Spot signs early to cope with Alzheimer's

The Hindu-21/09/2011
You may have forgotten the name of your neighbour next door or misplaced the house keys recently and waved it aside as a consequence of aging. But what if memory loss disrupts everyday's normal activities? This symptom is the first manifestation of Alzheimer's disease, a most common form of dementia that affects thinking, language and behaviour.

Though Alzheimer's disease is a progressive age-related disorder where symptoms worsen over time, spotting the signs early can slow down deterioration of the condition and help patient and family to cope better with the disease.

While patients make important financial and legal decisions beforehand and improve quality of life through lifestyle modifications coupled with medications, onset of Alzheimer's can be delayed by adopting similar modifications, opine neurologists.

M.A.Aleem, Vice-Principal and Head, Department of Neurology, K.A.P.Viswanatham Government Medical College, pins down socio-economic reasons behind increased anxiety over symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

More number of elderly are spending their twilight years in old-age homes or living independently as joint family system has almost become an anachronism today.

Hence there is a frustration with the inability to perform tasks without assistance. “Those who retire today are not idle and work even work after retirement. So even mild memory loss becomes a pressing concern as day-to-day activities become problematic.”

Noticed in population above the age group of 60, the condition that starts with memory loss includes a range of symptoms like inability to perform familiar tasks, disorientation of time and place, incoherent speech and emotional instability. Avoiding head injury, keeping blood pressure under control, abstaining from smoking and alcohol consumption can prevent early onset of Alzheimer's.

Though family history has a considerable role to play and men such as former U.S. president Ronald Reagan fell prey to the disease, studies have proved that proper dietary habits, regular exercise and engaging in reading and similar activities can keep Alzheimer's at bay.

Even as the feasibility of preventive vaccines is being researched, another area of concern is lack of caregiver support for patients in current nuclear family system. World Alzheimer's Day is observed on September 21.