Alzheimer’s disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer- The doctor who found it.

It is caused when proteins called PLAQUES and TANGLES start developing in the brain causing the cells to lose connection, ultimately leading to the death of nerve cells.

Alzheimer’s also causes the brain to lose important chemical messengers between the cells ; as a result, signals are not passed on that well. It is a progressive disease that develops overtime and worsens and may cause the onset of dementia.

A number of factors affect the likelihood of Alzheimer’s :

  • Heredity

    Alzheimer’s runs in families genetically and Those who have a parent, brother or sister with Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop the disease.

  • Age

    The risk of Alzheimer’s increases with age. After the age of 65 . the risk doubles every 5 years.

  • Environmental factors

    Exposure to toxic chemicals like lead and other heavy metals as well as air pollution cause the risk of Alzheimer’s in elderly.

  • Lifestyle Factors

    The risk of getting Alzheimer’s increases 6 fold in people with obesity, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. Sedentary lifestyle is one of the major contributing causes.

Some of the common symptoms of Alzheimer’s include – memory loss, confusion, disorientation, personality changes, speech issues, anxiety , lack of concentration, hallucinations etc.

Diagnosis

Medications and treatments can help relieve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s as there are no known cures yet.  Persons with Alzheimer’s live more independently and safely with care and support.

You can find out more about Alzheimer’s Here

Awareness month

Alzheimer’s disease awareness month is celebrated every year in September, to erase the stigma around the disease and to educate people about the condition. World Alzheimer’s Day is observed by the Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) on 21st of September. People are encouraged to seek out information about the disease as well as advice and support.

To find out more about World Alzheimer’ Month Here

How can we help?

At Visiting Angels we take special care of our senior’s needs if they are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. We know it can be difficult for a person suffering from Alzheimer’s to maintain a memory and a routine. The Choose your Caregiver program plays and important role here, as the clients have a choice in  the caregiver they want to appoint to take care of them, based on their needs and the carer’s skills. There is an added advantage of seeing a familiar face and maintaining memory as the same caregiver visits them every time.

Find out more about our services Here.

 

Picture by Tim Doerfler