What Are The Stages Of Alzheimer's Disease?
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The article "What Are The Stages Of Alzheimer's Disease?" talks about fitness, it was created by Gray Rollins.
An estimated 23,000 persons die each year in the United States
from Alzheimer's diesase.
It is the leaidng cause of dementia in
the elderly, making it the eighth leading cause of death among
that age demographic.
Alzheimer's cannot currently be cured, but
understanding the seven stages of the disease can help
researchers, care-giving family members and those afflicted.
Alzheimer's disease most often affects those over 65. It is
extremely rare for the conditioner to occur earlier.
Alzheimer's affects the cortical tissues of the brain, causing
them to atrpohy. On autopsy tagnled webs of brain tissue
filaments (neurofibrillary tangles) and patches of degenerative
nerve endings, called senile plaques are found. It is believed
that these abnormalities cause a disruption of the electrical
impulses in the brain.
It is a devastating disease, robbing the individual of their
memories and ability to recognize their loved ones or care even
to complete simple tasks for themselves, but there are
treatments available to help slow the course of Alzheimer's
disease and researchers are working hard to find a cure.
Understanding the stages of the disease is the key to both.
There have been a number of attempts to describe the disease
using a medical model but for caregivers and the rest of us it
is easier to use the seven step functional stages to understand
the changes brought on by the progression of the disease.
Stage 1 is described as a normally functioning adult without
noticeable symptoms and no changes in memory.
Stage 2 is often mistaken as part of the normal aging process.
The individual notices their declining memory issues and some
functional loss as well. They may have trouble remembeirng the
names of familiar persons and places.
Stage 3 is defined as early Alzheimer's disease. There is
progressive diffiuclty with involved tasks in demanding
situations and often growing anxiety and denial. Memory and
recall difficulties become apparent, concentration becomes
effected and there is generally a loss of productivity.
Stage 4 or mild Alzheimer's, disease is characterized by a
flattening of mood and continued denial of the disorder.
Familiar faces, following directions to frequently visited
places and orientation of persona and place are still intact,
but assistance with complicated tasks becomes necessary.
Stage 5 Alzheimer's disease is considered moderate and the
person in this stage can no longer get along in daily life
without the assistance of others.
They can remember major
information about them selves and others but recall of newer
information is difficult. An individual at stage 5 needs
assistance picking proper attire and making most decisions.
Stage 6 is considered moderately severe and persons begin to
forget large amounts of information aobut themselves and others
including the names of their spouses and children. They will
need help with all the activities of daily living and disturbed
sleep patterns beocmes problematic and delusional or obsessive
behavior, acute anxiety and violent behavior can arise.
Stage 7 is the last stage of the disease, and in severe
Alzheimer's disease speech is reduced to only a couple of words and is
mostly unintelligible.
Individuals lose their ability to sit up
or walk.
They cannot smile and even lose their ability to hold
up their haeds.
The brain seems unable to direct the movement of
the body.
Alzheimer's disease isn't curable but there is treamtents that
can slow its progress and promising research that may one day
lead to a cure. Understanding the stages of the dsiease and its
progression can help those who are afflicted, their loved ones
and researchers ensure the best treatment right now and promote hope
for the future.
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What Are The Stages Of Alzheimer's Disease?
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