1. What is
Alzheimer’s disease?
·
It is a progressive degenerative disorder in
which the nerve cells of the brain are destroyed and the brain substance
decreases.
·
It can be regarded as the most common form of
dementia (disorder of the mental processes) that has no cure.
·
Unlike other forms of dementia, it is a disease
in which the patient’s condition only worsens.
2. Whom does it
affect?
·
It normally affects those over 60, but even
30-year olds can get affected by it.
·
A family history of mental illnesses is one of
the direct causes.
·
Other indirect causes are pollution, a bad
lifestyle, food habits and the degeneration of the joint family.
·
Urban areas have higher incidence of the disease
than rural areas.
3. What are its
stages?
·
Stage 1: No memory problems during medical
interview.
·
Stage 2: Individuals feel memory lapses and
forget familiar words and names.
·
Stage 3: Decreased ability to remember names
when introduced to new people.
·
Stage 4:
o Clear-cut
deficiencies in knowledge of recent occasions or current events.
o Decreased
ability to perform tasks like paying bills, managing finances, etc.
·
Stage 5:
o Major
gaps in memory.
o Difficulty
in recollecting one’s own address, telephone numbers, etc.
·
Stage 6:
o Significant
personality changes may emerge.
o Need
help in getting dressed properly.
o Experience
hallucinations and tend to wander and become lost.
·
Stage 7:
o Individuals
lose the ability to speak.
o Need
help with eating and using the toilet.
o Reflexes
become abnormal.
4. How can it be
diagnosed and cared for?
·
Lack of awareness continues to be a major hurdle
to its treatment.
·
The cost of treatment also deters people from
seeking medical help.
·
Neither is there any government help nor any
insurance support for this disease.
·
A neurologist who specializes in brain disorders
and the nervous system can evaluate the person for problems that may signal
brain disorders.
·
Awareness about this degenerative and
irreversible disorder is very important to understand and care for the patients
affected with Alzheimer’s.
·
In most of the cases, the early symptoms are
mistaken for age-related forgetfulness.
·
Early detection will help in taking care of the
patient and bearing with the pain of seeing loved ones deteriorate into a
living log.
5. How can one stay
in good shape mentally?
a) Log on
·
The social sites on the Internet help you to network,
meet new friends and strengthen old relations.
·
You can also contribute to blogs which you like,
or start your own blog too.
b) Take a walk
·
Meeting new people and making friends during a walk
on the streets or a nearby park is easier than it looks.
·
Bumping into people can be a positive thing, along
with getting fit and exercising.
c) Hobbies and pastime
·
It is a good way to find people with your own
common interests
·
There are hobby clubs which could serve you a
dual purpose of building a social circle and pursuing your hobby.
d) Team effort
·
Team sports are a great way to socialize and
build team spirit in you.
·
As you continue to play with and against each
other, there is a bond that builds which can sometimes last a lifetime.
e) Course through
·
Learning a new thing with a new person may
result in making that person your new friend.
·
Learning is a rewarding experience and so is
meeting new friends.
·
When you join a language course, there is a
possibility that you end up making new friends and also learning the language
more effectively.
f) Group culture
·
Join a group of some sort with which you have a
common goal.
·
It is a good way to be around people with the
same passions as yourself.
·
It does wonders to your sense of identity too.
g) Be more visible and venture out
·
You won’t meet people by sitting in the confines
of your home.
·
You may be having a number of acquaintances but
very few friends, because you are less visible as a person.
·
Try chatting with your colleagues which will
help you by they knowing what you are like.
·
Going into clubs, cinema halls and restaurants
will also help you meet interesting people.
h) Something different
·
Bring some changes by trying a makeover in your
lifestyle.
·
Change is good for you and they will help you
cope with life’s unpredictability.
·
With changes, you’ll find new friends, and maybe
even some best friends.