Throughout our lives we create memories with friends and loved ones, become familiar with our community and neighborhoods and perform tasks which we incorporate into our daily routines. For someone with Alzheimer’s disease, the memories or capability to perform simple tasks are slowly taken away.
Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects an individual’s memory, thinking and behavior and is the most common form of dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association (AA), the disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and at least 44 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias worldwide. The disease doesn’t discriminate against race, ethnicity or gender and typically effects people ages 60 and older, although 5 percent of Alzheimer’s patients have early-onset Alzheimer’s and can be affected as early as 30 years old, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Like any disease, early detection is key to lessoning symptoms. There are warning signs an individual and their loved ones should look for such as memory loss, challenges in problem solving, confusion with time or place and poor judgment.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease which worsens over time. There is currently no cure for this deteriorating disease but the AA lists various treatments that are available including:
- Medications for Memory Loss
- Treatments for Behavioral Changes of Alzheimer’s
- Treatments for Sleep Changes
- Alternative Treatments for Alzheimer’s
- Questions for Your Doctor
- Treatment Horizon
- Clinical Trials
This month go purple to end Alzheimer’s and show your support for finding a cure and changing lives.