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Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder of the brain that attacks brain cells and is the most common cause of dementia in those 65 years of age or older. It slowly attacks the brain cells that control emotions, cognitive function, coordinating movements and one’s ability to remember. Ultimately a person loses all memory and mental functioning. Given this it is no wonder many individuals become concerned when they begin to have difficulty with memory.

Normal forgetfulness can be attributed to many things, such as sleep deprivation or stress. With normal aging it is difficult for individuals to retrieve information of recent events, but with cueing and context they are able to recall what they wanted to remember. For example, are you able to remember that you went to the store to buy milk, when someone asks if you needed to buy something to drink.

With normal aging one’s vocabulary and relationship understanding remains intact. Individuals with normal aging forgetfulness are able to remember the correct order of events or how to complete a task. Individuals experiencing normal age-related memory impairment are aware of their memory problem. Their ability to function and take care of themselves remains good despite being forgetful.

In normal aging, having cues for tasks such as taking medicine and remembering appointments are helpful in maintaining independence.

With Alzheimer’s the memory loss is different. An individual’s recent memory is not good and cueing and context does not help with recalling memory. The ability to remember the correct order of things and who said what is lost. One may do an activity repetitively, such as brushing their teeth or cleaning the dishes without realizing it had already been done. Memory intrusions occur. This means that if asked to draw an apple, a few minutes later they may be eating an apple. They may say you asked them to eat an apple. Individuals with Alzheimer’s are unaware that they have a memory problem. One’s ability to complete their day-to-day routine declines along with their memory.

Understanding the differences between normal aging and Alzheimer’s is important to determine how best to help a loved one. If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one it is best to be evaluated by a healthcare provider. They can do tests to determine if there are medical conditions contributing to memory loss, if it is normal aging, or if it is Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.

For those with Alzheimer’s, there are medications that can slow the progression if started early. There are not any medications to reverse or stop it from progressing further. Providers can also help with behaviors such as agitation or mood changes. They can also be a source of help in understanding options in regards to care, such as assisted living, home care, or long term nursing care.

—Peggy Piette, APRN – Cottage Hospital Internal Medicine