Know the 10 warning signs also available in Spanish. Early and accurate diagnosis also provides opportunities for you and your family to consider financial planning, develop advance directives, enroll in clinical trials, and anticipate care needs. Treatment addresses several areas:.
Caregiving can have positive aspects for the caregiver as well as the person being cared for. It may bring personal fulfillment to the caregiver, such as satisfaction from helping a family member or friend, and lead to the development of new skills and improved family relationships.
Each day brings new challenges as the caregiver copes with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior. You can find more information about caring for yourself and access a helpful care planning form. In , an estimated 5. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
Alzheimer's Disease and Healthy Aging. How is Alzheimer's disease diagnosed? Diagnosis of dementia Disclosure of the diagnosis Facing the diagnosis Taking care of yourself Developing coping strategies Maintaining a social network Attending self-help groups Accepting help from others Dealing with feelings and emotions Changing roles and how you see yourself On a more positive note Organising family support Dealing with practical issues Financial and administrative matters Driving Safety issues Employment issues Healthy eating Contact and communication Speaking, listening and communication Signs, symbols and texts Personal relationships Talking to children and adolescents Changing behaviour Lack of interest in hobbies Disorientation Managing everyday tasks Keeping an active mind Services Caring for someone with dementia The onset of the disease Diagnosis: should the person with dementia be told?
Dealing with emotions Arranging who will be responsible for care Determining to what extent you can provide care How will Alzheimer's disease affect independent living? What progress so far? Acknowledgements References Intercultural care and support Introduction Understanding dementia and help seeking Diagnosis, assessment and treatment.
Support and care Professional and informal carers Conclusions References Members of the expert working group Terms and concepts Dementia as a disability? Why PharmaCog? Who are the PharmaCog partners? Academic Partners Pharmaceutical companies SMEs, patient group and regulatory authorities What do the partners bring to the project?
Coordination Management approach Collaboration with other projects Who financially supports PharmaCog? How will PharmaCog benefit patients? Why do we need research? Who can take part in research? Advances in brain imaging techniques allow researchers to see the development and spread of abnormal amyloid and tau proteins in the living brain, as well as changes in brain structure and function. Research on normal brain aging is exploring this question. These age-related changes include atrophy shrinking of certain parts of the brain, inflammation, blood vessel damage, production of unstable molecules called free radicals, and mitochondrial dysfunction a breakdown of energy production within a cell.
Some cases are caused by an inherited change in one of three genes. For others, research shows that other genetic components are involved. This may be because people with Down syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21, which contains the gene that generates harmful amyloid. There is a great deal of interest, for example, in the relationship between cognitive decline and vascular conditions such as heart disease , stroke , and high blood pressure , as well as conditions such as diabetes and obesity.
A nutritious diet , physical activity , social engagement , and mentally stimulating pursuits have all been associated with helping people stay healthy as they age. Researchers are testing some of these possibilities in clinical trials. Some of these conditions may be treatable and possibly reversible. An early diagnosis also helps families plan for the future.
They can take care of financial and legal matters , address potential safety issues , learn about living arrangements, and develop support networks. Scientists are exploring many avenues to delay or prevent the disease as well as to treat its symptoms. In ongoing clinical trials, scientists are developing and testing several possible interventions.
Under study are drug therapies aimed at a variety of disease interventions, as well as nondrug approaches such as physical activity, diet, cognitive training, and combinations of these.
Precision medicine — getting the right treatment to the right person at the right time — will likely play a major role. Several medications are approved by the U. A diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of X-rays and computer technology to produce horizontal, or axial, images often called slices of the body.
A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general X-rays. Magnetic resonance imaging MRI. A diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.
Genetic testing. Some genetic testing is available, especially in some research settings. Because there is no cure or effective treatment for Alzheimer's, the decision to undergo genetic testing is one that requires careful consideration and counseling with a specialist in genetics.
The disease progresses as nerve cells in the brain are damaged and can no longer function normally, and there is no way to reverse this deterioration. Medications can sometimes help with cognitive and behavioral symptoms.
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