Alzheimer's disease insight
by Risa Levovsky

Why is Alzheimer's disease described as a slowly progressive disorder of the
brain?

Scientific research has revealed that over time, the plaques and tangles
gradually poison the brain cells of a person with Alzheimer's disease.  As
this process occurs, nerve cells in the brain called neurons die, causing
the brain to deteriorate. Since the brain is not able to replace the nerve
cells, specific brain functions are lost forever. When a brain illness is
slowly progressive, the amount of damage to different parts of the brain
slowly increases over time.

For example, as the neurons, which control our ability to remember how to
get dressed are destroyed, our ability to perform all or parts of this
specific task is lost.

People with Alzheimer's disease may experience a progressive deterioration
in their ability to hold conversations, walk, feed themselves, use the
bathroom, take a shower and get dressed. Using the telephone, driving,
preparing meals, and doing housework may also become virtually impossible
overtime.

The symptoms of this illness and their progression vary in each individual
case.  Currently, there is no way to predict the length of each phase of
this illness. No methodology is available to predict the mixture of symptoms
and their severity.

Educate yourself about what you may expect to see during each phase of this
progressive illness. It is known that as Alzheimer's disease evolves over
time, there will be a gradual decline in a person's ability to carry out
activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, using the bathroom,
eating and walking. Much like infancy, this deterioration leads to total
dependence on others for care.

A word to the wise:

Without a cure (to reverse the damage), a person with Alzheimer's disease
will only get progressively worse. It is important for you to become
prepared emotionally, physically and financially for what lies ahead of you.

A caregiver shares her own insight:

As a wife and mother of three, I adjust to each new stage without even
realizing I am adjusting.  This kind of adjustment is much like what I went
through as I went from one a child household to two and finally three
children. Unlike raising children, I must live with the reality that my
spouse's condition will only continue to worsen.

For more information about Alzhiemer's disease, please visit
www.alzheimers-tips.com