Showing posts with label Alzheimer's Assoc.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alzheimer's Assoc.. Show all posts

Monday, July 12, 2010

Alzheimer's and You--Every 70 Seconds Someone is Diagnosed With Alzheimer's

Do you have a relative or know someone who has Alzheimer's disease?

Ever worry that you might fall victim to this insidious disease?

Ever wonder what the risk factors are?

Ever wonder what the differencees are between Alzheimer's disease and other dementias?

Join me and my special guest, Debra Anderson, Programs Manager for the Alzheimer's Association-Desert Southwest Chapter, Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at Noon EDT (9:00AM PDT) - www.blogtalkradio.com/sandra-haymon.

Debra will answer these and many other questions about DAT (Dementia Alzheimer's Type).

She will also discuss the 10 warning signs, revelent statistics, and how all of this relates to you.

You won't want to miss this episode as Debra explores the reality that every 70 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer's disease.

She will also discuss new programs for persons with an early stage diagnosis.

Debra may be contacted at:
Alzheimer's Association Desert Southwest Chapter
P.O. Box 27352
Yucson, AZ 85725-7352
www.alz.org/dsw or 520-322-6601 ext. 224

Sincerely,
Sandra - Garegiver Guru for the Caregiver Generation

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Common Dementias Including Alzheimer's

Here's more information from the National Alzheimer's Association about common types of Dementia and their typical characteristics.

"Alzheimer’s disease is the Most common type of dementia and accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases.

Characteristics include difficulty remembering names and recent events is often an early clinical symptom; apathy and depression are also often early symptoms. Later symptoms include impaired judgment, disorientation, confusion, behavior changes, and trouble speaking, swallowing and walking.

Hallmark abnormalities are deposits of the protein fragment beta-amyloid (plaques) and
twisted strands of the protein tau (tangles).

Vascular dementia (also known as multi-infarct or post-stroke dementia or vascular cognitive impairment) is considered the second most common type of dementia.

Impairment is caused by decreased blood flow to parts of the brain, often due to a series
of small strokes that block arteries.

Symptoms often overlap with those of Alzheimer’s, although memory may not be as
seriously affected.

Mixed dementia characterized by the presence of the hallmark abnormalities of Alzheimer’s and another type of dementia, most commonly vascular dementia, but also other types, such as dementia with Lewy bodies.

Dementia with Lewy bodies includes a pattern of decline which may be similar to Alzheimer’s, including problems with memory and judgment and behavior changes. Alertness and severity of cognitive symptoms may fluctuate daily. Visual hallucinations, muscle rigidity and tremors are common.

Hallmarks include Lewy bodies (abnormal deposits of the protein alpha-synuclein) that
form inside nerve cells in the brain.

Parkinson's disease - Many people who have Parkinson’s disease develop dementia in the later stages of the disease.

The hallmark abnormality is Lewy bodies (abnormal deposits of the protein alpha-synuclein)
that form inside nerve cells in the brain.

Frontotemporal dementia involves damage to brain cells, especially in the front and side regions of the brain.

Typical symptoms include changes in personality and behavior and difficulty with language.
No distinguishing microscopic abnormality is linked to all cases.

Pick’s disease, characterized by Pick’s bodies, is one type of frontotemporal dementia.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rapidly fatal disorder that impairs memory and coordination and causes behavior changes.

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is believed to be caused by consumption of products
from cattle affected by mad cow disease - caused by the misfolding of prion protein throughout the brain.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus - Caused by the buildup of fluid in the brain.
Symptoms include difficulty walking, memory loss and inability to control urine.
Can sometimes be corrected with surgical installation of a shunt in the brain to drain
excess fluid.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition in which a person has problems with memory, language or another essential cognitive function that are severe enough to
be noticeable to others and show up on tests, but not severe enough to interfere with daily life.

Some people with MCI go on to develop dementia. For others, the symptoms of MCI do not progress to dementia, and some people who have MCI at one point in time later revert to normal cognitive status.

To learn more about the potential role of MCI as a transitional state to early Alzheimer’s disease, see the section, Special Report: Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease." www.alz.org/national/documents/reports

The National Alzheimer's Association provides invaluable information and services. I sincerely hope you will join me and my special guest, Debra Anderson, Programs Manager for the Alzheimer's Association-Desert Southwest Chapter, Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at Noon EDT (9:00AM PDT) - www.blogtalkradio.com/sandra-haymon.

Sincerely,
Sandra - Caregiver Guru for the Caregiver Generation

Friday, July 9, 2010

Alzheimer's Statistics

There are only four kinds of people in the world.

Those who have been caregivers
Those who are caregivers
Those who will be caregivers
Those who will need caregivers

According to the National Alzheimer's Association, there are nearly ten million (9.9) unpaid caregivers in the United States.

Every 70 seconds someone in American is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

5.3 million Americans presently have Alzheimer's, and there is an estimated annual cost of $148 billion.

Alzheimer's disease is the 6th. leading cause of death in America.

Be sure to join me Tuesday at Noon EDT (www.blogtalkradio.com/sandra-haymon) to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and how these statistics may affect you.

Debra Anderson, Programs Manager for the Alzheimer's Association-Desert Southwest Chapter, Tucson, Arizona will be my guest. So, have your questions ready.



Sincerely,
Sandra - Caregiver Guru for the Caregiver Generation

Thursday, July 8, 2010

What is Dementia?

Unfortunately, thousands of people ask this question every day.

According to the National Alzheimer's Association,

"Dementia is characterized by loss of or decline in memory and other cognitive abilities. It is caused by various diseases and conditions that result in damaged brain cells. To be classified as dementia, the following criteria must be met:
• It must include decline in memory and in at least one of the following cognitive abilities:
1) Ability to generate coherent speech or understand spoken or written language;
2) Ability to recognize or identify objects, assuming intact sensory function;
3) Ability to execute motor activities, assuming intact motor abilities, sensory function and comprehension of the required task; and
4) Ability to think abstractly, make sound judgments and plan and carry out complex tasks.

• The decline in cognitive abilities must be severe enough to interfere with daily life.

Different types of dementia have been associated with distinct symptom patterns and distinguishing microscopic brain abnormalities. Increasing evidence from long-term epidemiological observation and autopsy studies suggests that many people have microscopic brain abnormalities associated with more than one type of dementia.

The symptoms of different types of dementia also overlap and can be further complicated
by coexisting medical conditions. "

I will be writing more about dementia and particularly about Dementia Alzheimer's Type over the next several days leading up to my radio interview with Debra Anderson, Programs Manager for the Alzheimer's Association-Desert Southwest Chapter, Tucson, Arizona on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at Noon EDT www.blogtalkradio.com/sandra-haymon .

I truly hope you will join me.

Sincerely,
Sandra - Caregiver Guru for the Caregiver Generation