Mental Health:

Exercising the Mind

Dementia:
Alzheimers Type
By Melissa D.L. Jacobs, MSW, LCSW
Test youre A.Q. (Aging Quotient)
A. Swimming Pool
B. Prune
A. Raindrop
B. Mouth drool
Test youre A.Q. (Aging Quotient)
A. Plains Landscape
B. Cardiogram
A. Snowflake
B. Cataract
What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Progressive, degenerative brain disease that
destroys brain cells by attacking the brain. It
causes problems with memory, thinking and
behavior.

Currently, there is no cure. It is a terminal disease
that shortens ones life span.

There are 5 million Americans who have
Alzheimers Disease.

It is the 7
th
leading cause of death in the United
States.



What Alzheimers Disease is NOT:
An emotional illness
The result of the normal aging process
Contagious
Hardening of the arteries
Mental retardation or mental laziness
A direct result of stress, grief, neglect or family
conflict
A result of vitamin deficiency.
Caused by lack of blood or oxygen to the brain.
A result of poisoning, a blow to the head or chronic
alcoholism.
Preventable or curable.

If its not part of the aging process
why do older people mostly have it?
There are risk factors with Alzheimers Disease.

Age: 65+ and increases +5 years; After age 85,
the risk factor jumps almost to 50%

Family History: 2-3 times more likely to develop
the disease if there is a family member with the
disease the risk increases if there is more than
one.

Other Risk factors: Head injuries, Unhealthy
lifestyle. Risk increases for conditions that
damage the heart and blood vessels (i.e. heart
disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes,
high cholesterol).

How does someone know if they have
Alzheimer's Disease?
There are 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's Disease.
1. Memory Loss
2. Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks
3. Problems with Language
4. Disorientation to Time and Place
5. Poor or Decreased Judgment
6. Problems with Abstract Thinking
7. Misplaced Things
8. Changes in Mood Swings
9. Changes in Personality
10. Loss of Initiative

Memory Loss
A common early sign of Alzheimer's
disease.
Forgetting information recently learned.
Frequently forgetful overall and not being
able to recall information.
Difficulty Performing Familiar
Tasks
It becomes difficult to complete everyday
functions or even to try and plan tasks.
Examples:
- How to operate the microwave to
cook a meal.
- How to play a game.
- Organizing and paying monthly
bills.
Problems with Language
Forgetting simple words or substituting
words.
Often makes speech or writing incoherent
or difficult to understand.
Disorientation to Time and
Place
Becoming lost in neighborhoods they
have lived in for decades.
Wandering around in strange places
because they do not know where they are
or how they got there.
Forgetting how to get back home.
Poor or Decreased Judgment
Forming friendships with people who
take advantage of them financially.
May wear house shoes when its cold,
raining or sleeting outside instead of
proper boots/shoes.
Problems with Abstract
Thinking
Difficulty performing mental tasks.
They may forget how to use numbers.
Example:
- How to correctly count up
money when grocery shopping
to pay for their purchase.
Misplacing Things
Placing things inappropriately.
Examples:
- Milk in the closet.
- Coins or money in the ice tray.

Change in Mood or Behavior
They have mood swings that shift rapidly
without reason, (i.e. crying calm
anger.)
Changes in Personality
Dramatic changes and or shift in
personality.
Loss of Initiative
They may become withdrawn and
passive. Not doing their normal
activities.
Examples:
- Sleeping more hours than
usual.
- Sitting and watching TV for
longer periods of time.


How does someone find out if they
have Alzheimers Disease?
If someone suspects they, a family member or
friend has Alzheimers Disease the best thing to
do is have them speak to their primary care
physician.

No one test can diagnosis Alzheimers. It is
diagnosed through exclusion.

Ideally, the patient should have a medical
history, neurological evaluation, psychiatric
evaluation, and social history included in a
diagnostic work-up.
Alzheimer's Disease:
General Stages of Progression
First Stages:
Forgetfulness
Impaired Judgment
Unable to handle routine tasks
Lacks spontaneity
Lessening of initiative
Disorientation time/place
Depression & terror
Alzheimer's Disease:
General Stages of Progression
Second Stage
Wandering and perseveration
Increasing disorientation
Increasing forgetfulness
Agitation and restlessness
Repetitive actions
Decreased sensory perception
Inability to think abstractly
Muscle twitching may develop
Alzheimer's Disease:
General Stages of Progression
Third Stage
Major Disorientation
Complete dependence in activities of daily living
(ADLs)
Inability to recognize self or other people about
them
Speech impaired, or progresses to being mute
Becomes emaciated
Develop morbid need to put everything in their
mouth
Develop a necessity to touch everything in sight.
Cant walk, talk, swallow (lost of all body functions)

Treatment Options?
Cognitive Symptoms
There is no cure for Alzheimers Disease but there are
treatment options to help treat some of the cognitive and
behavioral symptoms.

Some of the medications approved by the FDA to treat the
brain for memory, awareness, language, judgment and
thought processes are: Aricept, Exelon and Razadyne.

Namenda is a medication that treats information
processing.

Vitamin E is another treatment option which can be used
under the supervision of a physician.

Treatment Options?
Behavioral Symptoms
The behavioral symptoms (anxiety, depression, wandering,
impulses, sleep disturbances, restlessness, agitation, delusions,
etc.) can be managed with medications as well.

If the symptoms are managed with medications they should be
closely monitored by a physician.

Best practice is to try and change behaviors without medications
first. By identifying the symptom Understanding its cause
Changing the caregiving environment to remove challenges.

Try to identify if there are any triggers or obstacles (i.e. different
living arrangement, new caregiver, travel, company in the home,
being asked to bathe or change clothes, admission to a hospital)
in the environment that are causing the behavior and change or
remove it.
Caregiver Tips
Learn about resources In-home assistance, visiting nurses, Meals-on-Wheels,
adult day care

Stay educated about the disease as it progresses

Get Help Ask for assistance if you feel overwhelmed. There are support
groups available. You must accept the changes and learn to utilize the
resources available for you.

Take care of yourself Be careful and watch your diet by getting plenty of
exercise and rest to reduce stress levels.

Do legal & financial planning Consult an attorney to discuss legal and
financial care issues. Try to involve the person with Alzheimer's and other
family members if possible.

Be realistic The behaviors experienced through Alzheimers cannot be
controlled.

Give yourself credit, not Guilt! You are doing the best you can. Dont feel
guilty because you cant do more. You are there caring for them and for that
you should be proud.
(alz.org)
Alzheimers Association
1-800-272-3900
http://www.alz.org

For more information: