My spouse was just diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. I have no idea where to begin. Can you help?
North Shore Elder Services :: Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, we can help you. The Family Caregiver program is designed to help people in your situation. We recognize that each family's situation is unique. A Family Caregiver Specialist will meet with you and your loved one to conduct an assessment of your needs. We will help direct you through the aging network and provide you with options, support services and resources that could help you in your caregiving role.
Related QuestionsHow is Alzheimer's disease diagnosed?
AlzcareAlzheimer's disease can only be conclusively diagnosed by examining the brain after death in an autopsy to determine the presence of characteristics plaques and tangles in certain brain areas. However, doctors can make a clinical diagnosis of "possible" or "probable" Alzheimer's disease in a living person. Several tools are used to arrive at this diagnosis. These include: a complete medical history and tests that measure memory, problem solving, attention, counting, and language abilities.
Related QuestionsHow is Alzheimer's diagnosed?
FAQ's - Alzheimers-MDA "probable" diagnosis can be made with 90 percent accuracy by using some diagnostic tools to rule out other forms of dementia. A complete medical history and physical exam are performed. Since memory is affected early in the disease progression, including information from family members is usually helpful. Blood and urine samples are tested to determine if another disease may be causing symptoms, and neuropsychological testing to determine memory, attention span, and other cognition skills.
Related QuestionsMom was just diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Frequently Asked Questions - Alzheimer'sAlzheimer's Disease is an irreversible progressive, degenerative brain disease that occurs gradually and results in memory loss, thinking and reasoning. Changes in mood and behavior may also occur. There are approximately 4,500,000 Americans with the disease. Healthy people of any age may forget a person's name or forget why they went into the kitchen, but these episodes of forgetfulness are infrequent, do not get worse over time and often are remembered later.
Related QuestionsWhat is Alzheimer's disease?
Wisconsin Comprehensive Memory Program—Frequently Aske...Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, neurological disorder characterized by a decline in cognitive function that results in dementia (impaired memory, thinking, and reasoning). Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of memory loss (dementia), affecting approximately 4 million people in the United States. Unless a cure is found the number of persons affected in the US alone could reach 14 million by the year 2050.
Related QuestionsFAQ's - Alzheimers-MDAlzheimer's disease is a degenerative disorder of the brain that causes progressive deterioration of memory, comprehension, intellectual function and behavior. Eventually, most people with this disease become totally impaired and need constant care.Related Questions
PC(USA) - National Health Ministries: Alzheimer's Disease Fr...Alzheimer's disease is an illness that kills neurons in the brain, robbing people of important functions, including memory and the ability to perform activities of daily living, such as eating, drinking, and grooming. It may also cause apathy and depression and behavioral problems such as wandering. Some 4 million people in the United States are affected by Alzheimer's disease—one in every ten people over 65 and close to half of all people over 85. More women than men are affected.Related Questions
Can ginkgo biloba help with the memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter - Alzheimer's FA...Ginkgo biloba produces a very mild memory improvement. A study published in the Oct. 22/29, 1997 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association indicated that the drug has a modest positive effect in persons with AD. Additional studies are being conducted on this treatment option.
Related QuestionsI've Just Been Diagnosed with a Lung Disease. What Should I Do Now?
Frequently Asked Questions About Lung Diseases - FAQ About L...Being diagnosed with a lung disease can be a frightening and overwhelming experience. Many people feel alone and may not know what to do once they have been diagnosed. These suggestions will help give you direction.
Related QuestionsI've just been diagnosed with celiac disease. How soon will I feel better?
CFmenu.jpgMost patients respond rapidly to a gluten-free diet and will often report an increased feeling of well-being. How well they feel, and how quickly, may vary depending on the nature, severity and duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis. There may also be some "ups and downs" as they work toward the goal of eliminating all gluten from their diet. There is usually a learning curve to finding what food, drink and drug products are safe and which contain gluten.
Related QuestionsAlzheimer's DiseaseTo check for the disease, your doctor will ask about your past health and do a physical exam. He or she may ask you to do some simple things that test your memory and other mental skills. Your doctor may also check how well you can do daily tasks. The exam usually includes blood tests to look for another cause of your problems. You may have tests to look at a picture of your brain, such as CT and MRI scans. By themselves, these tests can't show for sure whether you have Alzheimer's.Related Questions
Walnut Ridge Memory Care LLC.Alzheimer's disease can usually be correctly identified through a series of symptomatic screenings and supportive medical tests to rule out other possible relevant factors. It can not be definitely diagnosed until a brain autopsy shows the disease's characteristic degenerative signs. Forgetfulness may be the first sign of dementia. Often, family members or friends are the first to notice possible symptoms.Related Questions
My elder has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Is it possible to care for him/her at home?
Seniorlink Online - Eldercare and Caregiving - frequently as...Yes, most people with Alzheimer’s disease can be cared for at home. It is essential for you to consider that your loved one may have Alzheimer’s for many years and the disease will gradually worsen. Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s is a marathon, not a sprint. Find enough help so that you can pace yourself for the long term. Caregivers who are unable to do this burn out or develop their own health problems.
Related QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions About Alzheimer's DiseaseThere is no single, comprehensive diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease. Instead, physicians or other specialists rule out other conditions through a process of elimination. A comprehensive evaluation to establish diagnosis will include a complete health history, physical examination, neurological and mental status assessments, and other tests including analysis of blood and urine, electrocardiogram (EKG) and chest x-rays.Related Questions
How is Alzheimer's disease diagnosed?
Johnnie B. Byrd, Sr. Alzheimer's Center & Research I...Today, the only definite way to diagnose Alzheimer's disease is to find out whether there are plaques and tangles in brain tissue. To look at brain tissue, however, doctors must usually wait until they do an autopsy, which is an examination of the body done after a person dies. Therefore, doctors can only make a diagnosis of "possible" or "probable" Alzheimer's disease while the person is still alive.
Related QuestionsHow is Alzheimer's Disease diagnosed? Medically? Behaviorally?
Alzheimers, Dementia & DrivingThere is no single diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease. Diagnosis is made by a process of elimination, ruling out any possible related conditions. The patient exam usually consists of physical, psychological and neurological exams and a thorough medical history. A diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease can be obtained through evaluation with approximately 90 percent accuracy. The only way to confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is through autopsy.
Related QuestionsWhat is Alzheimer's disease, and how does ginkgo help it?
FAQ's PageA serious and increasing problem, Alzheimer's disease, or "senile dementia,", literally means "impaired mental function of the elderly". It affects approximately 4 million Americans, which includes nearly 30 percent of the people over the age of 85. It has been found that ginkgo improves memory and the ability to concentrate, elevates the mood, and relieves dizziness and anxiety. Moreover, taking ginkgo actually stops or significantly slows down the progression of Alzheimer's.
Related QuestionsWhat is early stage Alzheimer's disease?
facts for health--alzheimer's--frequently asked questionsIn its mild or early stage, Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be overlooked both by individuals developing AD and by those around them. Lack of awareness may be an early AD symptom, although some are keenly aware of diminished memory and thinking abilities. Family and friends may ignore early symptoms hoping they will not progress or because they think nothing can be done to treat AD.
Related QuestionsWhat is middle stage Alzheimer's disease?
facts for health--alzheimer's--frequently asked questionsMiddle stage or moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves a worsening of the symptoms of early AD, the appearance of new symptoms or both. Obvious impairment of comprehension and judgment often emerge. Dangerous behaviors (e.g., auto accidents if the person is still driving, physical aggressiveness, forgetting to turn off appliances or take medications) make it clear that something is seriously wrong.
Related QuestionsWhat is late stage Alzheimer's disease?
facts for health--alzheimer's--frequently asked questionsThe late stage or severe Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves further progression of the signs and symptoms of early and middle stage AD. It is important to search for correctable conditions, especially when a change is sudden. As severity increases, the person with AD can no longer provide self-care, often requiring help with personal activities of daily living such as dressing, eating and going to the bathroom. Memory is very poor or gone altogether.
Related QuestionsWhich Alzheimer's disease medication should I start on?
facts for health--alzheimer's--frequently asked questionsThe choice of a specific medication is something for you and your clinician to decide, based on a number of factors. In general, FDA-approved cholinesterase inhibitors are tried first, and more than one of them may be tried before moving to other classes of medications. How much you benefit and how well you tolerate a medication are important in deciding whether to continue that medication or switch to another medication.
Related QuestionsHow do medications work in Alzheimer's disease?
facts for health--alzheimer's--frequently asked questionsCholinesterase inhibitors slow the breakdown of acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter involved in thinking and memory. Alzheimer's disease causes several brain abnormalities. One of them is a progressive decrease in the acetylcholine neurotransmitter (brain messenger) system functioning. It's as though an engine — in this case the brain - is being starved of fuel and not firing all cylinders. Cholinesterase inhibitors increase acetylcholine and permit more neurotransmission.
Related QuestionsHow should I store Alzheimer's disease medication?
facts for health--alzheimer's--frequently asked questionsKeeping a current week's supply in a plastic container divided into daily compartments can help you remember to take your medication on schedule. The rest should be stored in the original prescription containers, away from sources of heat or moisture and out of contact with direct sunlight. Do not store Alzheimer's disease medication in the bathroom medicine cabinet where heat and moisture may cause it to break down.
Related QuestionsHow long should I take medication for Alzheimer's disease?
facts for health--alzheimer's--frequently asked questionsIf cholinesterase inhibitors have a beneficial effect, they should usually be continued long-term. Unfortunately, when effective cholinesterase inhibitors have been discontinued, the underlying Alzheimer's disease appears to have been smoldering along under the cover of the effective medication. Without that effective medication, rapid deterioration often occurs. Benefits of continued cholinesterase inhibitor treatment have been observed for as long as several years in some patients.
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