Introduction:
Alzheimer’s disease sound like Old
timer’s disease but it is a silent epidemic, a progressive degenerative disease, a destroyer of personalities and a wrecker of family resources, without cure that mostly strikes people in their 60s, in rare cases people in 40 and even 20s are the victims.
It is the disease of 20th century but the disease was almost unknown among the general public.
In United States it has been estimated that total disease related costs of Alzheimer’s disease families will be staggering amount of $750 billion by 2030.
Founder of Alzheimer’s disease:
A century ago, a woman in Tubingen Germany, died, the women had been suffering from depression and loss of memory, loss of ability to reason, and progressive jealousy as neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer described it at a meeting of south West German society of Neurologists in November 1906.
Similar Symptoms has been observed in other patients by doctor ling before Alzheimer and those symptoms has been dismissed as the natural part of the aging process. But the German woman had not been elderly and was only 51. Hence the symptoms were termed presenile Dementia and the disease was named Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Dementia is the medical term for group of symptoms and it is the name of any disease. It is usually called Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type (SDAT).
Alois Alzheimer did not get any recognition for his discovery during his life time. Instead, his contribution was ignored. But, today, millions of families of the victims of Ad all over the world would pay tributes to Alois Alzheimer for identifying the devastating disease.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease:
Ø Gradual decline in many areas of intellectual physical decline.
Ø Early in the illness, only memory may be noticeably impaired.
Ø Difficulty in learning new skills.
Ø Difficulty in tasks that require abstract reasoning or calculations.
Ø The person may have trouble on the job.
Ø The personality of person may change.
Ø Impairment in language and person will be unable to find the right word for the things or will use wrong word.
Ø The person will gradually become unable to express him or herself.
Ø The person may give up reading or stop watching television.
Ø The person may get lost easily.
Ø Late in the illness the person may become severely impaired, incontent, and unable to walk or may fall frequently.
Ø The person may be unable to say more than two words, and may recognize no one or one or two people.
Ø The person may be physically disabled as well as intellectually impaired.
Even more then 100 years after Alzheimer presented the dreadful disease, there is no remedy for the AD, which is a progressive disease leading ultimately to death.
Difference between Alzheimer’s and normal, age-related memory changes:
· Some one with Alzheimer’ disease
_ Forgets entire experiences.
_ Rarely remembers later.
_ Is gradually unable to follow written/spoken directions, unable to use notes as reminders, unable to care for self.
· Some one with normal age related memory changes.
_ Forgets part of an experience, remembers later.
_ Is usually able to follow written/spoken directions, able to use notes as reminders, able to care for self.
Prevention: Global studies of measures to prevent or delay the onset of AD have often produced inconsistent results. At present, there appears to be no definitive evidence to support the belief that any particular measure is effective in preventing AD.
The components of a Mediterranean diet, which include fruit and vegetables, bread, wheat and other cereals, olive oil, fish, and red wine, may all individually or together reduce the risk and course of Alzheimer's disease.
Several vitamins such as B12, B3, C or folic acid have been found in some studies to be related to a reduced risk of AD but other studies indicate that they do not have any significant effect. Curcumin in curry has shown some effectiveness in preventing brain damage in mouse models.
Caregiving burden: The role of the main caregiver is often taken by the spouse or a close relative. Alzheimer's disease is known for placing a great burden on caregivers which includes social, psychological, physical or economic aspects.
Home care is usually preferred by patients and families. This option also delays or eliminates the need for more professional and costly levels of care. Nevertheless two-thirds of nursing home residents have dementias.
Dementia caregivers are subject to high rates of physical and mental disorders.
Notable cases: Ø “I am now beginning a journey into the twilight of my life”, wrote former president of the United States, Ronald Reagen, in the letter addressed to the American people in 1995. He was the 84 and suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.
Ø In the popular Malayalam film “Thanmatra”, Mohanlal, one of the greatest actors of the country, lives the role of Alzheimer’s patient.
Ø Ramesan, an honest government official,a caring husband, a nurturing parent, and popular person in the community, becomes the victim of pre-senile Alzheimer’s disease. From a cheerful and active person, Ramesan slowly loses all his faculties and drifts into death.
Ø “Thanmatra” is a classic creation of film maker Blessy which portrays the degeneration of Alzheimer’s disease patient and stresses faced by the family. The film has created some awareness among the public, which needs to be sustained, widened and spread all over the country.