Resources

Health and Wellness Information

About Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr. Robert Strnad

One of the most frequently asked questions from patients and families who I treat in my private practice is about Alzheimer’s Disease. Families are often concerned about the signs and symptoms and want to know about any new treatment protocols available that help to delay the progression of this disease. They are also seeking ways to ease caregiver burden.

With respect to signs and symptoms, the most commonly known symptom of Alzheimer's disease is confusion. But, not all people who are confused have Alzheimer’s disease. Confusion can occur suddenly -- the result of a hospital stay, a change in treatment setting, a lack of oxygen, or due to a surgical procedure.

We all can remember instances when we have misplaced keys, forgotten people’s names, forgotten the reason we have stopped at the grocery store, and other similar “memory lapse” situations. These are normal situations and should not be cause for undue concern when the instances are sporadic and infrequent.

With Alzheimer’s, in the disease’s early stages, the individual’s memory, perceptions and orientation are frequently impacted, as are concentration, planning and judgment. Personality changes are apparent People with Alzheimer's, in particular in more advanced stages of the disease, cannot manage independently. There is language and walking impairment.

In the final stages of the disease, various other bodily functions, such as swallowing, are severely affected.

With all of the research conducted over the years about this crippling disease, the cause of Alzheimer’s remains, for the most part, unknown. One thing is clear from research findings: the probability of developing Alzheimer's disease increases with advancing age and is higher for women and for people having completed a lower level of education.

Many new and innovative treatment protocols are being tested and are in use currently. While none of the treatments cure nor prevent the disease, many, including some medications, can delay the onset of the later stages of the disease. There are also a number of uncomplicated brain exercises that experts promote to help an individual keep the brain healthy and active and enhance memory. Recent studies appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association discuss the benefit of simply using daytime bright light in the patient’s environment to improve the symptoms of dementia, including cognition, mood, behavior, functional abilities and sleep. Another article in a recent issue of Alzheimer’s Weekly talks about the use of aromatherapy to enhance the lives of people with Alzheimer’s disease. A number of web sites are listed at the end of this article that can provide the latest updates on proven treatments and clinical trials.

Because the trajectory for the disease is generally slow, and the patient is cared for by family members, caregiver burden is a real and serious concern. Caregivers are under significant psychological and physical pressure, in particular during the later stages of the loved one’s disease.

One way to ease some of the legal and financial stressors related to the patient’s situation is at some point soon after the diagnosis, the patient and family members should begin thinking and addressing financial planning and legal issues, as well as future treatment wishes. There are a number of financial, legal and health care resources available on the web and from local area agencies on aging, as well as support groups designed specifically to address caregiver needs.

I have listed below some of my most frequently accessed on line resources for information and help on the topic of Alzheimer’s disease. I encourage you to review these sites for the latest and most up to date information on care, planning and treatment:

Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer’s Association, the world leader in Alzheimer research and support, is the first and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to finding prevention methods, treatments and an eventual cure for Alzheimer’s. www.alz.org

Alzheimer’s Resource Room, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The Alzheimer's Resource Room is where families, caregivers, and professionals can find information about The Alzheimer's Demonstration Program, including: where you can turn for support and assistance, and providing services to caregivers.
www.aoa.gov/alz/index.asp

American Medical Association-Dementia Resources

This section of the AMA Web site is focused on providing information on dementia and relevant services.
www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/4789.html

CareFinder

The Alzheimer's Association's CareFinder is an on online tool to help those affected by Alzheimer's disease find good care in their community.  The Web site has sections on Planning Ahead, Care Options, Coordinating Care, and Support and Resources.
www.alz.org/carefinder/index.asp

Caring Connections

This is a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), and is a national consumer and community engagement initiative to improve care at the end of life, supported by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The site provides free resources and information to help people make decisions about end-of-life care and services before a crisis.
caringinfo.org

Legal Help

A network of qualified elder law attorneys along with helpful answers to commonly asked questions and other free resources is accessible throughout the United States through this web site.
elderlawanswers.com