Thread: 5 common symptoms of Alzheimer's

(a quick review of signs and symptoms.... for geezers and those who love them)

Memory loss is the symptom everybody worried about Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia seems to focus on. After all, it's distressing -- and increasingly obvious. Yet there are other common symptoms of Alzheimer's or dementia that can turn up even earlier, researchers say.

Sometimes, according to memory experts, even doctors miss early dementia signs because they're focused on memory loss to the exclusion of other symptoms.

In fact, in 2011 Spanish researchers found that more than a third of adults who go on to develop early-onset Alzheimer's (the kind that appears before age 65) have the following symptoms early in the disease, even before memory loss is apparent.

These symptoms can also be the first to appear among adults who develop Alzheimer's after age 65.


http://www.caring.com/articles/signs...re-memory-loss

Of course, if you notice any of these symptoms, it's important to have them checked out by a doctor, psychologist, or other expert in cognition and the brain.

Early sign of dementia #1: Personality change

A warm, friendly loved one may seem to morph into a bit of a grouch -- at first occasionally, and then increasingly. A gregarious person still jokes and talks a lot but begins to say inappropriate things or make odd accusations. A mild-mannered loved one begins cursing. All of these are examples of the kinds of personality changes that can predate memory loss in someone with dementia. Often, it's only later that friends and family look back and realize that behaviors they found off-putting or upsetting weren't intentional but related to the Alzheimer's.


Early sign of dementia #2: Problems with executive functioning

Trouble carrying out basic, familiar tasks can creep up slowly but surely. The person may, for example, have difficulty doing something that involves multiple steps, like following written directions or instructions. A longtime cook may avoid complicated recipes. A hobbyist may simplify the form of his or her craft.

Other hallmark trouble areas: making plans and not following through, whether for a vacation or an activity. Not tracking bills. Not being able to solve simple problems, such as mending a broken piece of machinery he or she could once fix easily.

Early sign of dementia #3: Vision problems

Problems with depth perception or visual-spatial coordination can precede memory problems. The person may have trouble driving or even walking well without tripping on stairs. It can be hard to judge distances or see contrasts between like colors, which can lead to accidents. In a more severe example of a perception problem, the person may not recognize himself or herself in a mirror or when passing his or her reflection in a building or window on the street.

Early sign of dementia #4: Language problems
Word retrieval and getting out the right words can become apparent before friends and family notice the more common communication problem of repeating stories or questions. For example the person having trouble may stop in the middle of a sentence, unable to think of the next word. (This can happen to anyone, but when it's a sign of dementia, it happens with alarming frequency, and sometimes the person isn't even aware of doing it.) Or the wrong word may come out -- "mouth cleaner" for "toothbrush" or "picture stick" for "TV remote control."

Early sign of dementia #5: Social withdrawal

Early in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, the person is often well aware that something is amiss, even if he or she isn't exactly sure of the source of the problem. It can be frightening to feel that you're not quite in control of your faculties all of the time. This can cause the person to use more and more energy to stay in self-command. That leaves less energy to interact with others. Sometimes the person isn't even aware that he or she seems to be losing interest in friends and family, because he or she is concentrating so hard on just getting through the day.

Social withdrawal can also be caused by a desire to avoid embarrassment or by depression -- which often develops alongside dementia.

Fyi................

I have an Aunt and a friend of the family suffering it, is a horrible thing that I would not wish upon anyone

Originally Posted by submarinepainter

I have an Aunt and a friend of the family suffering it, is a horrible thing that I would not wish upon anyone

Yep..

I had a white Russian friend in the Abacos who was struck very young (60).. and she was otherwise strong, healthy and beautiful.. It overcame her in 18 months..

I couldn't believe it.

Mouse antibody may stop Alzheimer's...

Mice study reveals Alzheimer's antibodies
6 Mar.`12 - British scientists have discovered a type of antibody in mice that blocks a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, offering a potential new route to treatment, according to research published on Tuesday.

The antibodies shut down a protein called Dkk1 that in turn stops the formation of amyloid plaque in the brain, a key factor in the progression of Alzheimer's, said the findings in the Journal of Neuroscience. When this plaque builds up, it leads to a loss of connection between neurons, known as synapses, in the part of the brain known as the hippocampus which handles learning and memory.

"These novel findings raise the possibility that targeting this secreted Dkk1 protein could offer an effective treatment to protect synapses against the toxic effect of amyloid-B," said lead author Patricia Salinas of the University College London Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. "Importantly, these results raise the hope for a treatment and perhaps the prevention of cognitive decline early in Alzheimer's disease." The research has only been done in mice and more work is needed to see if it would be relevant in humans.

Previous research has shown that the autopsied brains of people with Alzheimer's disease have higher levels of Dkk1 than normal brains, but scientists were unsure why. The latest study on mice showed that animals exposed to antibodies against Dkk1 had more of their synapses survive than other Alzheimer's mice that were not given the treatment.

The research was funded by Alzheimer's Research UK and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. There is no cure for Alzheimer's, a progressive brain disease which along with other forms of dementia affects more than 35 million people worldwide.

Source

Wow.. hope is good................

Originally Posted by Margot

Wow.. hope is good................

I currently have a father in law suffering from Alzheimer's, that disease has changed my entire life and those of my family. Instead of being a normal teen, my wife was stuck home most weekends helping to take care of her father. Her brother couldn't handle the situation emotionally so he went as far away as possible. It has almost destroyed my wife's family. I have been dealing with it for over 8 years and they have been dealing with it for 14 years. My father in law now is in a nursing home, and is in the late stages of the disease. We have spent countless hours at the emergency room and all hours of the night on many different occasion. We have had more fights with the nursing home administration and everybody you can name. What a long and exhausting battle it has been fighting this disease that has taken over a loved one.

I wouldn't wish this disease on my worst enemy.

We have raised thousands of dollars each year for Alzheimer's research, I hope our money is doing good.

Just posting this for the possible hypochondriac reading this.

Keep in mind other things can cause these symptoms such as stress, or hormonal changes such as menopause. In fact many menopausal women have mistaken their symptoms for early alzheimers.

Also I'd recommend that older adults have their B12 levels checked as low levels can cause dementia signs and symptoms. This has been medically proven. If it stays low for long enough it is not reversible. I actually think that most cases of dementia/alzheimers are due to this deficiency but this is just by laymens opinion.

Dat's why Uncle Ferd got Granny mowin' the lawn...

Any kind of physical activity lowers Alzheimer's risk
17 Apr.`12 - Cleaning house and doing yardwork are taking on new importance. A higher level of physical activity — not just exercising — is linked to a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease even in people over 80, suggests research published Wednesday in the journal Neurology.

Protective activities include washing dishes, cooking, cleaning, gardening — even playing cards. People who scored in the bottom 10% of physical activity were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's. Study participants did not have dementia at the start of the four-year study, which is part of the ongoing Memory and Aging Project at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. "The implication of this study is really astounding," says physician Aron Buchman, the lead author. "Exercise is good, without a doubt, but this study is about more than exercise. Older people who might not be able to exercise can tailor activities that are right for them." There is no cure or drug to delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease, which affects about 5 million people in the USA; numbers are expected to triple as Baby Boomers get older. Aging is the main risk factor.

During the study, 71 of the 716 study participants developed Alzheimer's. Study authors say this is the first study to use an objective measurement of all physical activity in addition to self-reports. Participants wore an actigraph on their wrists to assess levels of activity. The mean score for participants was 3.3 hours per week. Intensity of exercise also mattered: People in the bottom 10% of intensity of physical activity were almost three times as likely to develop Alzheimer's. The study is the latest evidence that physical activity, even in later years, aids in delaying Alzheimer's. The study did not attempt to measure which activities were most helpful. "We've known that muscle activity generates neurons in the brain, but this study gives us additional motivation," says physician Gary Kennedy, director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, who was not associated with the study. "It shows you don't have to go to the gym. Older people very often don't want to do that."

Results did not vary by age, sex or education. The authors also looked at chronic health and genetic factors. Among the findings:

•Body mass index, depressive symptoms or vascular risk factors did not change the association between activities and risk.

•The gene APOE4, which puts people at higher risk for developing Alzheimer's, did not change the results. Alzheimer's develops for years prior to symptoms occurring, notes Kennedy. The authors tried to control for that possibility by administering baseline cognitive tests. "This is an important message for society as the largest growing segment of our population is old people," says Buchman. "We need to be encouraging physical activities even in very old individuals, even if their health doesn't allow them to take part in fitness programs." In an accompanying editorial, the authors cite physical activity as a promising, low-cost, easily accessible and side-effect-free means to prevent Alzheimer's.

Source

Obama leading the fight against Alzheimer's...

US adopts revolutionary strategy against Alzheimer’s
Wed, May 16, 2012 - US President Barack Obama’s administration adopted a landmark strategy to fight Alzheimer’s yesterday, setting the clock ticking toward a deadline of 2025 to finally find effective ways to treat, or stall, the mind-destroying disease.

Starting yesterday, embattled families and caregivers can check a one-stop Web site for information about dementia and where to get help. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is greenlighting some new studies of possible therapies, including a form of insulin that is squirted into the nose. The world’s top Alzheimer’s scientists gathered this week to decide what other research should take place next in order to meet that ambitious 2025 deadline.

The US’ first National Alzheimer’s Plan comes at what many scientists think is a pivotal moment. Alzheimer’s is poised to become a defining disease of the rapidly aging population. “There’s a sense of optimism” thanks to some new discoveries, National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins told scientists at the Alzheimer’s Research Summit on Monday. Collins said the NIH would grant US$8 million yesterday to study an insulin nasal spray that could help Alzheimer’s.

Also, the NIH was contributing US$16 million to an international study of whether a treatment targeting amyloid, Alzheimer’s hallmark brain plaque, could prevent the disease. However, “we need to figure out exactly where is the best window of opportunity” to battle back Alzheimer’s, Collins added. Already, 5.4 million US citizens have Alzheimer’s or related dementias. Barring a breakthrough, those numbers will rise significantly by 2050 to up to 16 million. Already it is the sixth-leading killer and there is no cure.

Beyond the suffering, it is a budget-busting disease for Medicare, Medicaid and families. Caring for people with dementia will cost the US US$200 billion this year alone and US$1 trillion by 2050. Sufferers lose the ability to do the simplest activities of daily life and can survive that way for a decade or more. Family members provide most of the care, unpaid, and too often their own health crumbles under the stress. Alzheimer’s Association estimates. Even that staggering figure does not fully reflect the toll. Sufferers lose the ability to do the simplest activities of daily life and can survive that way for a decade or more. Family members provide most of the care, unpaid, and too often their own health crumbles under the stress.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worl.../16/2003532975