Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease

This is a question I have wondered about for quite some time now. I decided it was time to figure out just what the difference was. My wife's grandmother is in an assisted living facility and we have noticed several discrepancies in things she says and does. Obviously, she is in her late eighties, this is going to be early stages of dementia. I can say that with almost 100% certainty, since I know Alzheimer's Disease tends to appear earlier in life than does dementia. Her grandmother has also has skin cancer, which has spread to other areas of her body. I do have to clarify one thing about Alheimer's, it is a form of dementia itself.

Dementia, by definition, refers to cognitive malfunctions due to brain stresses, trauma or disease. There are two types of dementia, reversible and irreversible. Reversible means it has the possibility of healing through treatments and how quickly it is treated. Irreversible, obviously, is caused by a disease without any cure. A disease like Alzheimer's is an example of irreversible dementia. Alzheimer's Disease is a common form of dementia that seriously impairs a person's ability to continue with their daily activities.

Dr. Alois Alzheimer stumbled across a person that died of a mysterious illness in 1906. After the autopsy, Dr. Alzheimer discovered several lumps that were out of the ordinary, called amyloid plaques, and fibrous tissue bundled together, called neurofibrillary tangles. These plaques and tangles are what doctors look for today, which tend to provide early signs of Alzheimer's Disease. They have no single idea what causes Alzheimer's Disease. They believe Alzheimer's Disease is caused by numerous other factors together, but continue to look for more answers. On the flip side, several causes of dementia are known. The most common is age, the rest are substance abuse, gene inheritance, diseases, brain tumors, cardiovascular disease, head injuries, vitamin deficiencies, and organ failure.

The future looks bleak. The current numbers are staggering, with a whopping one million people suffering from severe dementia. Scientists have also estimated that an additional one to five million more people have mild to moderate forms of dementia. The future numbers are expected to increase exponentially. Scientists think about 4.5 million people in America have some form of Alzheimer's Disease.

There are signs to look for, especially if you think someone may have AD or Dementia. AD and Dementia tend to start off with mild forgetfulness, which many mistake as common error. A person suffering from AD may foget their names and relatives faces and may have trouble doing simple math problems. As the disease progresses, these problems increase. At that point, it is time to get medical assistance. You will need them to help you figure out how to cope with the stress involved and figure out what you need to do for the future.

You should know that the further these ailments progress, there may be extreme changes in their behavior. I worked in an Alheimer's ward several years ago and saw the best and the worst of people. The kindest person, you know now, could become as dangerous as a caged gorilla. You need to make sure you lock their windows, because it is not uncommon for people suffering with AD to want to get out. They will not know where they are going, but they know they need to be going somewhere. It is imperative to remember this bit of information, because you do not want your loved one getting hurt. It is not recommended to care for your loved ones at home during the final stages. If you do, you should expect the worst. Eventually they will not recognize you at all and will lose the ability to do anything, including eating. This is usually the time they are fed intravenously, because they cannot remember how to chew. It is the most disheartening thing to see and feel, which is why I am letting you know this now.

People suffering from Alzheimer's usually have about 8 to 10 years from the time it is first diagnosed, there have been cases where they lived an additional 20 years. Scientists continue to research the problem, but the answers still remain hidden. As long as we continue to work on a solution, there is always hope.