Understanding Alzheimer’s disease

What you need to know:

Myth: Alzheimer’s is a disease of the elderly only.
Although most people with Alzheimer’s are elderly, some develop it as early as in their 50s. This is, however, a relatively rare occurrence.
Myth: Alzheimer’s is caused by drug and alcohol abuse earlier in life.
Currently, there is no scientific evidence to support this. That said, very little is known as to the exact cause of the disease.
Myth: There is a cure for Alzheimer’s
Unfortunately there is no cure. The disease gets progressively worse as you age.

Alzheimer’s is a relatively common disease among the elderly the world over, Kenya included. It is a form of dementia (this is a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life). However, few of us fully understand this condition.

This disease causes brain cells to develop changes in their structure causing them to slowly die away. There is also a change in the brain’s chemical balance causing messages not to be transmitted in the usual way. This causes people with Alzheimer’s to develop problems with their memory, mood and other issues related to day-to-day living.

Recognising Alzheimer’s

A lot of the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s are also found in normal elderly people. Since that is the case, how do you tell the difference?

Memory loss

Normal ageing: Occasionally forgetting a name or event/appointment you were meant to go to then remembering it later.

Alzheimer’s: The memory loss is so severe that it interferes with one’s day-to-day life. It usually begins with difficulty remembering newly learned information. They then progressively become confused and frequently forget the names of people, places, bank ATM pins, appointments and recent events.

It is not uncommon for those with advanced Alzheimer’s to keep asking you to remind them your name as they talk to you or for them to repeatedly greet people afresh each time they enter a room.

Difficulty completing tasks

Normal ageing: Occasionally needing help with regular tasks like using farm equipment or setting up gadgets which they possess but do not frequently use e.g. microwave or washing machine.

Alzheimer’s: Unable to do normal tasks consistent with regular living. For example, they may find they cannot remember how to drive themselves to the shop anymore or use the gas cooker (yet they have been using it for many years).

Planning and budgeting

Normal ageing: Occasionally forget to pay for something on their monthly budget.

Alzheimer’s: Completely unable to run their own budget and make plans with their finances. It is not unusual for a person with Alzheimer’s to pay the same bill several times and ignore others completely.

For this reason, it is wise for people with Alzheimer’s to have someone help manage their finances and also make their will early (when they are still mentally alert) to avoid people taking advantage of their mental health challenges.

Problems speaking

Normal ageing: Occasionally forgetting the right words to say.

Alzheimer’s: They find themselves having problems following conversations or contributing to them. It is not unusual for them to tell the same story over and over. They sometimes also stop in the middle of a sentence unable to find the right words to say. They then forget what they had been talking about in the first place.

Misplacing things

Normal ageing: Most elderly people replace things but by retracing their steps, they can usually find them.

Alzheimer’s: Sometimes put things in odd places and cannot find them. They also do not have the ability to retrace their steps. It is not unusual to have them accuse those around them of ‘hiding’ or ‘stealing’ objects from them.

Mood changes

Normal ageing: Usually very fixed in their way of doing things and become very upset if anyone disturbs their routine.

Alzheimer’s: Noticeably anxious, irritable, withdrawn, sad, angry, depressed and frustrated by their situation. There is obvious reduction in confidence and interest in things they used to like. They may even neglect their appearance and personal hygiene.

Confusion with time or place

Normal ageing: Occasionally forget what time or day it is then remember later.

Alzheimer’s: May lose track of days of the week or months of the year. They also lose track of recent events. For example, it is not unusual for them to ask if they have had their lunch (yet it is morning). They sometimes also find themselves wandering off to places and not knowing where they are or how they got there.

Poor judgement

Normal ageing: Makes the occasional error in judgement and recognises it.

Alzheimer’s: Makes consistent poor judgement choices which are not in keeping with their personality. For example, an elderly man who was very cautious with the way he spent his money may keep giving it away to obvious con artists with no hope of recovering it.

Poor treatment compliance

Normal ageing: May occasionally forget to take their medication

Alzheimer’s: Cannot follow a treatment plan. It is not unusual for them to forget to take their medication for an entire day or to repeatedly take the medication (having forgotten that they had already taken their dose for the day).