Showing posts with label alzheimer’s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alzheimer’s. Show all posts
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Alzheimer’s Disease Part 2
Alzheimer’s Disease Part 2
(continued from last week)
It’s especially helpful to put structure in the life of someone who’s in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Some suggestions include:
- Maintain daily routines.? Post reminders on an oversized and prominently displayed calendar.
- Make “to do” lists of daily tasks for the person with Alzheimer’s to complete, and ask him or her to check them off as they’re completed.
- Put things in their proper places after use, to help the person with Alzheimer’s find things when he or she needs them.
- Post safety reminders (like “turn off the stove”) at appropriate places throughout the house.
Also, see that the person with Alzheimer’s eats well-balanced meals, goes for walks with family members, and otherwise continues to be as active as possible.
Alzheimer’s victims should also wear medical identification tags.
Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com
Available link for download
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
Many of us must have watched “Finding Nemo,” or maybe our children or grandchildren have. It was actually a heart-warming and funny movie but we certainly wouldn’t want to be like Dory who suffers from short-term memory loss.
Merriam-Webster describes Alzheimer’s Disease as a degenerative brain disease of unknown cause that is the most common form of dementia. It usually starts in late middle age or in old age and results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, and changes in personality and mood. It is marked by the degeneration of brain neurons especially in the cerebral cortex and by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and plaques containing beta-amyloid.
Alzheimer’s Disease was first described by German neurologist Alois Alzhemier in 1906 and was later named after him.
Dr. Don R. Powell, President and CEO of the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, in his book A Year of Health Hints, describes the symptoms and how to help someone who has early signs of this disease:
- Brief attention span
- Decreased bowel or bladder control (rarely)
- Depression
- Disorientation
- Forgetfulness (especially about recent events)
- Inability to handle minor tasks, or to speak clearly
- Irritability, hostile behavior, or paranoia
- Lack of spontaneity
- Mental deterioration
- Neglecting to perform routine tasks
Its especially helpful to put structure in the life of someone who’s in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Some suggestions include:
- Maintain daily routines.
- Post reminders on an oversized and prominently displayed calendar.
- Make “to do” lists of daily tasks for the person with Alzheimer’s to complete, and ask him or her to check them off as they’re completed.
- Put things in their proper places after use, to help the person with Alzheimer’s find things when he or she needs them.
- Post safety reminders (like “turn off the stove”) at appropriate places throughout the house.
- See that the person with Alzheimer’s eats well-balanced meals, goes for walks with family members, and otherwise continues to be as active as possible.
Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com
Available link for download
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Alzheimer’s Disease Part 1
Alzheimer’s Disease Part 1
Mysterious and frustrating, Alzheimer’s afflicts nearly four million Americans, about 10 percent of the over-65 population, and 45 percent of those 85 years or older. (In rare instances, it strikes earlier than 65.)
Sympoms of Alzheimer’s include:
- Brief attention span
- Decreased bowel or bladder control (rarely)
- Depression?
- Disorientation?
- Forgetfulness (especially about recent events)
- Inability to handle minor tasks, or to speak clearly
- Irritability, hostile behavior, or paranoia?
- Lack of spontaneity?
- Mental deterioration?
- Neglecting to perform routine tasks
If someone you care about shows signs of Alzheimer’s disease, see that they get medical attention to confirm (or rule out) the diagnosis. Not everything that looks like Alzheimer’s is Alzheimer’s. Brain tumors, blood clots in the brain, severe vitamin B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism, and some drug side effects can mimic Alzheimer’s disease. (Unlike Alzheimer’s, these problems can be treated.)
(to be continued next week -J.P.)
Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com
Available link for download
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