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How will you
know? The warning signs of Alzheimer's
September 21 is World Alzheimer's Day |
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It's a disease that highlights
many of our concerns about aging. It can quietly steal memories,
change personalities, and create a strain on everyone in the
family. According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's
affects over five million people in the U.S. The Alzheimer's
Association estimates that in 2010, 340,000 people in Texas will
have Alzheimer's—nearly a 30 percent increase from just 10 years
ago.
“As the overall population of the country ages, it becomes more
important than ever to address diseases that affect the
elderly,” says
Lotika Misra, M.D., a
neurologist with The Austin
Diagnostic Clinic (ADC). “Alzheimer's is a progressive, fatal
disease that affects the brain. Many people don't think of it as
a fatal disease, but it is the seventh-leading cause of death in
the U.S.”
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Lotika Misra, MD |
About Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's is a disease that can sometimes be difficult to
recognize and to diagnose as there is no definitive medical test
for it. The disease is a form of dementia.
“Dementia is a loss of intellectual ability that represents a
severe decline in a person's abilities. The decline is serious
enough to interfere with daily function,” says Dr. Misra.
Alzheimer's destroys brain cells and can cause memory loss,
confusion, poor judgment, and difficulty communicating.
“Scientists have not yet been able to determine exactly why and
how Alzheimer's disease develops,” says Dr. Misra. “Researchers
have learned that people with Alzheimer's develop deposits of a
protein called beta amyloid in their brains and that nerve cells
in important parts of the brain die.”
Warning signs
Early signs of Alzheimer's may be brushed aside as normal parts
of aging, but if you or your loved one is experiencing any of
these signs, see a physician for evaluation:
• Learning and retaining
information. Though we all forget things from time to
time, trouble remembering conversations, frequently misplacing
things, confusion, or asking the same questions repeatedly can
be a sign of a more serious problem.
• Changes in behavior. People suffering from
Alzheimer's may become passive or less responsive, or they may
be irritable and suspicious.
• Confusion about or difficulty with complex tasks.
Sometimes those who suffer from the disease can have trouble
with tasks like preparing meals, paying their bills, or
balancing a checkbook.
• Problems speaking. People with Alzheimer's may not be
able to find the right words for things or they may have
problems following a conversation.
• Loss of reasoning. Alzheimer's impairs judgment.
People with Alzheimer's may have problems with planning or
solving problems. They may also have problems behaving
appropriately in different kinds of social situations.
• Disorientation. Finding your way around a familiar
setting can become difficult for someone with Alzheimer's.
They may get lost in a familiar place.
Don't ignore symptoms
“Patients sometimes seem to put off coming to see the doctor
because they are worried and don't really want to know what's
wrong. Or, a loved one may not want to offend the person
experiencing dementia symptoms by suggesting a doctor visit,”
says Dr. Misra. “But many other conditions can cause dementia
symptoms, so the sooner you see the doctor the sooner you can
receive treatment.” A neurologist can also help rule out other
causes of memory problems. “Some rapidly progressive dementias
are treatable with full recovery, if only they are diagnosed,”
says Dr. Misra.
If Alzheimer's is diagnosed, there is currently no cure for
the disease.
“Some medications may help to control some of the symptoms of
Alzheimer's,” says Dr. Misra. “You can also work with your
doctor to ways to deal with safety issues, like driving,
cooking, and the risk of falls.”
Though one of the risk factors for Alzheimer's is a family
history of the disease, the Alzheimer's Association says that
there are some risk factors that you may be able to influence.
Conditions that damage the heart and blood vessels appear to
increase the risk of Alzheimer's. Controlling high blood
pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes may help
reduce your risk. The Alzheimer's Association also recommends
avoiding tobacco and excess alcohol, staying fit, and exercising
both your body and your mind.
“Scientists are learning more about Alzheimer's disease all the
time,” says Dr. Misra. “Research suggests that treatments to
prevent and even cure the disease may be available in the not
too distant future.” |
Lotika Reena Misra, M.D., is a
board-certified neurologist at The Austin Diagnostic Clinic, a
multi-specialty clinic with more than 120 physicians
representing 24 medical specialties at six locations throughout
Austin and Central Texas. Visit
www.adclinic.com or call
512-901-1111.
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