Dementia Signs

Posted on September 13, 2008
Filed Under Dementia | Leave a Comment

symptoms of dementia

Of all the different types of dementia that affect the elderly, it is Alzheimer’s disease that has become the most famous in recent years. Estimated at affecting 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 Alzheimer’s affects the memory centers of the mind.

The world started focusing on the disease only about thirty years ago and its effects are not even fully understood today. Getting older is the main risk surrounding Alzheimer’s according to research. Unfortunately, the person experiencing the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s will know something is wrong but won’t admit it to others or even to themselves.

Dementia covers quite a broad spectrum of problems but they are all, including Alzheimer’s disease, currently treated in a similar fashion. Some drugs can now slow down and sometimes improve the symptoms but so far no treatment has been discovered that can cure the disorder. Most Alzheimer’s disease sufferers will be prescribed one of the following drugs Donepezil, Tacrine, and Rivastigmine.

Patients with mild to severe Alzheimer’s who are already receiving Donepezil are now given Memantine as an alternative. Fortunately, Memantine has few side effects as 80 percent of the drug is passed in urine unchanged and so far it is the only drug that has proved to be of real benefit to patients with moderate to severe symptoms.

Alzheimer’s disease has become a major issue as it is already the fourth largest killer in the United States. Although contracting the disease is a tragedy, the cost of treatment and care for sufferers is causing economic vibrations. Another large body, the National Institute on Aging spent almost half of its yearly budget on Research into the condition with scientists worldwide looking for a treatment for the disease.

The only way to improve the risk of not developing dementia is to adjust the way you live and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Some researchers into the disease have found that patients who are happy and healthy with Alzheimer’s slow down the rate of their mental decline. Fortunately this disease is still mainly affecting elderly people but there have been recent occasions where younger persons have developed this disease.

For More Information on Dementia Types and Alzheimer’s visit:

dementia causes

Alzheimers Disease

Posted on July 13, 2008
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Anyone who has experienced Alzheimers with a family member close knows how heart-breaking this disease can become. There have been great advances and drugs to help yet 4.5 million people have the disease. Because the disease progresses slowly at first, often people don’t realize what is going on. It is often when the person gets to the point that they are having trouble dealing with everyday problems, planning and judgement is when most will identify what is happening. It is not unusual that those with Alzheimers may occur a personality shift and develop depression. It is best when dealing with someone who has Alzheimers that an enormous amount of patience and love is given. Little things such as putting up a bulletin board identifying who has been visiting and this can help others around the person figure out what is happening to their loved one. Survival rate after the disease varies from person to person. The average rate is eight years. Some may be less and some as long as 20-years. Eventually some people may end up in long-term care facilities because they will no longer be able to take care of themselves nor will their relatives be able to take on high maintenance of a loved one with Alzheimers. Early awareness and prevention is the best remedy at this point in time for this disease.

More Risk of Dementia with a Big Belly

Posted on March 29, 2008
Filed Under Dementia, Weight Management | Leave a Comment

stay fit with exercise
Are you apple-shaped or pear-shaped? If you ever listen to Dr Oz and others, you know the answer to this can actually have some bearing on your overall fitness.

In fact, carrying a signigicant amount of excess weight, especially in front, can lead to problems we may not even have considered before.

According to this article, “having a big belly in your 40s can boost your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia decades later”.

We always knew being overweight led to a plethora of problems, diabetes, heart disease, just to name a couple, but according to this study, the chances of serious illnesses of the mind are vastly increased as well. This just adds to the list of reasons to stay fit.

The article goes on to say:

It’s not just about your weight. While previous research has found evidence that obesity in middle age raises the chances of developing dementia later, the new work found a separate risk from storing a lot of fat in the abdomen. Even people who weren’t overweight were susceptible.

That abdominal fat, sometimes described as making people apple-shaped rather than pear-shaped, has already been linked to higher risk of developing diabetes, stroke and heart disease.
Now we can add dementia to that.

The study itself and resulting statistics will definitely get your attention. You can read the rest of the article here



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