What is Alzheimer’s and How Does It Affect Your Life?

· 3 min read
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 Alzheimer’s is an irreparable brain disorder that slowly abolishes an individual’s memory and cognitive skills. Overtime, daily skills and tasks can be compromised, leaving the affected person without the ability to live the same life they once had. Alzheimer’s disease is also the most common cause of dementia among the elderly, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases in the United States.

Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Memory loss and memory problems is characteristically the first sign of the disease. Over time, other signs and symptoms may present themselves such as forgetting simple tasks, impaired vision or loss of judgement skills. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s will vary in severity from person to person, as no case is the same.  Typically, the symptoms will get progressively worse as the disease worsens, making it hard for an individual to live on their own.

What Causes Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s, much like other forms of dementia, is caused by the destruction of brain cells. As an individual gets older and their brain cells die, they have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer hands

Although they may be unavoidable, other factors put individuals at risk for Alzheimer’s, including family history, aging and genetic makeup.

If you have a family history of Alzheimer’s or dementia related diseases, you should speak with a medical professional regarding ways to fight against Alzheimer’s. You can help prevent Alzheimer’s by exercising, eating well and managing other health conditions in your body. We encourage you to speak with your doctor regarding specific regimens that can help you prevent Alzheimer’s.

How You Can Live a Happy Life with Alzheimer’s

Although quality of life may change as the disease progresses, an individual with Alzheimer’s can continue to live a happy life. With the blessing from the patient’s doctor, he or she can continue to exercise, visit with friends and family and do all the regular day to day tasks that he or she can handle. For the activities that the person with Alzheimer’s cannot handle, a caregiver can help with quality-of-life dare.

Medical professionals can also prescribe certain drugs and therapies that can help with quality of life and the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

To get more information about drug therapy and which medication is right for which type of patient, speak to your medical professional.

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