Alzheimer’s Disease: A Silent Enemy
Suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or knowing that someone close to you is suffering from it can be one of the most difficult situations to deal with in life. There are currently 47.5 million people in the world who suffer from some form of dementia, and of these, 60-70% have Alzheimer’s disease, according to figures from the World Health Organization.
It is a disease that is very difficult to accept and manage. People with Alzheimer’s suffer from progressive deterioration, including abrupt changes in their behavior and increased dependence on others.
The situation is very painful for people suffering from this form of dementia because it causes them to go through periods of increased confusion and deep depression. For the people around them, the disease can be devastating, especially due to the helplessness they experience and the exhaustion associated with caring for the person.
At the time of writing, Alzheimer’s disease has no official cure. The diagnosis is usually made after 5-6 years of the first symptoms appearing. Thereafter, it is usually expected that the patient will suffer severe deterioration, which will eventually lead to death.
On average, a person with Alzheimer’s disease has an estimated life expectancy of 7-20 years after diagnosis. The disease generally goes through three phases:
The first includes problems with short-term memory, disorientation, decreased motor skills and certain behavioral changes that can go unnoticed.
During the second phase, the changes in memory and behavior may become more obvious. The person may begin to stop recognizing people in their family and have very aggressive reactions towards others for no apparent reason.
During the last phase, the person becomes less functional. He or she may forget how to use language and reach total dependence to perform even the simplest of daily activities, such as eating or using the toilet.
An Alzheimer’s patient’s family will be faced with very complex moments and very difficult decisions. The first difficulty lies in the diagnosis itself because it is a disease that manifests itself in different ways in each person. Some may show typical symptoms, and others may not.
Alzheimer’s disease is easily confused with deep depression, anxiety disorders and even aging. In fact, Alzheimer’s diagnoses can only be made 100% after death, after careful observation of the brain during autopsy. In life, one can only make a diagnosis based on probability.
In the same way , the family must adapt their lives to the patient’s situation. At some point, you have to decide whether you want to continue with care at home or transfer the patient to a specialist center. This is of course a very tough decision, with different emotions.
Alzheimer’s disease can be addressed so that its impact on the family is not too serious and the patient maintains a significant part of his quality of life. So far, the disease can not be cured, but it can be slowed down.
It is known that stress increases the severity of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. It is therefore important to take steps to reduce anxiety in all possible ways.
A good idea is to establish routines for the patient and make his home a safe space. Regular routines help reduce stress and help the patient with their disorientation. Routines simplify everyday life for both the patient and his family.
If possible , it is a good idea to hire an outside person who can contribute to the care of the sick person. This especially applies to things like bathing, dressing, eating and medicating in the right order and at the right times.
If this is not possible , it is a good idea to distribute the care of the sick person among different family members. If this is not possible, the caregiver must carefully consider the option of taking the patient to a specialist center.
The good news is that there are researchers around the world trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. In Australia , for example, they have discovered a treatment that helps restore memory. The results so far have been very encouraging.
The American Academy of Neurology has also made great strides in this area. With the drug ORM-12741, they have found encouraging results in memory recovery.
Meanwhile, neurologist Rodolfo Llinás, director of NASA’s “Neorolab” program and recognized worldwide for his research on the brain, claims to have found the cure for Alzheimer’s. Although some question his findings, the truth is that this professor of neuroscience at New York University has noted in his publications that the cure for Alzheimer’s disease will be available to everyone within ten years.
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