There are over 30 million individuals worldwide living with Alzheimer’s disease. Grandmothers, grandfathers, uncles and aunts afflicted by the disease are thankful to the compassionate services offered by caregivers at senior living communities. Unfortunately, there continues to be a stigma associated with the condition that keeps many from talking openly about it. That is why for this September’s World Alzheimer’s Month, the Alzheimer’s Association encouraged those touched by the disease to share their stories. Worldwide there are a number of Alzheimer’s support group and associations that provide education, consultation, information and support to families and caregivers.
Dispelling Myths About The Condition
There are quite a few misconceptions about Alzheimer’s that have colored the way in which people perceive the condition. Not all patients lose the ability to communicate and they don’t forget everything they once knew – the forgetfulness comes and goes. There are medications that help some deal with the condition. There are also behavior techniques that families/caregivers can adopt to interact with loved ones with Alzheimer’s. If you have Alzheimer’s disease, you won’t feel or become any different. Your personality will remain the same; you’ll still loathe eggplant, listen to the same music records you’ve loved for many years and dress in your preferred style. Talk to caregivers at the LiFE program in Carlton Plaza Sacramento. They’ll tell you how residents have retained their own unique personalities. The bottom line is, regardless of what the symptoms of this condition, you’ll still remain you.
A Few Tips On Communicating With Anyone Living With Alzheimer’s
If you meet someone with mild cognitive impairment, mid-stage or late-stage Alzheimer’s, don’t behave any differently. Relax and use clear, coherent and short sentences. Don’t yell out questions and answers; you’ll end up scaring or startling them. If the person in question is a loved one, initiate a conversation that you’re sure he/she will enjoy. For instance, he may like to talk about baseball or she may be interested in the neighborhood gossip. Tell them a story or read to them as often as you can. Importantly, savor the precious moments spent in their company.
New Research On Senescence
A new study conducted by American researchers has shown that the DNA quality of brain cells deteriorates as we age, and the cells cease to divide while releasing harmful proteins. The researchers believe the objective of this process is to protect the body’s organs against cancer. This is given the fact that the process pushes the immune system to attack cells that are at risk of developing into tumors. However, with the population living longer than before, this cell transition – referred to as senescence – could be the culprit behind Alzheimer’s. Researchers say that it would be risky to prevent senescence from occurring as this could give rise to cancer, but it would help to remove the faulty cells, as it would mean blocking Alzheimer’s.
