Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms develop gradually over many years and eventually become more severe. It affects multiple brain functions.
The first sign of Alzheimer's disease is usually minor memory problems.
For example, this could be forgetting about recent conversations or events, and for-getting the names of places and objects.
As the condition develops, memory problems become more severe and further symptoms can develop, such as:
- Confusion, disorientation and getting lost in familiar places
- Difficulty planning or making decisions
- Problems with speech and language
- Problems moving around without assistance or performing self-care tasks
- Personality changes, such as becoming aggressive, demanding and suspi-cious of others
- Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there) and delusions (believing things that are untrue)
- Low mood or anxiety
Being Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
As the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease progress slowly, it can be difficult to recog-nise that there's a problem. Many people feel that memory problems are simply a part of getting older.
Also, the disease process itself may (but not always) prevent people recognising changes in their memory. But Alzheimer's disease is not a "normal" part of the age-ing process.
An accurate and timely diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease can give you the best chance to prepare and plan for the future, as well as receive any treatment or sup-port that may help
If you're worried about your memory or think you may have dementia, it's a good idea to see a GP.
If possible, someone who knows you well should be with you as they can help de-scribe any changes or problems they have noticed.
If you're worried about someone else, encourage them to make an appointment and perhaps suggest that you go along with them.
There's no single test that can be used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. And it's important to remember that memory problems do not necessarily mean you have Alzheimer's disease.
A GP will ask questions about any problems you're experiencing and may do some tests to rule out other conditions.
If Alzheimer's disease is suspected, you may be referred to a specialist service to:
- Assess your symptoms in more detail
- Organise further testing, such as brain scans if necessary
- Create a treatment and care plan
How Alzheimer's disease is treated
There's currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but medicines are available that can help relieve some of the symptoms.
Various other types of support are also available to help people with Alzheimer's live as independently as possible, such as making changes to your home environment so it's easier to move around and remember daily tasks.
Psychological treatments such as cognitive stimulation therapy may also be offered to help support your memory, problem solving skills and language ability.
The future
People with Alzheimer's disease can live for several years after they start to develop symptoms. But this can vary considerably from person to person.
Alzheimer's disease is a life-limiting illness, although many people diagnosed with the condition will die from another cause.
As Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological condition, it can cause prob-lems with swallowing.
This can lead to aspiration (food being inhaled into the lungs), which can cause frequent chest infections.
It's also common for people with Alzheimer's disease to eventually have difficulty eating and have a reduced appetite.
Can Alzheimer's disease be prevented?
As the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is not clear, there's no known way to pre-vent the condition.
But there are things you can do that may reduce your risk or delay the onset of de-mentia, such as:
- Stopping smoking and cutting down on alcohol
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight
- Staying physically fit and mentally active
These measures have other health benefits, such as lowering your risk of cardio-vascular disease and improving your overall mental health.