As we age, most of us will experience temporary memory lapses. We may forget names or telephone numbers and have difficulty finding the right word, which can be annoying, but certainly not life threatening. More serious memory problems and behavioral changes that interfere with daily life are not normal and may indicate a brain disease called dementia.

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is a group of symptoms caused by changes in brain function, according to the National Institute on Aging. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia that is seen in older adults, is a progressive brain disorder that affects memory and reasoning and the ability to learn and communicate.

The onset of the disease is gradual, so older adults, their families, and even their doctors may not initially consider early symptoms as a possible form of dementia. Once diagnosed with the illness, people with Alzheimer’s live an average of eight years, although they can live as long as 20 years with the disease, depending on the age at diagnosis and the severity of other health problems.

Alzheimer’s is most common in people over age 65. An estimated 4.5 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that by 2050, the number of people with the disease could increase to range from 11 to 16 million.

What Are the Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease?

The disease is often categorized into early, middle, and late stages. Not everyone with the disease will develop all of the symptoms or experience a decline in the same amount of time. The Alzheimer’s Association describes the stages in terms of symptoms.

Early Symptoms:

• Frequent memory loss: forgetting recent events and conversations
• Problems with language: forgetting simple words or making up words as substitutes
• Difficulty performing everyday tasks, such as cooking or paying bills
• Disorientation to time and place: forgetting where they are, how they got there, and how to get home
• Mood changes: rapid mood swings for no apparent reason
• Personality changes: becoming unusually angry, irritable, quiet, or confused

Middle-Stage:

Difficult behaviors: paranoia, wandering, repeating questions, hallucinations, agitation

• Loss of reading and writing abilities
• Loss of coordination
• Difficulty recognizing family and friends at times
• Progresses from needing reminders regarding personal care to needing assistance with personal care

Late-Stage:

• Loss of ability to walk, communicate, and to recognize people and objects
• May lose ability to swallow
• Incontinence
• Spends majority of time sleeping

How Is Alzheimer’s Diagnosed and Treated?

Alzheimer’s disease cannot be diagnosed with a single test or procedure. Instead, the disease is diagnosed through comprehensive neurological assessments and a medical evaluation. Physicians will rule out other potential causes of dementia symptoms, including depression, malnutrition, or side effects from medications.

There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, but several medications have been developed recently for people in the early stages of the disease to aid in slowing down the progression of the disease. However, the new medications are not effective for everyone.

Depression, anxiety, unpredictable behavior, and other emotional and behavioral symptoms can also be treated with medication to help improve the quality of life of people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.

Early-onset Alzheimer’s

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, early-onset is a diagnosis of the disease when the person is younger than 65.   A small percentage of individuals are diagnosed in the 40’s, 50’s and early 60’s.   Individuals with early-onset may be employed, have children living at home and face issues such as ensuring financial security, obtaining benefits, and helping children cope with the disease.

How Can Caregivers Cope?

Watching a loved one slowly deteriorate from one stage of Alzheimer’s to the next can be devastating for family members. Caregivers must adjust over time as the needs of the person with Alzheimer’s disease change, cope with challenging behavioral changes, and experience the heartache when their loved one no longer recognizes them.

Nearly all Alzheimer’s caregivers report that they frequently experience high levels of stress, and nearly half suffer from depression, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Caregivers often ignore their own health needs due to the demands of their care-giving role.

To reduce caregiver stress, the Alzheimer’s Association offers these suggestions:

• Learn about the disease: symptoms, behavioral changes, and stages
• Find classes that will teach you how to control unwanted behaviors and improve communication
• Find a support group in your community for information and emotional support
• Establish a social and emotional support network of people you can count on to help in times of need
• Plan ahead for legal and financial issues
• Take care of your own physical and emotional needs

Social workers who work in health care settings, social service organizations, and private practice are trained to assist caregivers with family needs during this difficult time. They can arrange for in-home services, coordinate care among medical professionals, and direct caregivers to various community resources, particularly respite care, which is necessary to reduce caregiver stress.

When caregivers care for themselves, seek help, and participate in support groups and classes, they are more equipped to provide better care and to care for their loved one at home through the later stages of the disease.