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Some Facts about Alzheimer's Disease
 | The
story of Alzheimer’s disease began in l906 when Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a
physician in
Germany
for whom the disease is named, studied the brain of a 51-year-old woman with
symptoms of depression, hallucinations, and dementia. He discovered … “a
paucity of cells in the cerebral cortex … and clumps of filaments between
the nerve cells.”1 Dr. Alzheimer’s finding of plaques and
tangles within the tissues of the brain remains the classic hallmarks of the
disease even today, with the definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s confirmed
only at autopsy. Perhaps the most poignant moment in this discovery was when
the patient uttered: “I have lost myself.” James
Dancer EdD. |
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Warning
Signs of Alzheimer's
 | MEMORY
LOSS, especially for recent events
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| DIFFICULTY
PERFORMING FAMILIAR TASKS, such as cooking a meal
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| LANGUAGE
PROBLEMS, such as forgetting a familiar word
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| DISORIENTATION
IN TIME AND PLACE, such as forgetting an appointment or where the
doctor’s office is located
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| POOR
OR DECREASED JUDGMENT, such as buying unneeded products
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| PROBLEMS
WITH ABSTRACT THINKING, such as understanding a humorous remark or
solving math problems
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| MISPLACING
THINGS, such as dentures or hearing aids
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| CHANGES
IN MOOD OR BEHAVIOR, such as sudden bursts of anger or agitation for no
apparent reason
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| CHANGES
IN PERSONALITY, usually for the worse
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| LOSS
OF INITIATIVE, with little or no interest in former activities or
hobbies
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| Physical
activity promotes brain health |
Currently
there are an estimated 4.5 million Americans with Alzheimer's
disease, points out the Alzheimer's Association, a number that has
more than doubled since 1980. By 2050, the number of individuals with
Alzheimer's could range from 11.3 million to 16 million. A recent research
review identified 40 factors that may play a role in cognitive and emotional
health, including education, cardiovascular health, physical activity and
psychosocial factors.
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Alzheimer's
is a progressive degenerative disease
Progressive
loss of memory -
Difficulty
with concentration -
Decrease in
problem-solving skills and judgment -
Confusion,
delusions -
Altered
perception; impaired recognition -
Impaired
skilled motor function, disorientation -
Impaired
language skills - Personality changes
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| Eat chocolate and drink
red wine
Go ahead and indulge -- but not
too much. It's good for your heart -- honest. Cocoa beans and red wine
contain flavonoids, a compound found to decrease the risk of heart disease.
Red wine is also believed to restrict tumor development in some cancers and
might help people with neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's.
Dark chocolate is recommended
because it's less fattening.
But remember -- everything in
moderation.
By Joanna Frketich
The Hamilton Spectator
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