Frequently Asked Questions About Alzheimer's Disease

At Attentive Home Care, we are dedicated to providing clients in Plymouth and Bristol counties with the best possible care in the comfort of their own homes. When a loved one becomes ill with Alzheimer's disease, it is often a difficult, stressful time for families. It is especially important to know that your loved one is being cared for by trained, professional staff who understand the unique needs of Alzheimer's patients. Rest assured that Attentive Home Care staff will provide your family member with professional Alzheimer's care so that your loved one is safe and comfortable.

Following are a few frequently asked questions regarding Alzheimer's Disease.

Q. What is Alzheimer's disease?

A. Alzheimer's disease is one type of dementia that over time erodes brain function. Specifically, it affects memory, cognitive ability, and behavior, and eventually leads to inability to complete basic daily tasks.

Q. What are the causes/risk factors of Alzheimer's?

A. The three greatest risk factors associated with Alzheimer's include age, family history and heredity. The majority of Alzheimer's patients are at least 65 and older, and the risk doubles about every five years after that age. The risk sharply increases to 50 percent once an individual reaches the age of 85.

The risk of developing Alzheimer's is higher for individuals with parents or siblings who have the disease, and genetics or environmental factors also may play a role.

Other factors that may influence getting the disease include exposure to head trauma, and some research links heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and high cholesterol to Alzheimer's.

Q. What are the symptoms?

A. Although memory loss may be associated with aging and other conditions, it can be a signal that Alzheimer's is present. When a person begins to forget recently learned dates and names, or repeatedly asks for the same information with greater reliance on friends and family, Alzheimer's may be the culprit. Other early signs include a general difficulty in following through with routine tasks such as managing a budget, remembering the rules of a once-loved game, or recalling appointments. A pattern of forgetting basic words and losing train of thought while speaking may occur as well.

As the disease progresses, the symptoms become easier to identify. An individual may become disoriented concerning the passage of time or season, or experience difficulties judging distance or perceiving spatial distances. Alzheimer's patients may struggle with good judgment and decision making, withdraw from social and work activities, and experience strong fluctuations in mood and personality.

Q. How can you be tested for Alzheimer's?

A. If you are concerned about the presence of Alzheimer's in yourself or a loved one, discuss it with your primary care physician. A CT scan or MRI of the brain may be required. Cognitive testing also may be available to identify and quantify early cognitive defects at local Council of Aging organizations or university medical centers.

Q. What resources are available?

A. More information and support is available at the Alzheimer Association's web site at www.alz.com or the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging at www.nia.nih.gov.