A week ago, the Health Headline released a group of cartoons by cartoonist Tony Hothband.
The cartoon records Tony’s father’s life after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. (Click to view)
The child’s helplessness, sadness and love for his father are all shown in the cartoon.
Many of our readers have made similar comments.
There are also many friends who have left messages telling the stories of Alzheimer’s patients around them or raising their own questions.
Dr. Clove specially arranged and showed it to everyone.
Is dementia the same as Alzheimer’s disease? Or are they two different diseases? Solve! Thank you!
Not exactly the same.
Dementia is a symptom, which is usually manifested as memory loss, expression ability loss, reasoning and calculation ability loss, spatial orientation loss, etc. It can also be accompanied by mental and behavioral abnormalities, such as hallucinations, apathy, irritability, sleep disorders, pica, etc.
There are many diseases that cause dementia. Brain degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, can cause dementia, stroke, head trauma, heavy metal poisoning, taking certain drugs, etc., and may also cause dementia.
50% ~ 70% of senile dementia is caused by Alzheimer’s disease, which is why people often confuse the two concepts of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease, that is, the structure and function of the brain deteriorate.
Abnormal protein lumps will deposit in the patient’s brain, resulting in dysfunction of connection and function between cranial nerve cells, atrophy of brain tissue, inflammatory plaques, etc.
My old mother is ninety-four years old this year, I have been suffering from this disease for seven years. I can’t take care of myself. We don’t know, we don’t remember everything. And we have to hit people, destroy things, defecate and smear, and sleep badly. We are really miserable as children. But she is the mother who gave birth to us. She used to be very hard and tired. Now we have no choice but to serve with all our heart. We do our best to make her eat well, clean well and live well without regrets every day.
Yes, the old mother’s behavior is quite typical of Alzheimer’s disease.
Usually, the earlier Alzheimer’s disease can be manifested as follows:
(1) Recent events are always forgotten;
(2) It becomes difficult to analyze, think and judge events;
(3) the ability to work or do housework decreases;
(4) indifference, easy to lose temper, often suspicious;
(5) Decrease of expression ability.
After development to a certain extent, it can be shown as follows:
(1) Both near and far memories are seriously impaired and their computational ability is lost;
(2) unable to distinguish the time and place;
(3) The ability to take care of oneself has seriously declined and it is difficult to live independently in daily life;
(4) Can’t speak, can’t use what I used to use, don’t know what I knew before;
(6) From indifference to irritability, often walking incessantly.
The more serious ones in the later period can be shown as follows:
(1) Memory loss, only fragments of memory remain;
(2) Inability to take care of oneself in daily life, incontinence of urine and feces, silence, rigidity and inability to move freely;
(3) There are some primitive reflections, such as scratching indiscriminately when the hand touches something, sucking when the mouth touches something, etc.
(4) Coma, often died of complications such as infection.
If an old man has Alzheimer’s disease, how should he be treated?
Treatment for Alzheimer’s disease mainly includes two types:
(1) Controlling psychopathological symptoms
Such as taking anti-anxiety, antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs to improve symptoms.
(2) Improving cognitive function and delaying disease progression
Such as taking drugs to improve cranial nerve transmission function or drugs to improve cerebral blood circulation and brain cell metabolism.
Alzheimer’s disease does not necessarily require hospitalization, but there are also some acute symptoms that need urgent treatment. Such as serious mental and behavioral abnormalities or complicated infection, stroke, etc. Hospitalization is better for patients.
It should be noted that neither drug therapy nor physical therapy nor psychological therapy can interrupt the course of Alzheimer’s disease, only delay the development of the disease, but there is no way to completely cure the disease.
Although treatment cannot reverse the development of the disease, it can slow down the progress of the disease and prevent many accidents and treatment complications, thus improving the quality of life of patients and reducing the burden on caregivers.
My mother is eighty, After three years of illness, At present, the mental self-care ability is still good. This is how we have come here over the past few years. Go to the regular hospital neurology department to see a doctor, prescribe medicine. Several sisters division of labor and cooperation, mainly to accompany, the eldest brother is responsible for guiding the washing in the morning, take out to eat breakfast. At three or four o’clock at noon take mother to little sister’s children’s clothing store to chat, do sports, beans, jigsaw puzzles, etc. In the evening, the second child is responsible for guiding mother to take a shower, sometimes to help. Three years like a day, sigh! This is not our hardest work. As long as we see that Mom’s illness is developing very slowly, we feel it is worth it. Dad is 85 years old, and he is the one who buys vegetables and cooks. On holidays, Mom goes to her daughters’ house to stay and let Dad rest.
The disease not only tortures the patient himself, but also tests the family members.
(1) To coax and be patient with patients, stimulation will only make the situation worse;
(2) Don’t let the patient go out alone to avoid getting lost. It is better to put a card or cloth strip with the patient’s name, address and contact number in your pocket. In case of getting lost, it is convenient for others to provide help.
(3) Power supply, sharp weapons and other items should be properly placed;
(4) For restless patients, their families need to accompany them at all times.
(5) For those who stay in bed for a long time, they should pay attention to cleaning and turn over regularly to prevent pressure ulcers.
(6) Pay attention to the daily life of patients, and give assistance or nasal feeding to those who cannot eat or have difficulty eating;
(7) If infection, injury or other abnormalities are found, seek medical treatment in time.
Some targeted ways to create a safe, convenient and comfortable living environment for Alzheimer’s disease can be viewed by clicking on the “Home Safety Guide for Alzheimer’s Disease Patients”.
My mother found the disease the year before last. She got lost in winter and was recovered by her family for three days. Now she is taking medicine and controlling it quite well. Parents are old, and children should pay more attention to the subtle changes of the elderly, early detection, early treatment and early control.
This reader is particularly right.
The onset of Alzheimer’s disease is hidden and difficult to find at the initial stage of onset. It is often not paid attention to until the symptoms are obvious.
Therefore, when the elderly in the family reach the age of 60, the relatives around them should pay more attention to some subtle changes.
- It is very clear to remember what happened before, but it is difficult to remember what happened recently. Repeatedly asking questions that have been answered; Difficult to think of some common words during the conversation; Get lost in a familiar place; The deterioration of personal hygiene; Character change, indifference, stubbornness, suspicion, irritability, etc.; Abnormal behavior, such as aimless stroll, picking up junk, etc.; Sleep time disorder, sleep quality decline, etc.
If these changes occur, the family should keep an eye on them and check them as soon as possible so that the doctor can judge the causes of these changes.
Early detection and treatment are of great significance for delaying the progress of the disease.
My deceased father also suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. I am worried about whether I can get it. Is it true that I heard that the disease is inherited?
Alzheimer’s disease is not contagious, but it is related to heredity.
Most epidemiological studies suggest that family history is a risk factor for the disease, and the number of patients’ family members suffering from the same disease is higher than that of the general population.
Dr. Clove, can this disease be prevented? As we are approaching old age, can we do some what?
A healthy and balanced diet and regular physical exercise can not only help maintain muscle strength, but also help to stay away from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases-and microvascular diseases caused by such diseases are often the causes of brain damage.
Encourage more participation in daily social activities, including mental and physical activities, to improve mood, calm mood and reduce anxiety.
Constantly challenge your memory and intelligence. Chess and card board games, use these games to stimulate your brain and make your mind work.
At the same time, attention should be paid to avoid high-risk factors of dementia, such as reducing aluminum intake, paying attention to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health, and avoiding head trauma. Use your brain more and keep your enthusiasm and curiosity in learning at all times.
People suspected of having the disease or family history should be checked regularly to find and intervene early.
My mother also suffered from this disease. I forgot what I had just done instantly. Every time I think of my mother who has been strong all her life, she turns her eyes to her father for help no matter what you ask her about what. I can’t help crying…
· When my grandmother was alive, she could hardly remember any relatives except my parents, probably because my parents took care of her the most. After going abroad at the age of 17, she could see me for a few days every year. She would ask me where I was, even if I was sitting next to her… the important things should be repeated to her constantly and patiently…
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease bring pain to patients and heavy burden to their families.
The former youthful vitality, shrewdness and strength disappeared in the face of diseases, aging, confusion, inflexibility, and even unable to take care of themselves.
When the patient is still able to make important decisions, discuss with her the treatment plan and hospice care measures for the end of the disease, and let the patient express his wishes clearly.
Taking care of patients in the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease is not a simple matter. It is necessary to learn some nursing methods. If conditions permit, professional nursing staff can be asked to help take care of them.
Other family members may feel anxiety, fear and even resentment. These feelings are normal, but families need to take responsibility to understand and face up to the disease.
Your efforts and company are of great significance to patients. At this time, they need to rely on them. Recall those good times and believe that your efforts will make patients feel that life still has temperature and life has not completely lost hope.