severe enough to interfere with daily life. (Editor s note: Think ALL ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S:
of dementia as a symptom, like a fever. A fever can be caused
Overview - Alzheimer s Association s 2009 Report (2) by a ruptured appendix or an infected toe, but it is not an
By Betty Weiss illness in and of itself. Dementia is a collection of symptoms
that makes it difficult for individuals to deal with routine
In May s column, the extreme costs of Alzheimer s for activities without some assistance.)
Medicare, Medicaid and individual families, compared to The Association s report lists the most common types of
other major diseases, was presented along with statistics on dementia very briefly:
the projected massive increase in cases as the boomers age. Alzheimer s disease is the most common type of
The costs for Alzheimer s alone could easily bankrupt many dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases.
medical programs and personal families. To date, there are Individuals have difficulty remembering names and recent
no treatments that can prevent, delay or reverse the disease. events. Early clinical symptoms can be apathy and
State budgets will suffer as well and in order to plan for this depression. Later symptoms include impaired judgment,
rapidly growing population, states must have reliable disorientation, confusion, behavior changes, and trouble
information about the characteristics and needs of their speaking, swallowing and walking. (Editor s note: Everyone
residents coping with Alzheimer s and other dementias. The with Alzheimer s will have dementia, but not everyone with
Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS), in dementia will necessarily have Alzheimer s.)
conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Vascular dementia (also known as multi-infarct or post-
Prevention, is an existing survey to obtain this important stroke dementia or vascular cognitive impairment) is
information. considered the second most common type of dementia.
Caregivers in the states of Washington and North Impairment is caused by decreased blood flow to parts of the
Carolina were allowed to say for themselves what their brain, often due to a series of small strokes that block arteries.
challenges are. In Washington, 48 percent of caregivers for Symptoms often overlap with those of Alzheimer s, although
individuals with memory loss or cognitive impairment memory may not be as seriously affected.
revealed that stress was the greatest difficulty they faced. Mixed dementia is characterized by the presence of the
(Editor s note: Stress is a major cause of illness in caregivers hallmark abnormalities of Alzheimer s along with another
and the negative effects can last long after caregiving days type of dementia, most commonly vascular dementia, but
are over.) This year, an approved set of family caregiving also other types such as dementia with Lewy bodies.
questions is available for all states to add to their BRFSS Dementia with Lewy bodies is a pattern of decline that may
survey and another set of questions on cognitive impairment be similar to Alzheimer s, including problems with memory,
is being developed for 2010. judgment and behavior changes. Alertness and severity of
The report also highlights the emerging role of mild cognitive symptoms may fluctuate daily. Visual
cognitive impairment (MCI). Those with MCI have problems hallucinations, muscle rigidity and tremors are common.
with memory, language or other essential cognitive functions Parkinson s disease individuals develop dementia in the
that are severe enough to be noticed by the individual and later stages. The hallmark abnormality is Lewy bodies that
others, but not severe enough to interfere with daily life. form inside nerve cells in the brain.
Although those with MCI have a higher risk of graduating to Frontotemporal dementia involves damage to brain cells,
Alzheimer s, many never go on to develop the disease. especially in the front and side regions of the brain and cause
Intervention with any disease-modifying treatment should changes in personality, behavior and difficulty with language.
occur as early as possible, ideally, even before symptoms Pick s disease is one type of frontotemporal dementia.
occur and research on individuals with MCI may help to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rapidly fatal disorder that
speed progress in finding ways to prevent or cure impairs memory, coordination and causes behavior changes.
Alzheimer s and determine whether or not some treatments Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is believed to be caused
may work. by consumption of products from cattle affected by mad cow
According to Ronald Petersen, M.D. Ph.D, the disease.
Alzheimer s Association s Medical Scientific Advisory Normal pressure hydrocephalus is caused by a buildup of
Council Chair, There is a rich, diverse variety of treatment fluid in the brain. Symptoms include difficulty walking,
possibilities for Alzheimer s that scientists are exploring, memory loss and inability to control urine. It can sometimes
offering great hope that drugs that may slow or even reverse be corrected with surgical installation of a shunt in the brain to
disease progression could be on the horizon.  drain excess fluid.
It is common to confuse the definitions of dementia  and (Editor s note: Dementia can also be caused by a blow to
Alzheimer s.  The report defines it this way: Dementia is the head, alcohol and drug abuse, reaction to medications,
characterized by loss in memory and other cognitive abilities. depression, strokes, tumors, infections, allergies, diminished
It is caused by various diseases and conditions that result in oxygen, nutritional deficiencies, any number of well-known
damaged brain cells. diseases and more.)
To be classified as dementia, the criteria must include at This overview of the Alzheimer's Association
least one of the following: (1) Inability to generate coherent 2009 Report will continue in next month's
speech or understand spoken or written language. (2) column. To learn more about Alzheimer's,
Inability to recognize or identify objects, assuming intact please visit: www.geocities.com/caregiving4alz.
sensory function. (3) Inability to execute motor activities, Betty Weiss is the author of the best selling book
assuming intact motor abilities, sensory function and When the Doctor Says, "Alzheimer's"- Your
comprehension of the required task. (4) Inability to think Caregiver's Guide to Alzheimer's & Dementia
abstractly, make sound judgments and plan and carry out and Alzheimer's Surgery: An Intimate Portrait.
complex tasks. The decline in cognitive abilities must be
Today s Senior Magazine does not endorse copy of contents of articles, editorials or ads 19 www.TodaysSeniorMagazine.com
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