The Phases of Alzheimer's disease Can be divided into initial stage (initial memory losses), moderate phase (hallucinations, delusions, psychotic symptoms) and advanced phase (spasticity, increased rigidity, paratonia, exaggeration of ostendinous reflexes).
Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease that is on its way to becoming a pandemic, and is that who does not have a known or familiar who suffers or is experiencing the first symptoms?
According to one study Of the World Health Organization (WHO) between 17 and 25 million people worldwide suffer from this disease, being one of the most degenerative brain diseases in the geriatric population.
Major Stages of Alzheimer's
First stage (early stage)
This first stage is characterized by Memory loss , Like forgetting your own domicile, not finding the place of objects, forgetting names of known people, etc.
They also tend to be frequent, according to family members, changes in mood and personality. They often comment that they become rude, aggressive, rude or rigid.
In this initial phase, the patient may still be aware of his illness and realize that he is losing more and more mental faculties. It is at this stage when they lose initiative, disinterest for the things they did, which can end in depression .
But it is not yet clear whether depression is a psychological reaction to the process or an intrinsic part of it. However it must also be treated.
The duration of this stage can last between 2 and 4 years depending on the individual differences, since not all subjects remain the same time in each of the phases.
Second stage (moderate phase)
In this phase the personality changes become more evident. Can manifest Psychotic symptoms , Hallucinations , Delusions , etc.
As for language, they are still poorer, they repeat sentences, they find it difficult to relate concepts, they do not find the words they want to say, they lose the thread of the conversation, etc.
In addition, Memory loss They begin to be more pronounced since they are not able to remember big events, dates or who the president is.
It is in this stage when they begin to show a space-time disorientation, being able to wander for hours without meaning, reason why is very frequent that they are lost.
At this stage they need supervision, as they may have spontaneous falls, loss of balance or difficulty in carrying out daily activities such as choosing their own clothes or making food.
This stage usually lasts from three to five years.
Third stage (advanced stage)
In this phase the subject is totally dependent on third parties, since he needs help for the basic activities of daily life such as eating, dressing, showering..
Neurological symptoms begin to appear, such as Spasticity , Greater rigidity, paratonia, exaggeration of ostendinous reflexes, etc.
Also, both short-term and long-term memory is lost and no longer recognized in the mirror or guess to know who their spouses, children, family or friends.
Their behavior ends up being like that of a child, creating a feeling that they regress in time. They babble, they cry, they scream, they become even more aggressive and completely dependent.
It is also typical to"walk by steps", hence very frequent falls and fractures, because of loss of balance.
This stage ends with the bedding of the patient who, when adopting a fetal position, will develop pressure ulcers.
Finally, his condition becomes vegetative and death can be due to dehydration, malnutrition, trauma, Cachexia Or by the lodging itself, but usually is due to cardiovascular problems.
As we said before, each phase has an approximate duration and therefore each patient does not have to evolve in the same way.
To end this article I will give you the signs that the Has created to detect a possible cognitive impairment. However, if you or any family member have any of these, please consult your doctor.
Definition and prior diagnosis
Alzheimer's disease was first described in 1907 by Alois Alzheimer . This was about a woman in her 50s, who began to have memory loss, such as not finding her house, or loss of objects, until she progressed towards generalized dementia, which ended with her death 4 years after she started the symptoms.
Although its cause remains a mystery, if it is known that the brain is losing more and more neurons and synaptic connections.
This appears to be due to the accumulation of a protein called amyloid , Which results in lesions such as senile plaques or Neurofibrillary tangles .
Alzheimer's, both from Early start As of late onset, is one of the most diagnosed dementias in the entire population.
If it has a rapid progress usually lasts from 2 to 4 years, although if its trajectory is slow can last until the 15 years, ending with the death.
As life expectancy has increased, there are more and more cases of Alzheimer's detected in people over 65 years of age.
It is necessary to know that prior to its diagnosis, there is usually a Mild cognitive deficit Mainly of type amnesic .
For their evaluation, there are several scales among them the most revealing for people with Alzheimer's is Reisberg scale .
Once the Alzheimer's diagnosis is made, we can say that the patient goes through three Phases or levels, but their duration in each one of them can vary from subjects to others.
What signals could indicate that we are facing a possible cognitive impairment?
1- Changes in memory that make difficult the basic activities of daily life.
2- Difficulty solving problems and carrying out planning.
3- Difficulty to carry out household tasks.
4- Spatial-temporal disorientation. They get lost easily.
5- Difficulty in relating objects with others and understanding visual images.
6- Appearance of neologisms, problems in writing and in the use of words.
7- Loss of objects.
8- Decrease or lack of good judgment.
9- Loss of initiative and lack of interest in activities that used to perform.
10- Changes in mood or personality.
However always and if we have doubts about some of the symptoms, it is recommended the visit to your doctor of primary attention.
The earlier an early detection is performed, the better your outcome will be.
Then I will comment on the risk factors and how to prevent any of them.
Risk factor's
According to the researchers, it is confirmed that there are several risk factors that may increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease.
At the moment the most powerful risk factor is undoubtedly the aging, predominant also in the female sex.
Another factor is to possess the genotype (ApoE4), to have high levels of cholesterol or the protein of the Homocysteine .
The diabetes To have suffered Cranioencephalic trauma , stress , hypertension or the Smoking Increase the chances of developing Alzheimer's.
On the other hand, there are also other factors that are associated with a lower probability of developing the disease, such as: having a good educational level, having a Healthy mediterranean diet Y Perform regular physical exercise . In short, as the saying goes Healthy mens incorporate healthy .
Although there is no treatment to stop the disease or delay it, it is necessary to continue scientific research in order to eradicate it. In addition to the severe deterioration that causes both patients and relatives, social expenditures and healthcare resources represent a great economic cost.
The only treatment that exists, besides drugs, is the Cognitive stimulation . A series of exercises with which We can help to make the deterioration slower and thus improve the quality of life of both the patient and his family.
Behaviour standards
To finish this article I will give you some behavioral guidelines to follow, which will serve to relate to these types of patients, since their care is difficult and can sometimes become stressful.
With regard to communication:
-choose short and simple sentences.
Keep your voice quiet.
"You should not talk to him like a baby."
-look the person in the eye and call him by name, making sure he has your attention on you, before speaking to him.
Give the time you need to respond.
- pay attention to their concerns, although it is difficult to understand them.
Do not discuss if the person is confused.
- Try to ask questions or give instructions in a positive way.
- Empathic , Affectionate and kind.
-Keep good eye contact.
-Avoid arguing.
Use the non-verbal communication , Such as pointing or gesturing.
Be patient, flexible and compassionate.
I hope I have helped you, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to leave a comment Thank you!
References
- Belloch, A., Sandín, B., Ramos, F. (2008). Manual of psychopathology vol 1. Madrid. McGraw-Hill / Interamericana De España, S. A. U.