I have broken Alzheimer's into 3 stages for this article. Depending on what reference you read, you may have found 4 stages all the way up to 8 stages. All stages are correct, but I chose to stick with the 3 stages, so as to not load you with information.
STAGE ONE: 2-4 years leading up to the diagnosis
-Recent short-term memory loss
-Losing personal items
-Confusion with time and/or place
-Difficulty handling money
-Poor judgment
STAGE TWO: 2-10 years after diagnosis (generally the longest stage)
-Memory loss increases
-Difficulty reading and/or writing
-Difficulty speaking and/or expressing thoughts
-Hallucinations and/or delusions
-Repeat statements
STAGE THREE: Approximately 1-3 years (known as the terminal stage)
-Difficulty eating/swallowing
-Bowel/Bladder problems
-Cannot recognize family and friends
-Cannot communicate with words
Although there has not been conclusive evidence that Alzheimer's is hereditary, there have been cases where Early-Onset Alzheimer's has been passed down. Early-Onset occurs between the ages of 30-50 and it accounts for less than 10% of all Alzheimer cases. However, there are factors that are taken into consideration when determining if a person is at a higher risk.
Age: The older we are, the more at risk we become. It is most common in persons 65+, but it does NOT mean that a person who is older than 65 will get Alzheimer's.
Gender: Don't be fooled by this one. We hear that more women have Alzheimer's than do men. This is understandable as the life expectancy for women is longer.
Injuries: There has been evidence that if a person receives a great blow to the head, that he is at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's. However, you must take all factors into consideration.
Diseases: Some disease may increase the risk of developing a dementing illness. Once such disease is HIV.
Substance Abuse: Substance abusers (alcohol and/or drugs) may have a higher risk of getting a dementing illness.
There is nothing wrong with asking and receiving help with your caregiving role. In order to provide quality care for our loved ones, we need to have time to care for ourselves. Many caregivers feel guilty about leaving their loved one at an adult day care or any of the other various services offered to families. They feel like they may be letting their loved ones down. Many services actually assist Alzheimer loved ones in a very positive way.
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