As the primary caregiver and child of an aging parent, you may find yourself thinking about Alzheimer’s disease a lot these days. Perhaps you’re trying to diagnose symptoms. Maybe you’re attempting to distinguish it from dementia versus simple human error. Depending on a family member’s behavior, medications, and signs of decline, that would be a reasonable and proactive response. A productive place to start is to understand what Alzheimer’s and dementia are before concerning yourself with advanced-stage support options, and memory care costs at senior living facilities.
What is Alzheimer’s?
Dubbed “Alzheimer’s” for Dr. Alois Alzheimer after she diagnosed brain tissue changes in a female patient who died of a mental illness, the disease is a progressive and untreatable brain disorder that gradually wipes out cognition and memory. It robs its victims of the ability to execute even the most basic daily routines,progressing insidiously to eventually disturb vital organ functions.
The culprits, Dr. Alzheimer found, are an unusual number of abnormal clumps, or amyloid plaques, and tangled brain fibers. Even today, brain plaques, clumps and fibers are still considered primary Alzheimer’s signs, along with failing connections between brain nerve cells, or neurons.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
In most cases, people with late-onset Alzheimer’s first exhibit symptoms in their mid-60s. Although symptoms may express themselves differently in each person, this list of “10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's” from the Alzheimer’s Association is a useful guide for caregivers concerned about the onset and stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood and personality
Of course, there are enormous differences between simple forgetfulness — such as misplacing car keys or being unable to call up a favorite movie title — versus not being able to remember the name of a spouse or retrace your steps in your own home. For more information about these symptoms, and how to distinguish them from normal signs of aging or common mistakes, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website.
What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia?
Although they have similar symptoms, and may wreak the same kind of havoc on a parent’s well-being, it’s a fair question to ask a doctor or memory care specialist, especially if your loved one may be in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia. WebMD distinguishes them this way: “Dementia is the name for a group of brain disorders that make it hard to remember, think clearly, make decisions, or even control your emotions. Alzheimer’s disease is one of those disorders.”
And make no mistake. Dementia that is not the result of Alzheimer’s is not a kinder gentler mental impairment, limited to harmless memory lapses. According to WebMD, people who have dementia struggle with at least two of the issues below:
- Memory challenges
- Communication and speech
- Focus and concentration
- Reasoning and judgment
- Visual perception — inability to distinguish colors, or detect movement, or having hallucinations
Many factors may contribute to the progression of this dementia. Neurodegenerative disorders, for example, can result in the continuing and irreparable loss of neurons and brain functioning. Despite ongoing medical advances and promising therapies, there are no cures yet for these forms of dementia:
Advanced stages of these are reason to weigh the importance of whether the senior care facility you’re considering provides comprehensive memory care and therapies. Experience in working with people who have dementia becomes a critical qualifier, as many problems can cause serious dementia-like symptoms, but are not clinical forms of dementia. These may include:
- Brain disorders, such as blood clots, tumors or infections
- Medicine side effects or vitamin deficiencies
- Stress, anxiety or depression
- A concussion or aftermath of a fall
- Liver, kidney or thyroid disorders that lead to confusion, depression or organ failure
- Mixing medicines and alcohol
These problems should go away once the conditions are treated appropriately.
And if the above list isn’t confusing enough, there are numerous other medical conditions, ranging from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), that induce dementia-like symptoms.
When in doubt, consult a neurologist or another specialist who can identify and treat dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. They can help you determine the best options for your parent and you, the responsible caregiver.