Alzheimers Disease
Description
The most common form of dementia. Dementia is a brain disorder that affects memory and prevents the patient from performing their daily activities, recognizing their family and friends, and in its severest form from speaking. It is a devastating disease that becomes worse with time and can progress rapidly in some individuals. While treatment is limited the medications used are most effective when they are started as soon as possible. In addition, early identification enables families to prepare for the progression of the symptoms and arrange appropriate intervention. The disorder is more common in older patients although it is not part of normal aging. The likelihood of acquiring the disorder is also increased with a family history of Alzheimer's, long standing hypertension and previous head trauma.
Symptoms
The beginning of symptoms is usually gradual and progressively worsen. In some the symptoms become worse rapidly. Symptoms include memory problems, inability to perform routine tasks, problems remembering people, change in personality, problems speaking, and behavior changes.
Tests
A history and physical will be done. Tests will be done to rule out other causes of the symptoms such as a stroke, infection, brain tumor or metabolic problem.
- CBC
- Chem 12
- CT Scan
- MRI
Treatment
Unfortunately there are no medications that have been shown to slow the progression of the disease. The medications used can improve the daily functioning of the patient and they include: donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), galantamine (Reminyl) and memantine (Namenda). Simplifying the patient's daily routine can be helpful. As the disease progresses it is important to provide support for the patient and families through caregivers and support groups.
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My mother in law is showing signs of dimensia i think. She is constantly bringing up the past with my father in law. She is cussing at him physically attacking him and bring up things that happend 52 years ago. What should we do she wont go to the doctor. Should we legally make her get a mental evaluation?