Alzheimer's Care

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disorder characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes. Symptoms worsen over time, usually over several years, and can have a severe effect on performing daily tasks and activities.

Alzheimer’s is considered a terminal condition, with an average life expectancy of 4 to 8 years after diagnosis, though some individuals live 15 or 20 years after their initial diagnosis.

Dementia is an umbrella term for a wide range of brain disorders that are characterized by memory loss. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia. According to estimates, Alzheimer’s cases account for somewhere between 60% to 80% of all cases of dementia.

Everyone with Alzheimer’s has dementia, but not everyone with dementia has Alzheimer’s. People living with vascular dementia, for instance, have symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s but the cause of their dementia is different.

While scientists are still researching the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers have identified a number of risk factors. The three biggest risk factors are:

• Advanced age: In most cases, symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease begin after age 65.
• Genetics: People with a family history of Alzheimer’s are at higher risk of developing the disease themselves.
• Heart health: Poor cardiovascular health increases one’s risk. Those with a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, or heart attack will be at higher risk.

Other risk factors include:

• Heavy smoking
• Heavy drinking
• High stress levels
• History of head trauma
• Sleeping problems

Researchers believe the disease begins many years before signs appear. Symptoms typically start to appear in aging adults, though some cases of Alzheimer’s begin in a person’s 40s or 50s.

At first, symptoms will be mild and will have minimal impact on the person’s well-being. As the disease progresses, symptoms develop from mild to moderate to severe. By the final stages of the disease, the person may lose all short-term and long-term memory, the ability to speak and to understand speech, and the ability to perform basic personal activities, such as how to use the bathroom or eat on their own.

Currently, there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and its progress is believed to be irreversible. While researchers continue to search for a cure, modern treatments and clinical trials are working toward slowing disease onset, delaying symptoms, and reducing progression.

Doctors recommend that people at risk of or living with Alzheimer’s disease focus on healthy lifestyle choices, particularly focusing on cardiovascular health. Interventions such as improved sleep habits, increased omega-3 intake, and decreased stress are also proven to reduce the risk.

As Alzheimer’s progresses, people living with the disease need high levels of in-home memory care to ensure their well-being and safety. Friends or family members may care for your loved one with early and mid-stage Alzheimer’s. As the disease reaches its later stages, professional support is often needed.

Moving your loved one into a nursing care facility is an option. However, this can be a traumatic experience, and it is typically considered a last resort. Another option is to hire Alzheimer’s home care services, such as those offered by Visiting Angels. Our specialized home caregivers help people age in place with Alzheimer’s disease.