This scene taken from “On Golden Pond“, shows Walter, the main character, experiencing frustration, anxiety, and sadness after getting lost on the old main road, a road he used to recognize like the back of his own hand. This is a great movie clip; a realistic portrait of  Alzheimer’s Disease in it’s early stages.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, affecting as many as 4 million Americans.It is terminal and has an expected progression with individual variations (about 8-12 years for getting more problematic and worsening with time). It is caused by damage to the nerves in the brain and it makes independent life impossible.

Dementia is a loss of mental function in two or more areas such as language, memory, visual and spatial abilities,  or judgment. Over time the disease will impair daily functioning. It is like a thief, stealing away your logic, your ability to control moods, robbing you of your ability to use “social” skills or care for yourself and it takes away memories(the most recent first , but eventually all)

Some warning signs of AD are:

• memory loss that affects job/home skills
• difficulty performing familiar tasks
• disorientation as to time and place
• poor or decreased judgment
• difficulty with learning and abstract thinking
• unable to care for themselves (in later stages)

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, a definitive diagnosis of AD is possible through examination of brain tissue, but in 90% of cases, there is a clear genetic link that can be traced. Using standardized criteria, doctors are able to diagnose the disease with 85-90% accuracy today, after symptoms are present.

Stress and Aging

Some reports state that living a stressful life can hasten the onset of AD because stress is linked to creating changes in the brain. Besides stress and emotional negativity, caring for an AD relative can be expensive if using outside resources, but if you choose to care for the elderly AD adult, there are tips to help you handle problem behaviors.

Some tips:

• Develop a consistent routine
• Limit mirrors in the home; they can cause confusion and fear for AD patients
• Turn off the tv or distracting noise and put on music (soothing melody is a great choice)
• Bring in a family pet for “pet therapy”
• Tell the person where you are going before you leave the room
• Always stay calm and create a peaceful environment to prevent or limit aggressive or agitated behavior.
• Emphasize the positive

Some tips for communicating with an AD Adult:

• Don’t argue, speak softly, kindly
• Communicate from the same height 9both of you are standing up or sitting down)
• Use humor
• Be a good listener and watch body language
• Use short, direct sentences and give specific information
• repeat if necessary, but keep in simple
• write in large block letters to deliver a message
• Use the right tone of voice(friendly, not bossy or critical)
• Pitch of voice should be deep
• Speed of speech should be slow and easy, not pressured or fast
• Break down a task; ask them an either or question or one that is needed by either a yes or a no
• Be prepared to have the same conversation again and again and use empathy
• Respond using positive phrases “That’s good” or “yes, that’s it”

To learn more about the disease here is a list of helpful resources and links:

• Contact the Alzheimer’s Association by phone (800) 272-3900
• Alzheimer’s Association website
• Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet
• Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
• Alzheimer’s Society (UK)
• CDC for prevention and control

Check out Brain Posts by Bill Yates. It’s a great site on many neurological diseases and he delivers a wealth of information. It’s a blog I follow and you should too!

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