1. Dementia Is Not a Natural Consequence of Old Age.
Forgetfulness That Comes With Age May Be a Sign of Alzheimer's Disease!
It is natural for people of all ages to occasionally forget names, people's names, not remember where they put something, or get confused about streets.
However, this type of forgetfulness is temporary and does not affect our daily lives. However, the increase in forgetfulness with age and even the emergence of other mental and psychological disorders may be the early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. As in many societies, in our society, unfortunately, the symptoms of dementia in old age are accepted as a natural process of human life and are generally left to their own course, thinking that there is no cure. Dementia is not a natural result of old age.
The reasons that lead to this need to be investigated and diagnosed. It should not be forgotten that people want to enjoy life and be happy in old age as much as they do at other ages.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disease that occurs with aging and causes various mental and behavioral disorders, primarily forgetfulness. For an unknown reason, some proteins accumulate in certain areas of the brain. This causes damage to the nerve cells that enable communication in the brain. In addition, the production of certain chemicals in the brain that enable communication between nerves decreases. As a result, these disorders cause mental skills, especially memory and learning, to gradually decrease and become irreversible.
3. Who gets Alzheimer's disease and how often does it occur?
Alzheimer's disease is a disease that usually occurs after the age of 60. It is seen in approximately one in every 10 people over the age of 65; and in approximately one in every two people over the age of 85. It is estimated that there are nearly 20 million Alzheimer's patients worldwide. Among them are former US President Ronald Reagan, famous movie actress Rita Hayworth and the once famous tango king Secaettin Tanyerli. Alzheimer's disease is seen in almost the same rate in women and men. Alzheimer's disease is not a contagious or hereditary disease. However,
It is thought that there may be a familial predisposition.
4. How is Alzheimer's disease diagnosed?
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, but there are other diseases that have similar symptoms. Therefore, Alzheimer's disease must be completely distinguished from other causes of dementia. Neurologists and psychiatrists can now make a definitive diagnosis to a large extent thanks to various tests, brain X-rays and laboratory tests.
5. What are the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?
The first symptom of Alzheimer's disease is usually forgetfulness. There is difficulty in remembering recent information or learning new information. In addition, other mental problems such as speech disorders, difficulty in making decisions, not being able to recognize people or losing one's way also occur. In Alzheimer's patients, the picture is often accompanied by behavioral and personality disorders. Especially as the disease progresses, many patients may experience mental problems such as depression, aggression, restlessness, hallucinations, sleep disorders or aimless wandering.
Mental disorders:
Forgetfulness
learning disability
Speech disorder
Don't lose your way
Inability to recognize people
Difficulty in decision making
Mental disorders:
Unrest
Indifference
Aggression
Sleep Disorder
Aimless wandering
Unrealistic dreams
Depression
6. How does Alzheimer's disease progress?
Alzheimer's disease is a disease that progresses slowly, but over time, it affects daily life and leaves the patient in need of irreversible care. It is generally divided into 3 stages:
* In the first stage, the patient shows early symptoms such as forgetfulness, not being able to recognize familiar places, not being able to find some words, losing interest in work and hobbies, and generally does not want to accept that he/she is sick.
* In the second stage, memory loss becomes more apparent, the patient may forget the names of relatives, may lose their way, their speech impairment increases, they may need help with daily tasks such as washing and dressing, and may have some dreams.
* In the third stage, the child may no longer recognize family members and may have difficulty eating and walking.
begins to experience urinary and fecal incontinence and may have severe behavioral disorders
visible.
Alzheimer's disease progresses over a period of approximately 5-8 years.
leaving him bedridden and in need of complete care.
7. Is there a cure for Alzheimer's disease?
Unfortunately, there is no treatment that will completely eliminate Alzheimer's disease today. However, there are some new treatment options that will stop or slow down the progression of the disease for a certain period of time. These new drugs, called cholinesterase inhibitors, protect mental functions by helping to balance the amount of a messenger substance called acetylcholine that has decreased as a result of damage to nerve cells in the brain. Drug treatment does not completely stop Alzheimer's disease, but it does alleviate various mental disorder symptoms, including memory loss. In this way, the patient's daily life activities are preserved for a longer time. There are also many effective and reliable drugs that have been used for a long time to treat behavioral disorders such as depression, restlessness, insomnia or hallucinations. The person who will decide on drug treatment is a neurologist (a specialist in neurological diseases) or a psychiatrist (a specialist in mental diseases). Ultimately, drug treatment improves the patient's quality of life and allows them to take care of themselves for a longer time.
8. What should be taken into consideration in the care of Alzheimer's patients?
In addition to medication, careful care is also important for Alzheimer's patients. Daily life activities such as eating, dressing, going to the toilet or washing may deteriorate as the disease progresses and the patient may become increasingly in need of care. It is also important to support the patient emotionally and to ensure that they are connected to life by creating various activities to occupy themselves in their free time. It is also important to ensure the safety of the Alzheimer's patient inside and outside the home. Care should be taken to ensure that they do not start a fire when lighting the stove, do not fall on slippery surfaces or do not go out alone and get lost. Alzheimer's patients should not drive after a certain period of time for their own safety and the safety of those around them. Since Alzheimer's patients may also have problems using money, it may be unsafe for them to go to the bank alone, use checks or make purchases with large amounts of money.
9. What burden does Alzheimer's disease impose?
Alzheimer's disease creates a financial and emotional burden on both the patient's relatives who care for them and on society. Many relatives of patients are forced to quit their jobs or change their lifestyles in order to care for their loved ones. Many relatives of patients who have to change or cut off their relationships in both their personal and professional circles become depressed under this heavy burden. The time and money required for the treatment and care of Alzheimer's patients also creates an indirect socioeconomic burden on society.
