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Health

Know the signs of Alzheimer's

15/07/2013

This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.

 


 




It is normal to be a bit more forgetful with age. So how to separate this behavior of a more serious problem, such as Alzheimer's disease? One in eight people aged 65 and older suffer from some form of dementia. In the early stages, Alzheimer's disease is not very obvious to friends and family. But there are some small signs warning.
Memory and speech

At the beginning of Alzheimer's disease, the long-term memories generally remains intact while the short term becomes inaccurate. The individual may forget conversations we had, repeating questions that have already been answered. The disease also impairs speech, so patients must struggle to remember common words. It is important, however, to note the frequency of it. For stress and fatigue also have an effect on memory.

Behavior

Besides memory loss, Alzheimer's can cause confusion and behavior change. He can get lost in familiar places. Mood swings and difficulty of judgment are also common, as well as insufficient hygiene. People who cared about the style can start wearing stained clothes and have dirty hair.

Do not ignore the signs

Even being hard to face the possibility that a loved one may have Alzheimer's, it is best to consult a doctor as soon as possible. First because the diagnosis can not be Alzheimer's. The symptoms may be caused by a problem completely treatable, such as a thyroid imbalance. And if it is the same disease, the current treatment works best in people who are at the beginning of the process.

Diagnosis

There is a simple test for Alzheimer's. There are tests that can assess mental function and short-term memory. Furthermore, neurological examinations and MRI can be used to rule out other problems such as stroke and tumor - and they can give other information about the brain.

The brain of the patient

Alzheimer's disease leads to death of nerve cells and loss of tissue around the brain. As it progresses, the fabric shrinks and the ventricles (chambers containing cerebrospinal fluid) becomes larger. The damage disrupts communication between brain cells, causing problems with memory, speech and understanding.

What to Expect

The disease takes different paths in each patient. In some people, symptoms worsen rapidly, leading to severe memory loss and mental confusion in a few years. In others, changes occur gradually and sometimes take 20 years to accentuate. The average survival period after diagnosis is three to nine years.

Because the disease affects the routine

How Alzheimer's affects concentration, patients may lose the ability to solve simple tasks such as cooking and paying bills. As symptoms worsen, the patient may not recognize family members or common places. Can get lost easily use utensils or wrongly, such as using a fork to try to comb your hair.
Urinary incontinence, balance difficulties, and loss of language are common in advanced stages.




Source: The Globe - Online

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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.

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