Alzheimer's Basics Questions

1. I don't know how to handle conversations with my mom when she has dillusions. Help!

   The most concise definition of a delusion is 'a false belief'. The operative word, when communicating with Alzheimer delusions, is BELIEF! No matter how seemingly ridiculous the delusion for the person with Alzheimer's disease may seem to you, to her it is something she truly believes to be true...
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2. How long can you live with Alzheimer's?

   Life expectancy for those with Alzheimer's can vary greatly from person to person. One reason is that the length of each stage (early/middle/late) differs widely by individual. Other factors include one's other health conditions and age at diagnosis.
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3. How can I help Dad keep his days and nights right?

   You and your father are both so fortunate that he’s involved in his choir and exercise. The only drawback is that sometimes he’s so eager that he loses his sense of time. He’s still high-functioning and may simply need a reminder.
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4. Does Mild Cognitive Impairment Mean Dementia Later On?

   The most important thing to remember about Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is that it is a "symptom" and not a "disease". It merely means that your ability to remember, or to use sound judgment, or to think in general, has been subtly affected by some medical condition. With this perspective, your question becomes rather straight forward...
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5. Is Alzheimer's hereditary, and am I at risk?

   Not necessarily. Having a parent, especially a mother, with Alzheimer's is a known risk factor. But this doesn't mean that you will automatically get the disease. The cause of Alzheimer's isn't known and the role of heredity is unclear.
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6. What is the Glutathione level in people with Alzheimer's?

   Although there is some evidence indicating that oxidative stress may play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease, there is no evidence that glutathione production is decreased. There are no scientific papers published on the Glutathione accelerator and its developer, Dr. Keller did not publish anything in peer reviewed journals about it as well...
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7. Is word repetition normal?

   The repetition of words is not unusual for a person with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or one of the related dementia. The gradual loss of language is variable and more profound in some dementia and earlier in the process for others. The words your memory-impaired (m-i)person chooses to repeat may have nothing to do with what he/she is thinking or feeling...
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8. Where do we start getting involved in Dad's Alzheimer's care from another state?

   Reviewing Alzheimer care from out of state can be, at best, hazardous! Finding out everything possible regarding the care, resources, support systems, and services in dad's FL community is of outmost importance. The more options for care, that you offer the present carepartner, the better the chance for a positive outcome...
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9. How can I get mom to stop compusively shopping?

   Alzheimer's is a brain disease, as you know. In order to help someone with this disease you need to understand how it affects the brain. One of the first parts of the brain that is affected is the ability to see the consequences of behavior...
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10. How can we stop mom from driving when Alzheimer's makes using alternatives difficult?

    My family faced a similar situation -- and I know how hard it is to figure out exactly when to take the keys away from a loved one with dementia. Even experts sometimes disagree on when driving cessation is warranted for someone with Alzheimer's disease. But you are describing some red flags that suggest it is time for your grandmother to stop driving (e...
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11. Is having an itchy head a symptom of Alzheimer's disease?

    In my experience, I have not heard or seen any research that shows that an itchy head is a sign of Alzheimer's Disease. I do know that many people with Alzheimer's will often do repetitive behaviors, like tapping or saying the same phrase over and over. Perhaps scratching a body part, like their scalp, could fall in this category...
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12. Is there a way to avoid having the same conversation every day with Mom about her medication?

    Many a caregiver of a person with Alzheimer’s shares your aggravation at having the same discussion over and over again. Your mom is overwhelmed by the sheer number of pills. The dispenser pillboxes with a small compartment for each day of the week easily look like they are overflowing and may give e the illusion of many more pills than are actually in there...
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13. How many stages of Alzheimer's are there?

    There are several different ways to count the stages of Alzheimer's, because there is no single, standard classification.
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14. How can I get my mom stop obsessing about something?

    Helping someone with dementia to stop obsessing takes a little time and a great deal of creativity. Each time your Mom starts a conversation about the obsessive subject, it is the first time for her. Your body language will be the key to making her feel respected and it will help to keep her unaware...
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15. Should we tell Mom that Dad is dying?

    This is such a difficult issue that effects hundreds of families each day. How much do I tell the memory-impaired person and how much may be too much or not enough. I hope the answer is a bit more clear. Living with Alzheimer's and coping with grief simultaneously can be can be both back and heart breaking...
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16. At what age does Alzheimer's disease usually start?

    From what I’ve read, most cases of Alzheimer’s occur in very old people. It’s hard to tell at what age Alzheimer’s disease would usually start, since no one knows exactly when the disease got its start in anybody. People usually have the disease a long time before there are symptoms.
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17. Can a person inherit Alzheimer's?

    I've answered similar questions on this site. Yes, I've often read that there can be a predisposition to inheriting alzheimer's. There's lots of good info about it in this Caring.com article.
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18. How do you get Alzheimer's?

    Getting Alzheimer’s is a real fear with many people, especially those who have seen a relative struggle with the disease. They wonder, is Alzheimer’s genetic?. A person can’t inherit dementia, but they can be at a greater risk of getting the disease if a close relative had dementia at an early age. age...
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19. What does Alzheimer's do to the body?

    Alzheimer’s causes the mind’s connections to break down. These disconnections cause loss of memory (the symptom most commonly associated with Alzheimer’s), but can also impact a person’s physical abilities. As the mind’s connections get weaker, the mind has more trouble sending signals to the body fthe...
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20. alzheimer's basics

    How does Alzheimer's disease impact physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually on the individual?