When you have a relative that has just been diagnosed with dementia, it can be devastating, especially if it has seemingly happened out of the blue and there is no family history of it.
There are currently four types of defined dementia in the medical literature, which include Alzheimer’s, Lewy Bodies dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and vascular dementia. There is also mixed dementia, a diagnosis given to those who show symptoms of all these disorders simultaneously.
As a carer or family member, you may want to know more about Alzheimer’s dementia, especially if your loved one is now needing to move into a nursing home and you want to support them. So, this article answers common questions that have been searched online about Alzheimer’s dementia to help you make sense of it.
Is Alzheimer’s Different From Dementia?
Most people assume that dementia is an illness in itself, but it is an umbrella term for issues relating to memory, thinking skills, and reasoning skills that become severe enough to impact somebody’s daily life. Alzheimer’s dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia. If your loved one is showing signs of Alzheimer’s dementia, you will need to look for assisted living in Lancaster Ohio to support them. This will help slow the progression of the disorder and will help them to retain their independence.
What Are The Early Signs?
The early signs of Alzheimer’s vary and one of the first signs is a decline in aspects of cognitive ability or thinking. Many people with Alzheimer’s may have issues finding the right words and may also have issues with spatial problems and their vision. They may also have issues with reasoning and judgment. In short, you should be looking for signs of mild cognitive impairment. This is not to say that if your elderly relative does have a mild cognitive impairment, they will go on to develop Alzheimer’s.
What Causes It?
As of yet, neurologists do not have a complete answer to this question. It is believed that Alzheimer’s is caused by a mixture of factors such as genetics, environmental, and lifestyle factors. There is some evidence that those who have Alzheimer’s dementia are more likely to have issues with certain genes, meaning that there may be a genetic element to it. Physically, the causes of Alzheimer’s dementia have been linked to plaques on the brain, which are also known as scar tissue and tangled neurons.
Is It Genetic?
As mentioned before, there is some evidence that it may be genetic, but this does not mean that if your elderly relative is showing the signs of Alzheimer’s that you or anybody else in your family will go on to develop it.
Is There A Way To Prevent It?
There is no definitive evidence about things that can prevent dementia. It is heavily suggested that a healthy lifestyle, which includes physical activity, a healthy diet, and management of blood pressure, can lower the risk of such neurological diseases and can boost your health and well-being. It’s also important to note that there are some medications that have been linked to reducing the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s. For more information, you should talk to your doctor or your loved one’s doctor.