Take action for Alzheimer's

Medicine has come a long way over the last century with the invention of antibiotics, the development of medical insulin and the human heart transplant.
However, despite these life-saving advancements there are still a number of medical conditions that science has not yet been able to fully understand and cure.

One of these is Alzheimer's - a disease that affects people all over the globe and is acknowledged every year on World Alzheimer's Day, 21 September. 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 provide you with some valuable information on Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's is a progressive and eventually fatal brain disorder for which there is no known cure. This condition typically arises in individuals older than 65 years and is the most common form of dementia, or intellectual decline, estimated to affect over 36 million people worldwide.

Alzheimer's results in damaged or destroyed brain cells, leading to problematic symptoms such as memory loss and impaired intellectual abilities severe enough to intrude on daily life. This illness can create such serious difficulties for the sufferer and their caretakers that permanent professional care may become necessary, often at a great financial cost.

According to the Alzheimer's Association there are ten recognisable signs of Alzheimer's:

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life such as forgetting important dates and recently learned information.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems, particularly where numbers are concerned such as managing monthly bills or following correct quantity instructions in a familiar recipe.
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure, for example, trouble finding familiar locations or remembering the rules of a favourite game.
4. Confusion with time or place, losing track of the passage of time; difficulty in understanding something that is not happening immediately.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and special relationships such as determining contrast or colour, problems with reading and perceptual problems such as seeing one's self in a mirror and thinking that there is someone else in the room.
6. New problems with words in speaking and/or writing, for example, an inability to follow or continue a conversation, struggles with vocabulary and calling objects by the wrong name like "hand-clock" instead of "watch".
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps, sometimes leading to falsely accusing others of stealing.
8. Decreased or poor judgement such as irrational behaviour when dealing with money and paying little attention to grooming.
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities where they no longer take part in the hobbies and social activities that they previously enjoyed.
10. Changes in mood and personality such as depression, anxiety, suspicion, confusion and becoming easily upset when they are out of their comfort zone.

It is possible to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's and suffer from only a few of the above symptoms, however as the disorder develops the symptoms are likely to increase in number and become more exaggerated. The main difference between these symptoms and typical age-related shifts is that ordinary changes occur far less frequently. In other words, an elderly person without Alzheimer's may forget something once in a while or lose things from time to time, whereas an Alzheimer's sufferer displays this kind of behaviour almost all of the time and more intensely.

The causes of Alzheimer's are not truly known, but experts believe that it is brought about by a combination of different factors, which may include genetic inheritance, previous head trauma, dietary habits, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

No treatments exist for the disease itself, however there are a number of medical interventions that can help to improve certain symptoms making it easier for the sufferer to cope, such as certain pharmaceutical medicines. If you or anyone you know is experiencing any one of the symptoms listed above, visit a doctor immediately as early treatment can make a big difference to the progression of the disease.

Alzheimer's does not only come with grey hair and wrinkles, it can also affect people under the age of 65 and can even be found in individuals in their 30's. This is called younger-onset Alzheimer's disease and these individuals usually need only a minimal amount of help with some daily tasks. However, as the disease progresses it can become extremely difficult for the families of these individuals, some of whom may have young children.

This year the theme for World Alzheimer's Day is "Dementia! It's time for action!" This campaign urges people and governments all over the world to take action against Alzheimer's by spreading awareness about it and improving service provision for sufferers and their caretakers. You can take action by creating awareness and sharing your knowledge about this terrible illness that affects many of our parents and grandparents and may one day affect you.

For any GEMS member queries please 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 family's health and wellbeing.

References:

The Alzheimers Association - www.alz.org
Alzheimer's South Africa - www.alzheimers.org.za
Fisher Centre for Alzheimer's Research Foundation - www.alzinfo.org
Alzheimer's Disease International - www.alz.co.uk