Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

While it’s normal to become more forgetful with age, Alzheimer’s disease affects more than just memory. It is a type of dementia that causes a decline in thinking, reasoning and other cognitive skills. Alzheimer’s disease impacts not only the person with the disease but their friends and family as well. It can be heartbreaking to note changes in your family member’s communication, memory and behavior, and many of the symptoms can make it challenging for people with Alzheimer’s to live independently.

While the signs might not be as evident in its first stages, there are some early symptoms you can watch for if you’re concerned about a family member with Alzheimer’s disease. In our guide, we’ll discuss warning signs, treatment options, and ways to get involved in Alzheimer’s awareness to support those you care about. 

What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

A progressive neurological disorder, Alzheimer’s disease causes memory impairment, cognitive decline, and eventually, the inability to perform daily tasks. It’s the most common type of dementia in older adults and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. The number of people with Alzheimer’s doubles every five years beyond age 65, with early-onset Alzheimer’s very rarely occurring in people in their 30s to mid-60s.  

As the disease progresses, symptoms can worsen and start to impact work, hobbies and a person’s social life. You might notice the individual’s personality change in certain ways, such as becoming more agitated, apathetic, depressed or anxious. In the final stages, people living with Alzheimer’s disease typically need extensive care.  

Alzheimer’s vs. Dementia

People often confuse Alzheimer’s and dementia. However, dementia is an umbrella term for symptoms affecting memory and cognition, while Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia — accounting for 60% to 70% of cases. Other types of dementia exist, each with its own separate causes and symptoms, including Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and vascular dementia. 

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease 

Alzheimer’s symptoms progress over time and can present as the following:

• Mild or early stage: It can be challenging to spot Alzheimer’s symptoms in the beginning stages, as they can appear as harmless memory issues, especially of recent conversations and events. Your family member might also have trouble finding the right word, understanding visual images and spatial relationships and have impaired reasoning or judgment. 
• Moderate or middle stage: At this stage, individuals may be unable to cover their symptoms. They may have trouble retrieving a name or word or remembering plans. They may also run into more challenges in social settings or at work. Behaviors at this stage can include wandering, unfounded suspicions and repeated questioning.
• Severe or late stage: The late stages of Alzheimer’s can cause worsened symptoms like disorientation, confusion or even delusions. People can also experience difficulty communicating with words and lose the ability to walk, sit and eat. They may also lose bowel and bladder control and be unaware of recent experiences and their surroundings. 

Treatment and Care Options

While there’s currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, some treatments may slow its progression, and certain medications can help treat symptoms. Additionally, in-home Alzheimer’s care services can assist your family member with daily living activities like eating, hygiene and medication management.

The following treatment options can help you and the individual living with the disease cope with symptoms and improve quality of life:

Medication

As of September 2023, 141 treatments were being tested in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease, with 78% of them designed to slow the disease’s progression. These include immunotherapy drugs, monoclonal antibodies, aggregation inhibitors and tau vaccines. Other treatments being studied include Vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acids, Curcumin, Ginkgo and Melatonin. 

Skilled Memory Care

Many families find it tough to meet the complex care needs of people living with Alzheimer’s disease. With in-home skilled memory care, your family member can age gracefully in a familiar and comfortable environment. Transferring to a facility can lead to confusion and distress for those living with Alzheimer’s or chronic memory loss issues, but the qualified caregivers at Corewood Care are specially trained to care for older adults with Alzheimer’s and provide services in the comfort of their own homes. 

Assistance With Daily Living (ADLs)

With personal care services at Corewood Care, we can address all aspects of an individual’s health and well-being, assisting in preparing meals, getting dressed, bathing, grooming and continence care. We also offer Care Management services for older adults in Bethesda, Maryland, to help your family member manage their medications and assist in long-term planning and crisis prevention.

Companion Care 

If your family member would prefer to age at home but struggles with loneliness or other challenges related to living on their own, they may enjoy the company of a companion caregiver. At Corewood Care, we provide companion care services for older adults, offering emotional and wellness support, memory care, transportation to appointments, socialization and entertainment and even light housekeeping and help with other household tasks.

The Impact of Alzheimer’s

Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s today. By 2050, this number is expected to increase to nearly 13 million. Additionally, over 55 million people worldwide are living with some form of dementia, with 10 million new cases each year. 

The disease can significantly impact the emotional, physical, and financial health of individuals and their families. Caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s can limit a caregiver’s ability to take care of themselves. Families of those with Alzheimer’s are also at greater risk for anxiety, depression and poor quality of life than caregivers of people with other conditions.

Genetic Components of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is not usually caused by a single genetic component passed down through families, but rather by a combination of genes, lifestyle and environmental factors. However, people who have a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s are at higher risk of developing it themselves, especially if their relative developed the disease at a younger age. Three genes linked to early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease include Presenilin 1 (PS1), Presenilin 2 (PS2) and Amyloid precursor protein (APP). 

Raising Awareness and Getting Involved

Raising awareness of and getting involved in the cause can ultimately improve the quality of life for those previously undiagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in Bethesda, Maryland, and around the country, and you’ll find several opportunities to join the cause in combatting this disease.

For example, you might join a “memory walk” to raise awareness about the disease and money for research. The Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is the world’s largest event, but you might also look into local Alzheimer’s events near Bethesda or organizations in need of caregiver volunteers.

During November and throughout the year, being aware of the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and joining the cause can make a huge impact on your family and community. 

Corewood Care’s Commitment

Corewood Care in Bethesda remains committed to Alzheimer’s disease awareness and research. Our partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association aims to enhance support and resources for those affected. We are also dedicated to providing high-quality care for those with Alzheimer’s and their families, with ongoing efforts to improve care standards and foster community engagement. We encourage you to take action and support those impacted by this condition by looking into Alzheimer’s awareness information in Bethesda or the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Maryland chapter. 

Find Compassionate Alzheimer’s Care Options in Bethesda, Maryland

The importance of understanding, treating and raising awareness for Alzheimer’s disease cannot be overstated. Corewood Care’s care managers and caregivers specialize in Alzheimer’s care, offering skilled memory care, personal care services and other treatment options for individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease. With our 24/7 services, your family member can receive high-quality care anytime, anywhere. We do all this and more as we navigate this time together. 

Schedule a free assessment today to learn more about what we do and why we’re passionate about our work.