Every family’s guide to understanding Alzheimer’s and dementia

Imagine just how sweet and fulfilling life could be if only most of us can get through old age and reuser every single bit of our past with ease.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association—a non-profit organization specializing in Alzheimer’s and dementia-related research—there’s an estimated 50 million people living with dementia worldwide in 2019.

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Of this number, about 5 million of them are Americans. Without proper intervention and support, this number could easily balloon to more than 14 million in 30 years.

In our previous posts, we’ve tackled some of the items related to caring for people suffering from these types of cognitive impairments. But what really are these conditions, and what’s the best way to help those who live with it?

What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?

According to experts, dementia is a general term used to refer to a condition where an individual exhibits changes in memory, thinking, or reasoning.

There have been many items tagged as the cause of dementia. Topping this list is Alzheimer’s disease—a progressive brain disorder—that takes up about 60-80% of all dementia cases worldwide. [1]

What causes Alzheimer’s disease?

Experts note that the most common trigger of Alzheimer’s disease is nerve cell failure.

However, the question about why this occurs remain unanswered up to this day, although there are several factors and conditions that are closely associated to why nerve cell failure takes place. Unfortunately, these risk factors are all impossible to control.

Age

Studies say that people aged 65 and up are more prone to developing Alzheimer’s. In fact, the likability of them contracting this disease almost doubles every five years.

Family history

A person related to someone who is suffering from Alzheimer’s is more likely to develop the disease in the future. This probability increases dramatically if he/she has more than one family or relative who acquired the disease.

Genetics

Since family history plays a huge part in the probability of suffering from Alzheimer’s, genetics automatically enters the picture.

Going back to dementia, what are the early signs that we should watch out for?

Some of the things that hint at the possibility of developing dementia in later life include:[2]

• Short-term memory loss or frequent forgetfulness;

• Trouble performing common and usual tasks;

• Disorientation or losing a sense of time and place;

• Difficulty in judgement;

• Losing or misplacing things often;

• Uncommon mood swings.

What do we do if we notice our elder loved ones displaying any of these symptoms?

The best thing to do, as always, is to seek immediate medical help. Visit a doctor so they can do the necessary assessments and procedures to determine the extent of your loved one’s condition, or if there’s enough reason to worry at all.

The road does not end if your loved one has tested positive for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. You can still help them live normal, comfortable lives by seeking support and taking action to prioritize their care.

As mentioned in one of our previous posts, old age and all the frailties that go with it are such a handful for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s to manage. The best thing we can do for them is to make sure that they receive the best possible care they can get. We at GCS will be more than happy to talk to you and get things started for your loved ones in their time of need. Feel free to give us a call at your convenience through 1-888-896-8275.

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Every family’s guide to understanding Alzheimer’s and dementia