Alzheimer’s disease is a growing problem around the world as the population continues to age. Research is continuously underway in order to better understand this disease that steals memories.
Loneliness, an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease
A new study suggests that feeling lonely could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers found that seniors with elevated levels of amyloid proteins – a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease –often feel loneliness more often than individuals with lower amyloid count.
Lead researcher Dr. Nancy Donovan explained, “For people who have high levels of amyloid — the people truly at high risk for Alzheimer’s — they were 7.5 times more likely to be lonely than non-lonely.”
Studies have shown that persons who remain socially active have a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The new study suggests the reverse may be true as well, meaning, seniors with early Alzheimer’s disease may wish to be alone. Continue reading…
Delusions and hallucinations are common in the latter stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Delusions are false beliefs, and even though you may provide the patient with evidence to suggest otherwise, they still hold on to their original belief. Delusions can come in a form of a paranoid idea – for example, a patient may believe that their food has been poisoned. Paranoid delusions can be quite challenging to deal with.
Hallucinations, on the other hand, are an incorrect perception of objects or events, affecting the senses. Although they seem real to the person, they cannot be verified by others. Hallucinations can result either in positive or negative experiences. A patient may hear or see something that isn’t there. Continue reading…
Sleep disorders are a common problem in Alzheimer’s disease. Because sleep is such an important aspect of overall good health, it’s important to find ways of improving sleep in Alzheimer’s patients in order to reduce the risk of other health complications.
You may be wondering, why Alzheimer’s disease and sleep disorders coexist. It mainly has to do with Alzheimer’s disrupting a patient’s sleep-wake cycle. At night, patients are often restless, and during the day they are fatigued and lethargic. The sleeping troubles get worse as Alzheimer’s disease progresses. Over time, daytime naps begin to take the place of the overnight restorative sleep.
Sleep troubles can worsen if the patient has another underlying sleep problem such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, or depression. Continue reading…
Agitation and anxiety in Alzheimer’s disease are just some of the possible behavioral symptoms a patient may experience. These symptoms often develop in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Agitation can present itself as verbal or physical outburst, general emotional distress, restlessness, pacing, or even shredding paper.
Understanding the root cause of behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease can help caregiver calm the patient down or better handle the situation. Continue reading…
In patients with Alzheimer’s disease, eating problems can be quite common. Eating problems in Alzheimer’s disease increase the risk for malnutrition and can worsen other health conditions the patient may already have.
As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, patients may forget to eat or they may even develop difficulties eating, but one thing is for certain: proper eating is very important in Alzheimer’s disease.
Eating and drinking is essential for all people to stay healthy as it provides us with proper nutrition and hydration essential for healthy bodily functions. Insufficient nutrition and hydration can lead to deterioration of overall health, including mental health, as well as weight loss, dehydration, reduced communication abilities, infections, constipation, among other things. Continue reading…