Alzheimer’s Disease In Men
Alzheimer’s Disease In Men
Alzheimer’s disease is definitely more common among women when compared to men.
According to one study, 16 percent of women aged 70 and older suffer from Alzheimer’s disease,
while only 11 percent of men who are of the same age carry this diagnosis.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and irreversible brain disease
that causes plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain,
leading to deficits in memory and behavioral changes that ultimately lead to death.
Overall, there are more women with the disease in the US because they tend to live longer lives when compared to men.
Even though there are more women with the disease,
a great many men are sufferers as well.
When men have Alzheimer’s disease,
they often experience poor memory,
an inability to think clearly,
behavioral changes,
and an inability to perform activities of daily living.
While there are other causes of dementia besides Alzheimer’s disease,
it is considered the leading cause of dementia in the elderly.
Statistically, about 5.2 million Americans, both men, and women were diagnosed with the disease each year.
The vast majority are older than 65 years.
Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Dementia
When a person gets Alzheimer’s disease,
their memory and thinking are affected.
The synapses, which are the connection points for nerve cells, begin to deteriorate and the brain cells die off.
Plaques form in the brain and the brain develops neurofibrillary tangles
that interfere with the normal signaling processes of the brain.
Exactly how these structures form in the brain and their purpose has yet to be discovered.
Alzheimer’s disease is divided up into three different stages:
• Stage I –
This mild dementia in which the patient has a loss of memory but can still function in most familiar settings
• Stage 2 –
This is moderate dementia in which the patient has more severe symptoms and needs help in many aspects of daily living
• Stage 3 –
This is severe dementia in which the patient needs total care and does not recognize relatives nor do they know where they are most of the time
Stage 1 Alzheimer’s dementia
In stage 1 disease, the patient suffers from occasional memory loss and behavioral changes such as mood swings.
Their energy level is depleted and they have a slower reaction time.
Confusion can be part of this stage of dementia
and there is difficulty in doing simple, everyday tasks.
These people can become lost and cannot find their way home.
They have problems paying their bills and often cannot manage their finances.
They repeat stories or questions they have said before,
even in the context of the same conversation.
These people do not have good judgment
and have difficulty finding things they have set down
because they put them in unusual places.
Behavioral changes include frequent anger outbursts,
feelings of frustration,
and feelings of being withdrawn from others.
People with mild dementia tend to have this stage for up to four years.
Stage 2 Alzheimer’s dementia
The person with stage 2 disease can still participate in some activities of daily living
but need help if the activity is too complex.
Short-term and long-term memory begin to decline
so that there is more disorientation and disconnection from what is real.
Past memories get confused with present memories
and they may have difficulty recognizing people they should know.
This stage tends to last about 2-10 years.
Stage 3 Alzheimer’s Dementia
In this stage, the individual loses the ability to speak clearly and cannot feed himself or herself.
They rarely recognize people they should know, even close family members.
Memory is completely lost and they need total care,
usually in a nursing facility.
This stage lasts about 1-3 years.
The Diagnosis Of Alzheimer ’S Disease
When Alzheimer’s disease is suspected,
you should see a doctor for evaluation.
The doctor will take a thorough medical history
and will decide if there is another health problem that is contributing to the symptoms.
A family member may be able to give a history of the patient’s behaviors and changes in personality.
Neuropsychological testing can then be done to evaluate the patient’s abilities.
CT scanning and MRI scanning can sometimes reveal changes in the brain consistent with Alzheimer’s disease.
Treatment Of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s dementia has no cure
but there are medications available on the market that can slow the progression of the disease, especially when given early.
These medications are not terribly successful,
however, because they only improve symptoms by about 6-12 months.
Half of the people who try these medications will show no improvement.
The best treatment is to have capable nursing staff, social workers, and doctors
who can help you and the family with caring for the patient with Alzheimer’s disease.
Prevention Of Alzheimer’s Disease
There seem to be ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease from happening.
Doing things that also prevent heart disease also seems to have an impact on Alzheimer’s disease.
This includes lowering cholesterol,
decreasing high blood pressure,
reducing obesity,
and increasing mental and physical activity.
A low-fat diet rich in vegetables and fruit can help reduce the risk of dementia.
Activities that stimulate the mind have been known to prevent or delay the onset of the disease.
