Diagnosing Dementia

Dementia is a collective name for conditions in which progressive degeneration of the brain affects memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's, a disease associated with the loss of memory.

Many of us misplace our keys occasionally or forget someone's name. While it is normal to sometimes suffer momentarily memory loss, for some people it is a disease that they need to deal with daily.

As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) ongoing effort to educate our members - and future members - on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to shed some light on Alzheimer's. While there is unfortunately no cure for Alzheimer's, there are ways that can make coping with it easier.

World Alzheimer's Day is observed on 21 September every year throughout the world. According to Alzheimer's Disease International, World Alzheimer's Day is a day that unites opinion leaders, people with dementia, their carers and family, medical professionals, researchers and the media from all around the world. "With the world's population growing older, we need to be more aware than ever of this disease and the impact it has on people. We would like to use this day to educate people and correct the misconceptions surrounding dementia," says GEMS, South Africa's second largest medical scheme.

The theme of this year's World Alzheimer's Day is: Diagnosing Dementia - "See it Sooner". "The sooner you are diagnosed with dementia, the sooner you can adjust your behaviour patterns to make living with the disease easier," says GEMS.

What is dementia?

Dementia is used to describe the symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by specific diseases and conditions. Alzheimer's disease is a physical disease affecting the brain and leads to the death of brain cells. As it is a progressive disease, gradually over time more parts of the brain are damaged and thus the symptoms become more severe. Eventually those affected are unable to care for themselves and will need help with all aspects of daily life.

Everyone can be affected by dementia as it knows no social, economic, ethnic or geographical boundaries. According to Alzheimer's Disease International there are an estimated 30 million people worldwide with dementia. This figure is set to increase to more than 100 million people by 2050.

It primarily affects older people. Up to the age of 65, dementia develops in only about one person in a thousand. The chance of having the condition rises sharply with age to one person in 20 over the age of 65. Over the age of 80, this figure increases to one person in every five.

What are the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

People in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease show sings of memory lapses particularly with short term memory and problems finding the right words. As the disease progresses they may become confused, forget the names of people, places, appointments and recent events. They may also have personality changes with mood swings, agitation and become irritable and disorientated.  These impairments can be severe enough to cause a decline in the person's normal level of functioning. 
 
What are the warning signs of Alzheimer's disease?

Although it is normal to sometimes forget or misplace things, you can look out for the following warning signs:

• Memory loss that worsens over time
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks
• Language problems such as difficulty naming objects or finding the right word in a sentence
• Time and place disorientation or getting lost in familiar places such as their own neighbourhood
• Impaired judgment and strange behaviour - like wearing underclothes over top clothes or taking clothes off in public
• Problems with abstract thinking
• Misplacing things
• Extreme mood or behaviour changes
• Personality changes or recalling memories of childhood while cannot remember anything that happened the same day
• Loss of initiative
• Suspicious of other people and may accuse them of stealing or hiding things

Remember that memory does decline with normal aging. However, should you exhibit several of the warning signs above it is recommended that you should see a physician for a complete evaluation as soon as possible.

Alzheimer's disease - how to cope with changes in your daily life

Having Alzheimer's disease can have a dramatic impact on your life as well as your loved ones. Here are some suggestions to help sufferers to cope with changes in their daily life and to help them plan for changes that will occur in the future:

• When doing difficult tasks such as preparing a meal or doing household chores, do these tasks during the times of the day when you normally feel best. Give yourself time to accomplish a task and do not let others rush you. Take a break if something is too difficult.
• When communicating with others you may experience difficulty understanding what people are saying or finding the right words to express your thoughts. Take your time and ask the person to repeat a statement and speak slowly or write down words if you do not understand.
• Accept that there may be a time that it is no longer safe for you to drive. Discuss with your family and physician about how and when you will make decisions about driving. Have a back up for transportation such as family members or friends.
• When dealing with memory changes post a schedule of the things you do every day, such as meal times, medication schedule and bedtime. Have someone call to remind you.
• Keep a small book with important phone numbers, names, your address and directions to your home.
• Put important phone numbers in large print next to your phone.
• Get help to label medications in a pill organiser, cupboards and drawers with words or pictures that describe their contents and organise closets and drawers to make it easier to find what you want.

It can be devastating if a parent or loved one suffering from Alzheimer's disease does not remember you. Always try to be patient with them, no matter how difficult it may be. The person with dementia is an individual with feelings - treat them with respect and dignity. Try to remember that the changes in his or her personality are not aimed at you, but a result of the illness.

If you have any more questions on Alzheimer's disease, you can phone the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or send a SMS to 083 450 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your families health and well-being.