Many parents not only face responsibility for the upbringing and wellbeing of their children, but also have the added commitment of supporting family members of an older generation – such as aging parents, aunts, uncles or grandparents. While caring for an elderly family member can be challenging, it can be particularly hard when your loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Dementia and Alzheimer’s are degenerative mental disorders which are characterized by memory loss, confusion, mood-swings and a decline of the senses. While there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s or dementia, treatment options are available to manage symptoms. If your family is struggling with Alzheimer’s or dementia, you can explore treatment options with your medical care provider, and find additional help, information, and support from a number of online resources.
The term “dementia” encompasses a number of degenerative mental disorders, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is alternately referred to as Senile Dementia of the Alheimer Type, or simply as “AD”. Alzheimer’s typically affects people over the age of 65. Although it is highly uncommon, it can also occur earlier, in which case the condition is referred to as early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s can be difficult to diagnose, because at first symptoms are just typical age-related issues, such as forgetting your phone number, misplacing your wallet, or losing your way. More specifically, symptoms include memory loss, confusion, irritability, mood swings, language loss, withdrawal and a decline of the senses. Gradually, symptoms will worsen, and eventually result in death.
There are no concretely known causes of Alzheimer’s or dementia, although many point to a number of genetic and lifestyle traits that may trigger or help prevent the disease. Habits such as exercise, mental stimulation and healthy diet are pointed to as possible preventative lifestyle traits. And inherited genetics are suspected by many to be the leading indicator that one may develop the disease.
While Alzheimer’s cannot be cured, there are a number of treatment options available to those who suffer from the disease. Medical treatments are said help to suppress symptoms, although no medication is yet available to slow the progression of the disease. There is a lot of promising research being done to pinpoint the causes of dementia, and explore new ways of combating the disease. With luck, eventually this research may be able to provide means of preventing and curing the disease.
One of the more devastating aspects of Alzheimer’s and dementia is that the diseases are often seen as being harder on loved ones of the afflicted, than they are on sufferers themselves. Short-term memory loss eventually inevitably leads to long-term memory loss. This memory loss is severe, and in most cases those who suffer from Alzheimer’s won’t reconize even the closest of friends and relatives. It goes without saying that this can be extremely hard on all those who are close to the patient, and for this reason it is important that loved ones are able to find proper support and counseling. Your medical provider should be able to direct you to local support resources. Some also find guidance and support online. Most importantly, look to your family and friends, and let them know how they can support you best.
