Alzheimer's Disease: 2nd Stage Symptom

Changes in the brain of Alzheimer's sufferers may begin 10 to 20 years before any visible signs of

dementia or any symptoms of Alzheimer's appear. Alzheimer's disease progresses through three main stages: The first stage is mild.

 The symptoms at this stage can be observed by family members and considered as part of normal aging. The family member starts to forget places or things.

 Sometimes, the family member forgets their address. At this stage, it seem a little matter of "mom or dad , they're just getting older".

 However by the time the second stage appears, family members began to sense that there may be something serious happening.

As the memory continues to deteriorate, there is a sense that ther is a more severe problem.Click Here! During the second stage of Alzheimer's disease there is evidence that the damage to the brain has progressed. At the second stage of Alzheimer's disease there are some language problems.

 Family members fear that the patient has had a stroke.

 The ability to speak is slow and labored. There is a strain to articulate feelings or request.

 There may be an inability speak clearly. During the second stage of Alzheimer's the person's reasoning ability is hampered.

 The person may decide to go to the grocery store at 2:00 am in the morning. The person will not understand why this does not make sense.

 Some individuals become combative or emotional over perceived injustices.

 The processing of sensory information such as reacting to heat or cold becomes impaired during the second stage of the disease.

The brain is not connecting or interpreting sensory messages from the body.

 Alzheimer's patients have been known to not feel the heat from a stove or not react to cold. In the second stage of the disease, the symptoms and signs of Alzheimer have become more obvious.

 As the disease progresses, family members can see that other regions of the brain have been affected.

 There are pronounced changes in behavior and there is a pronounced attention deficit. The progression of Alzheimer's disease can vary.

 The individuals who have been studied shows that the duration of the disease may vary from 3 to 20 years. Early detection is critical to controlling and slowing the progression of the symptoms. Finding the right Alzheimer's treatment plan is important at this stage.

The disease can be slowed at this stage. There are medications approved by the FDA to treat Alzheimer'disease.

There is no cure. However, some medication have been tested that delay the progression and possibly the onset of new Alzheimer's symptoms, Many of the drugs that are prescribed for Alzheimer patients are designed to help with the emotional or the behavioral changes that occur.

 When the individuals starts to experience any of the symptoms associated with the various stages of Alzheimer's, they should seek medical help immediately.

 Don't confuse the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease with the changes that take place in normal aging.

Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. Some studies indicate that some of the symptoms of Alzheimer's may be due to other conditions that impact the diagnosis.

Depression, some of the side effects of other medications, excessive use of drugs or alcohol or even nutritional imbalances may be disorders that can impair memory and other functions. If these problems are identified early on, individuals can sometimes stave off the progression of the disease by being reactive to the symptoms early.

 For more information on alzheimers statistics, treatment, caregiving, and support resources, please visit http://www.alzheimersdiseasetips.com for helpful tips. Be sure to read the article on alzheimers disease early symptom detection. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_J_Bruton Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/421945

Prevent Alzheimer's - Play Scrabblel

Playing Scrabble or other "thinking" board games is being shown by modern medical science to have many health benefits. No matter what your age, "brain sports" such as Scrabble have been proven to be of particular benefit for many aspects of human mental health. At the simplest and most obvious end of the spectrum, the social aspects of Scrabble and other board games can be a preventative or even a treatment for loneliness, depression and social phobia. At the other end of the spectrum, a study from the University of Southern California and published in the respected "Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences" shows that mentally stimulating recreational activities in early and middle adulthood is strongly associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's Disease in later life. A similar study by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging in 2002 studied 700 dementia-free people aged 65 and older for a period of 4.5 years. It compared the level of active cognitive activities regularly performed by the study participants, such as card games, checkers, crossword puzzles, reading books and visiting museums. The NIH reached a conclusion that those with the highest levels of cognitive activities in their lifestyle had a 47% reduced risk of future Alzheimer's disease than those who had the least levels of cognitive activities in the lifestyles.Click Here! A 2008 study by the University of NSW published in the renown journal "Public Library of Science" adds that, in addition to Alzheimer's Disease, the onset of other degenerative brain diseases such as Huntington's and Parkinson's Diseases can also be delayed or prevented with these forms of mental activity. It found that a brain region known as the hippocampus, known to shrink with age and particularly with these three degenerative brain diseases, has only half the rate of shrinkage in people engaged in active mental tasks as in those with low levels of mental stimulation. The evidence suggests a "Use it or Lose it" basis to human cognitive health. If it is too late for prevention, research from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center that has been published in the "Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry" still has some encouraging news. They have demonstrated that computer and internet based mentally stimulating activities such as games can play a useful role alongside medication in improving the cognitive function of Alzheimer's patients. That is another plus for Scrabble, the various internet versions of which have grown the game into one of the most popular online today. Irrespective of Alzheimer's Disease or other form of dementia, cognitive decline is a very common phenomena as we advance in years. Medical research teaches us clearly that keeping one's brain active with puzzles, games, study and similar means are an effective method of slowing the rate of age-related cognitive decline. Furthermore, the earlier in life one begins to regularly participate in such active brain games and pursuits, the longer it takes before any cognitive decline even begins. The lesson is clear. Play Scrabble and other brain-games regularly to enhance and maintain your overall mental health throughout life, and to help prevent Alzheimer's Disease or other forms of age-related cognitive decline in your later life. Trevor Johnson is the author of the "Scrabble Bonus Word Techniques" ebook series - available at BonusWords.com - Your Scrabble Dictionary Accessory. (Scrabble® is a registered trade mark of Hasbro Inc in the USA and Canada, and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited (a subsidiary of Mattel Inc.) of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. Hasbro is not affiliated with J.W. Spear & Sons Limited or Mattel Inc.) Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_A_Johnson

Senior Health - Is Alzheimer's More Aggressive in Men?

Is Alzheimer's more aggressive in men? Yes, it is, and it's also one of the disturbing facts of the disease.
It's hard to imagine a loving elderly couple who have been through thick and thin together, but is slowly ripped apart by the symptoms of Alzheimer's and the declining health of the husband. Male Alzheimer's sufferers can go from loving grandfathers to people who spit, kick, and punch their spouses. Or, they might pull a knife on anyone who comes near them.
Although these are extreme situations, aggression in Alzheimer's disease happens more often than you might think. Some family members perceive these aggressive outbursts as personal attacks. Yet, the aggression and tantrums of their elderly loved one is usually a way to express their feelings of helplessness and frustration.
Alzheimer's causes a sharp decline in cognitive skills, and patients can become disoriented, lose their memory, and find it complicated to express themselves. So, they lash out at their caregivers and blame them when they become distressed.
Why are Men More Aggressive Than Women with Alzheimer's?
In a study done by the Radiological Society of North America, it was determined that women developed a greater amount of gray matter atrophy in the brain than men before their Alzheimer's diagnosis. This was discovered on average about one year before their Alzheimer's diagnosis.
However,Click Here! Alzheimer's disease developed much quicker in men than it did in women, and different parts of the brain had atrophy between men and women. Even though more research needs to be carried out, it is probable that the location of the brain where Alzheimer's occurs has an outcome of how aggressive men can be.
How to Lessen Alzheimer's Aggression in Men
Medication - Today, there are various Alzheimer's disease drugs that control mood swings, strengthen cognitive skills and lessen uncontrolled outbursts. Physicians need to monitor your loved one's condition closely to determine what types of medication might be best.
Set Limits - Although aggression and other violent behavior might be a part of some Alzheimer's disease patients, you've got to set limits. You might need the help of other medical professionals to stop fighting, screaming and kicking.
Understanding - It's necessary not to do anything that might cause uncertainty or frustrate your loved one. You should avoid all confrontations, and treat the patient with dignity. How would you feel if your slowly lost all of your skills and realized you weren't getting better? You would probably get angry eventually, too.
Activities - Seniors with Alzheimer's disease need to stay as active as they can. When possible, allow them to do easy household chores like simple cleaning, or wiping off dust and dirt. Long walks in the open air can be very therapeutic and help to lessen Alzheimer's aggression in men, too.
Look for Pain and Discomfort - Seniors with Alzheimer's disease might act in an angry way, because of pain or discomfort.
If they are taking medication, it could have side effects, such as headache, nausea, or other pain. They might also feel discomfort from elsewhere. That could be mental or physical, and caregivers need to look a little deeper for clues.
Treat Them Like Adults - As you notice some of the slow movements and look on your loved one's face, it can seem as if you are dealing with a child. However, you are dealing with an adult and you should continue to treat them that way. So, spare the baby talk and help them retain as many of their cognitive abilities as possible.
Daily Routines - Keep your loved one in daily rhythms with routines they are familiar with. Nothing frustrates Alzheimer's sufferers more than the unknown. Try your best to keep situations as ordinary as possible.
Is Alzheimer's More Aggressive in Men? - Conclusion
It might be good to point out that although Alzheimer's is more aggressive in men, the aggressiveness of the disease usually subsides, and in most cases can be controlled with the proper medication. With the help of science, maybe one day, Alzheimer's disease can be a thing of the past. Yet, until then, caregivers must learn how to treat its symptoms.

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