Alzheimer’s disease robs millions of people each year of their memories, their personalities, and the ability to complete daily activities. For the longest time, it was believed that nothing could be done to prevent this awful disease; that it was simply something that people had to look forward to when they reached their golden years. However, new research indicates that there is a number of ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Diet Is Important

Perhaps the easiest way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease is to regulate one’s diet. A study published in the Archives of Neurology in 2002 indicated that participants, ranging in age from 65 to 102, who ate fish at least once each week, showed 36% less decline in cognitive functioning over the study’s three year period. Similar results have been found in other studies; all which indicate those who have a significant amount of fish, as well as Vitamin E, might be well on their way to prevent Alzheimer’s.

Another group of vitamins that appears to be important are the B-complex vitamins, specifically folic acid and vitamin B-12. A study from the National Institute on Aging indicates that mice fed a diet rich in these nutrients were able to repair damage to the DNA of nerve cells in the hippocampus, an area used extensively for memory and learning. Eating foods rich in these vitamins such as whole grains, yeast, meats, and low fat diary products may be a great way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Things to Avoid and Things to Do.

In the fight to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, there are a few things that are becoming more and more important to avoid. The first one should be avoided for a number of reasons, not just dealing with Alzheimer’s. Smoking is definitely something that if you worried about Alzheimer’s, you should avoid. A recent study reported in Stockholm, Sweden indicated that among people that have the genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease, smoking was significantly related to the onset of the disease.

Another thing to try to avoid if you want to prevent Alzheimer’s disease is even small amounts of mercury. This element, even in low quantities, can create neurofibrillar tangles that occur in Alzheimer’s and other mental degenerative diseases in the brain.

Of course, diet and the avoidance of certain things is not the only way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Recent studies indicate that the old adage of “use it or lose it” does have some merit. Whether or not you think you are in the first stages of Alzheimer’s disease, be sure to exercise your mind. Learn something new each day – do a crossword puzzle, read a challenging book, or learn a new recipe for dinner. Keeping your mind active and engaged is a great way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a crippling, depressive disease. It is a gradual process that slowly and permanently robs a person of everything that made them a unique individual, their memories, their loves, and even their personality. The ability to prevent Alzheimer’s disease is something that should be on the goal list of anyone who has the ability to make a difference.

Someone in your family has Alzheimer’s disease, and you’ve been gathering info on Alzheimer’s disease to try to help you make decisions about what to do next, but everything you find is so scientific and complicated. What can you tell your kids to make them understand why their grandfather or uncle doesn’t recognize them anymore? The info on Alzheimer’s disease below is aimed at children and families, so read it together.

What’s Going to Happen?

The person in your family with Alzheimer’s is probably going to start to forget things. He or she may also become angry, sad, or scared. This is because Alzheimer’s makes people feel confused, and it’s also part of the disease itself, so your loved one isn’t mad at you and isn’t crazy, this is part of the sickness. It will probably start out with little things, but eventually it will get worse.

Can I Catch It?

Alzheimer’s is not contagious, but most of the info on Alzheimer’s disease that is currently available suggests that it is genetic. This means that if people in your family have it, you are more likely to get it someday, too. Symptoms typically don’t incur until the individual is at least 65 years old, though, and even if someone in your family has it, that does not mean that you will have it too.

What Caused It?

We still don’t know what causes Alzheimer’s disease, but scientists and doctors are studying different things that may cause it, from genes to environmental factors like what you eat and breathe. It does not come from being near someone else who has it, and it is nobody’s fault.

What Can I Do to Help?

A lot of the info on Alzheimer’s disease suggests that people who spend a lot of time with their friends and family take longer to get really sick from the disease. This doesn’t mean the person is going to get better, or that it’s your job to save them, but just by being with someone and letting them know you love them, you are helping.

Where Can I Get More Info on Alzheimer’s Disease?

You can get a lot of info on Alzheimer’s disease at your public library and on this and other sites. Check out some books on Alzheimer’s and read them together as a family. The more info on Alzheimer’s disease that you have, the less scary it will be, because you will know what to expect.

It is important that family members become and aware of the health of their loved ones if early signs of Alzheimer’s disease are exhibited. To avoid confusion between simple acts of forgetfulness and Alzheimer’s it is important to monitor six categorical early signs of Alzheimer’s. Their increased awareness and detection of early warning signs will allow for a timely diagnosis and treatment of your loved ones.

Memory

One of the early signs of Alzheimer’s is forgetfulness. This forgetfulness is caused by the ability of Alzheimer’s disease to destroy brain cells. This destruction results in the loss of memory. These memory lapses or loss could be the names of people and places or the inability to find the right words to express themselves. Although forgetfulness is part of the aging process, Alzheimer’s disease is differentiated based on the speed at which the memory begins to decline.

In addition early signs of Alzheimer’s may include the forgetting the whereabouts of routinely used items. Additionally early signs of Alzheimer’s could include the storing of items in inappropriate places (shoes in the freezer or rings in the sugar bowl).

Mental Health

Another characteristic in the early signs of Alzheimer’s is depression. Although depression affects the mental health of many individuals it is certainly a good indicator of this disease when coupled with the other early signs of Alzheimer’s.

Senses

Additional early signs of Alzheimer’s are the affects clearly seen on the individual’s senses. The sense of smell and the inability to distinguish between odors may be demonstrated. Also, an early sign of hearing loss may be evident as indicated through the loudness of the television, avoiding phone calls and not entering into conversations. Finally, the sense of sight may be affected as revealed through the individual’s inability to recall images or their inability to follow visual instructions or directions

Mood

Extreme mood swings can be an indicator of the early signs of Alzheimer’s. These changes are for no apparent reason and can range from the extreme of being rational to irrational or to complete agitation. Also demonstrated can be the shedding of tears with no foundation.

Behavior

Early signs of Alzheimer’s may be demonstrated in outward actions such as the inappropriateness of dress. This inappropriateness may be demonstrated through the wearing of winter clothing during the hot summer months or vice versa.

Thinking

Early signs of Alzheimer’s may also include the individual’s helplessness to think clearly. This difficulty may be demonstrated in their inability to perform mathematical functions or other abstract thinking processes.

Reaching age 65 and above coupled with episodes of forgetfulness doesn’t necessarily equate to the early onset of Alzheimer’s. On the other hand it is important to recognize the early onset of Alzheimer’s so that certain behaviors are not dismissed as part of the normal aging process.

Early Symptoms

Early onset of Alzheimer’s in individuals can be characterized through many symptoms. Forgetfulness is one of the primary symptoms and is caused by the ability of Alzheimer’s to destroy brain cells. This destruction results in the loss of memory. These memory lapses can be minor like forgetting the name of a city you once visited or they could be major, like forgetting the name of one of your children. Forgetfulness often comes with age, however, Alzheimer’s disease is differentiated because the speed of forgetfulness is often seems to occur suddenly and is much quicker than typical aging.

The early onset of Alzheimer’s may include the forgetting of where items in your home are located. Additionally early signs of Alzheimer’s could include the storing of items in incorrect places (like books in the dryer).

Another symptom demonstrated in the early onset of Alzheimer’s is severe feelings of depression. Although depression affects can affect anyone of any age, it can be an effective indicator of this disease when coupled with the other early signs of Alzheimer’s.

A severe change in the affected individual’s senses can also be a good indicator of the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Often the sense of smell can be heightened and there is the inability to distinguish between odors. There may be a sever change of hearing loss, where the individual doesn’t hear their phone ring, listens to the radio on high volumes, and is unable to hear conversation occurring in the same room. The sense of sight may also be affected as seen through the individual’s inability to follow visual instructions or directions

Another early onset of Alzheimer’s symptom can be severe mood swings for no apparent reason. One minute the affected is laughing with friends and the next minute she is crying uncontrollably.

Early onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms may include confusion in the indivual’s behavior. Such as their lack of knowing what type of clothes is appropriate to were in the summer and what type of clothes they should wear in the winter. This can be very embarrassing and uncomfortable for the sufferer.

The final symptom of the early onset of Alzheimer’s may be the individual’s inability to think and process things as clearly as before. This could be seen in their inability to pay bills or balance their own checkbook.

Diagnosis

Recognizing symptoms as a possibility of the early onset of Alzheimer’ can be terrifying. A critical step in facing this fear is to be examined by a medical professional and obtain a correct diagnosis. Overcoming fear and moving ahead translates into an earlier treatment program.

Often the first medical professional consulted is the family’s physician. They in turn may suggest consultation with a neurologist or geriatric psychiatrist. These medical professional’s specialize in the diagnosing and management of various forms of dementia which includes Alzheimer’s disease.

Treatment

With the correct diagnosis at the early onset of Alzheimer’s, early treatment can begin. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, treatment may include a prescription regimen which may help slow the development of the disease.

Other treatments to begin at the early onset of Alzheimer’s include the use of alternative medicine. The effectiveness of vitamins and herbal remedies are promoted as possible treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. These alternative medicines could be the use of Vitamin E, ginkgo biloba and Coenzyme Q10.

One of the most important treatments for Alzheimer’s is fast detection, especially for early Alzheimer’s. How though, is it possible to determine whether memory loss or dementia is caused by early Alzheimer’s? Researchers from the University of Zurich in Switzerland reported in September 2003 that a laboratory test was available for early detection of Alzheimer’s.

This test measures two compounds in the spinal fluid. One of these compounds, known as tau protein, is a key component of twisted nerve cell fibers in the brain with Alzheimer’s. The other compound, beta amyloid, is a sticky protein around dying nerve cells in brains that have Alzheimer’s.

They found that the ratio of tau to beta amyloid was significantly higher in people with Alzheimer’s than in people who had other forms of dementia or nervous system disorders or no mental decline.

The scientists concluded that the spinal fluid test could offer “a promising tool” for early detection of Alzheimer’s, but called for additional testing to confirm the results.

The Dilemma of Early Alzheimer’s

Researchers are also looking into imaging techniques such as MRI and PET scans. This helps them find changes in the brain structure and areas of activation that indicate the onset of Alzheimer’s.

There is no lab test that currently detects Alzheimer’s with a high degree of efficiency. Often a definitive diagnosis is not done until an autopsy is completed after death of the individual has occurred.

General practitioners are not very successful at early detection of Alzheimer’s, but a dementia specialist can predict Alzheimer’s 90 percent of the time. This makes regular visits to a physician a very important part in the early detection of Alzheimer’s.

If early detection of Alzheimer’s is accomplished, then the chances of controlling the disease are much more likely since all of the current treatments require early detection to be the most beneficial. Prompt diagnosis also helps family and friends to prepare for worsening symptoms and make plans for the future of the Alzheimer’s patient.

Tests for the Detection of Early Alzheimer’s

Evaluations for early detection of Alzheimer’s will generally include:

* Medical history, * Physical examination, * Blood and urine tests, * Neuropsychological testing, and * Brain imaging scan.

These tests can be performed by your regular physician, but may be better suited to a neurologist or a geriatric psychiatrist. You can also contact a medical center that provides Alzheimer’s care. You can also find additional information at the National Institute for Aging.