Other Factors?

Scientists are continuing with their research and are currently researching education, diet and environment to establish if any of these are factors in the onset and development of the disease.

Protective Factors

There is, however, some evidence that physical, mental and social activities may work as protective factors against Alzheimer’s disease.

Signs And Symptoms

 

• Slow onset.
• Mild forgetfulness, patients may have difficulty in remembering recent events, the names of people they know – even their family members.
• Patients may not be able to solve simple problems or do simple sums which may cause minor difficulties. However, it’s not usually serious enough to cause alarm.
• Most people will not suspect anything is wrong at this stage.
• The person may begin to forget how to do simple tasks such as combing their hair or cleaning their teeth.
• They can’t seem to think clearly.
• They may ask the same question repeatedly, or repeat an activity, such as washing their hands, because they have forgotten they have asked the question or washed their hands already.
• Problems arise with speaking, reading, writing and understanding.
• As the disease develops the changes are more pronounced and more easily noticed. At this stage either the person or a family member, on their behalf, will seek medical advice.
• As time passes the person may become anxious, agitated, aggressive, suffer with insomnia and depression.
• They may become wanderers – going out and getting lost.
• Eventually they will need total care.

 

At the present time an accurate diagnosis can only be made after the person dies and a post-mortem is performed. Diagnosis therefore can only be possible or probable.

On examination the doctor will ask:

• for details of the patient’s current general health;
• past medical problems including any surgical procedures which have been carried out;
• the time when the onset of the patient’s growing difficulty in performing the tasks of daily living first became apparent.

 

Memory tests will be carried out such as:

• problem-solving;
• attention span;
• counting;
• language.

 

The following medical tests may be given:

• blood tests;
• urine analysis;
• analysis of spinal fluid;
• brain scan.

 

Sometimes these tests reveal other causes of the symptoms such as:

• thyroid problems;
• drug reactions;
• depression;
• brain tumours;
• diseased blood vessels.

 

Some of these can be treated successfully.

How Long Is The Course Of The Disease?

Alzheimer’s is a slow disease and the length of time it takes from diagnosis to the end varies. On average, these patients live for approximately eight to ten years after diagnosis but they can live up to 20 years after a possible or probable diagnosis.

Most doctors believe that Alzheimer’s disease is incurable but some doctors and nutritionists believe that this disease is a physical reaction to poisonous substances present in the body and in the environment. It has been suggested that some people are sensitive to processed foods, mercury vapour from amalgam dental fillings and plaque build-up in their arteries, which may be a factor in the onset and progression of this disease.

In the book All your Health Questions Answered by Maureen Kennedy Salaman published by MKS Inc. (USA) the author tells a story of a man who was diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s disease. He was told the disease was incurable and that he had approximately seven years to live. He didn’t accept this verdict. He researched the disease and came to his own conclusions regarding his diet, exercise, the poisons in his body and his way of life etc. After four long, painful years he had yet another brain scan. Much to his doctor’s astonishment the ‘Alzheimer’s’ had been reversed.

As Alzheimer’s disease can only be accurately diagnosed by a post-mortem we don’t really know whether this was a miracle or whether the man really did manage to reverse the disease or whether he had Alzheimer’s disease in the first place.

The full story of this man is told in his book Beating Alzheimer’s (Avery Publishing Group, New York 1991).