Dementia is characterized by a group of symptoms that include impairments in memory and deficits in cognitive ability. According to the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision" compiled by the American Psychiatric Association, Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. It has a gradual onset, with symptoms that increase in severity with age. Approximately 10 percent of people over the age of 65 and more than half of people over the age of 85 have Alzheimer's disease, according to the health information website HelpGuide.org. Unlike some types of dementia, dementia of the Alzheimer's type is irreversible, incurable and fatal.
Memory Impairment
Forgetfulness is a common and prominent sign of Alzheimer's disease. Misplacing or losing things are frequent occurrences among people with Alzheimer's. Their ability to recall information from memory is also significantly impaired. They tend to forget important dates or events. They also have difficulty learning and retaining new information. As such, they may ask the same questions repeatedly. In severe cases, Alzheimer's patients may be unable to recall how they got to a certain place.
Language Deficits
Deficits in language, or aphasia, are associated with Alzheimer's disease. Individuals with Alzheimer's disease may be unable to recall the name of a familiar person or commonly used object. They may compensate for this by pointing at someone or something and saying "him," "her" or "that." Comprehending what others say to them can also be problematic. Their inability to follow the topic of a conversation or remember what they wanted to say creates a significant barrier to communication.
Motor Skills
Deficits in motor skills, or apraxia, are also present among sufferers of Alzheimer's. Apraxia impedes one's ability to perform routine motor skills such as cooking, cleaning and grooming oneself. They may neglect personal hygiene and cleanliness as a result. Caregivers may be needed to assist patients with feeding, bathing and dressing.
Recognition Problems
Inability to recognize objects, or agnosia, is a devastating symptom of Alzheimer's. Beds, tables, chairs and other objects seen on a daily basis become unrecognizable to them. In advanced stages, sufferers of Alzheimer's are unable to recognize their own spouses or children. This is arguably the most devastatingly stressful symptom for caregivers to deal with. In the September 2007 edition of "The Journal of Immunology," one study found that the psychological stress experienced by spouses and children of people with Alzheimer's disease negatively affected their immune systems and increased their symptoms of depression.
Executive Functioning
Executive functioning includes the ability to plan, organize, initiate, monitor and cease actions. Preparing a meal or following a recipe that includes several steps can be difficult. Counting, remembering how to play a game and comparing things in their mind may be difficult due to difficulties with concentration. Confusion, forgetfulness and poor judgment are common. Therefore, maintaining one's finances, among other complex functions of ordinary life, may no longer be possible.
References
- "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR)"; American Psychiatric Association, 2000
- HelpGuide.org: What is Alzheimer's Disease?
- "The Journal of Immunology"; Accelerated Telomere Erosion Is Associated with a Declining Immune Function of Caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease Patients; Amanda K. Damjanovic, et al.; Sep 2007
