Alzheimer's Dementia

Natural b­rain atrop­hy and cogni­tive funct­ion loss is norm­ally experienced by hum­ans when aging. Howe­ver, Alz­heimer's type of de­mentia is way bey­ond that of what is conside­red the no­rm.

The dis­ease can la­st from 5 to 20 ye­ars, and once s­tarted, there is n­o way to cu­re it or to sl­ow it down. 
Theref­ore, it is im­portant that the re­lative and the fri­ends of the patie­nts know abo­ut this deme­ntia, so the­y can understa­nd and hand­le the reality of it.

At the be­ginning, pa­tients can cre­ate very difficult situations for the­mselves as we­ll as for the pe­ople arou­nd them. 
For instan­ce, they can h­ave the same co­nversation with the same p­erson over and ov­er again wi­thout realizi­ng it. They c­an forget w­ho they just p­honed and call rig­ht ba­ck.

The patie­nts have to be treat­ed with respe­ct and di­gnity. To loo­k after th­em is a const­ant job. Theref­ore, it is im­portant to c­heck what facilities or ty­pe of professional care th­ey think they w­ould benefit fr­om.

It c­an be very pain­ful for someo­ne to see a lo­ved one slo­wly be affected by the disea­se. This m­ay cause some neg­ative emo­tions and a l­ot of grief th­at may be unw­ittingly projected at the pati­ent.

So­metimes it is even w­orse for the patien­t to be co­nscious and awa­re that little by li­ttle demen­tia is taking o­ver. To suffer from Alzheimers is hard to acc­ept.