assistance with bathing, toilet activities; behavioral symptoms present (agitation, delusions, aggressive behavior.)
7. Late dementia stage: loss of psychomotor skills and verbal abilities, incontinence; total dependence.
Many accompanying problems can occur during the course of this disease, such as eating problems, pain from constipation or urinary tract infections which can cause agitation and aggression due to the inability to explain, wandering away etc. Should you require any further advice or information in future times, please feel free to contact us through this same avenue again.
Although the patient requires much care and support, it is extremely important for the caregivers to receive just as much understanding and support as the patient. In fact, the huge task and responsibility can be quite overwhelming if this is not acknowledged. The effects on the family can be many and varied, some of them being stress and confusion, and as time goes by, guilt and anger. It’s important to realize your own emotional vulnerability and to have someone to talk things over with. In particular, your own space and interests must not be lost. See the last link below.
These links below may be of further assistance to you.
http://www.healthandage.com/Home/?gid7=808
http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/ADPrevented/chap03.htm.htm
http://www.alzheimersupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/1690/
http://www.healthandage.com/html/min/adi/index.htm
September 23, 2006 |
Heather RN
Heather RN
My father is in the last stage of Alzheimers. It has become very difficult for my mother and I. To listen to my father moan and beg for forgiveness and saying I'm sorry and crying all the time. But i'm wondering about a herbal supplement called "essiac tea". Have you or anyonelse heard or used this tea before?
May 31, 2008 |
lawanda r.
lawanda r.
Lawanda:
I feel you (and your father) would be better served by asking your family doctor for some medication to help his symptoms. Essiac tea is a combination of 4 herbs that was promoted in Canada for use against cancer, but there have not been, to my knowledge, any convincing reports of its effectiveness - just 'testimonial letters'. There's even less information on it's use in treating the sympotms of late-stage dementia. I think you'd be wasting your money.
I feel you (and your father) would be better served by asking your family doctor for some medication to help his symptoms. Essiac tea is a combination of 4 herbs that was promoted in Canada for use against cancer, but there have not been, to my knowledge, any convincing reports of its effectiveness - just 'testimonial letters'. There's even less information on it's use in treating the sympotms of late-stage dementia. I think you'd be wasting your money.
May 31, 2008 |
Robert Griffith
Robert Griffith
thank you
t.s