Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Disease, the leading cause of dementia, results in
a deterioration of thinking skills due to a progressive loss of
brain cells. Alzheimer's is a disease that takes over the life of
both the person with the diagnosis and the family. It is a difficult
disease to conclusively diagnosis and is even more difficult to
treat.
Alzheimer's is a frequently occurring disease that continues to
increase in prevalence as the population ages. A person diagnosed
with Alzheimer's lives an average of eight years, from the onset
of the disease, although occasionally survival can be longer than
20 years. Seventy percent of Alzheimer's patients are living at
home and/or being cared for by family members.
Scientists are still not sure what causes Alzheimer's. Family history
has been identified as a potential risk factor. Researches agree
though, that Alzheimer's is most likely caused by several possible
factors. There is evidence that vascular problems such as high cholesterol
and high blood pressure increase risk. Age is certainly a factor,
since approximately ten percent of people over 65 and as many as
50% of people over 85 have Alzheimer's. In addition, two abnormal
structures in the brain have been linked to the disease. These are
amyloid plaques (clumps of protein fragments found on the outside
of cells) and neurofibrillary tangles (clumps of altered proteins
found inside the cells). Research has yet to determine exactly what
role these play in the disease.
Alzheimer's can strike someone as early as 30 years old, however
most people are diagnosed with the disease after the age of 65.
The early onset form of the disease accounts for less than ten percent
of all those diagnosed.
Symptoms
- Memory loss (specially short-term) of recent events, dates,
and names
- Difficulty performing familiar tasks of everyday occurrences,
such as meal preparation and hobbies
- Problems with language; the inability to remember the right
word for an object, i.e. they may forget the word fork but refer
to it as "the thing that we use to eat with"
- Disorientation with time and place, starting to get lost in
familiar surroundings
- Problems with abstract thinking such as balancing a checkbook
- Changes in personality such as becoming easily agitated or suspicious
- Loss of initiative, passive about life and disinterested in
usual activities
Treatment
Diagnosing Alzheimer's is difficult but can be helped with early
and thorough evaluation. There is no single test for Alzheimer's.
A comprehensive patient exam and evaluation may include health history,
physical exam, mental status testing, blood work, and imaging exams.
There are currently four FDA approved medications for the treatment
of Alzheimer's and several other clinical trials are in process.
There are also other medications and therapies that can help reduce
some of the behavioral symptoms associated with the disease.
Once a person has been diagnosed, early involvement of the patient
and the family in education and planning can help ease the long-term
burden of the disease.
Support
We encourage you to obtain a copy of the book The 36 Hour
Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons With Alzheimer's Disease,
Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life
by Nancy L Mace and Dr. Peter V. Rabins, available at most book
stores.
Alzheimer's Association
http://www.alz.org
919 North Michigan Avenue
Suite 1100
Chicago, Illinois 60611-1676
800.272.3900
312.335.8700
Fax: 312.335.1110
"The Alzheimer's Association is the largest national voluntary
health organization dedicated to advancing research for the causes,
treatments, and prevention of Alzheimer's disease, as well as to
enhancing care and support for individuals, their families, and
caregivers."
'Vision: Creating a world without Alzheimer's disease while optimizing
quality of life for individuals and their families.
Mission: To eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement
of research and to enhance care and support for individuals, their
families, and caregivers."
Canton Area Chapter
(Serves Carroll, Holmes, Stark, Tuscarawas, and Wayne Counties)
4815 Munson Street NW
Canton, Ohio 44718
(330) 966-7343 (800) 441-3322
Fax: (330) 966-7757
Office hours: M-F, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
This chapter supports and assists people and their caregivers with
dementia regardless of its cause. They provide advocacy, education,
peer counselors, newsletters, support for research and local support
groups. Occasionally, schedule changes for the support groups may
occur. If you are planning to attend any of the support groups for
the first time, it is recommended that you contact the Chapter office
at the above numbers to confirm the date, time, and location.
ALLIANCE
Alliance Community Hospital
264 Rice Street
Conference Room A
Meets: The 2nd Thursday of the month 7:00 PM
CANTON AREA DAYTIME
Faith United Methodist Church
300 9th Street NW
North Canton, Ohio
Meets: The 3rd Thursday of the month 1:00 PM
CANTON AREA EVENING
Eastern Ohio Benefits/
Sirak Financial Building - Learning Center
4700 Dressler Road NW, Suite 200
Meets: The 4th Tuesday of the month 7:00 PM
CARROLLTON
Senior Citizens Friendship Center
100 Kensington Rd. NE
Carrollton, Ohio
Meets: The 2nd Wednesday of the month 2:00 PM
DENNISON
Twin City Hospital
819 North First Street
Dennison, Ohio
Meets: The 2nd Thursday of the month 7:00 PM
DOVER/NEW PHILADELPHIA
Union Hospital - Auditorium
659 Boulevard
Dover, Ohio
Meets: The 3rd Tuesday of the month 7:00 PM
EARLY STAGE GROUP
Meets: The 2nd Tuesday of the month 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Please call the chapter office for details
MASSILLON
Doctors Hospital
400 Austin Ave NW
Classroom 2
Massillon, Ohio
Meets: The 3rd Thursday of the month 7:00 PM
MILLERSBURG
Holmes County Senior Center
224 North Clay Street
Millersburg, Ohio
Meets: The 4th Monday of the month 7:00 PM
ORRVILLE
Trinity United Methodist Church
1556 Rex Drive
Orrville, Ohio
Meets: The 4th Thursday of the month 7:00 PM
WOOSTER
Wooster Office
345 North Market Street
Suite 208
Wooster, Ohio
Meets: The 3rd Monday of the month 7:00 PM
|