When my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her mid-fifties, the disease and all that went with it was a huge cloud of doubt to me. It was 1975, and not as much was known about the disease. There weren’t the supports for family, and we didn’t have the internet to do research. (Sounds like the dark ages, doesn’t it?) Even less was known about the early-onset Alzheimer’s she had.
Today, there’s a wealth of knowledge and support, but that can be overwhelming. We’ll look at some basic facts about Alzheimer’s which might help.
How do you get Alzheimer’s? Are there ways I can prevent it?
In 1975, we were told the only way to definitely diagnose Alzheimer’s was through autopsy, and that we had no idea how you got it. That’s no longer the case. Although not totally preventable, there are lifestyle choices you can make which help.
- Head injury–Sports injuries, car accidents, falls causing traumatic brain injury can all lead to Alzheimer’s later in life.
- People born with Down’s syndrome will often show signs of Alzheimer’s early in life.
- Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is often a precursor to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
- Poor heart health–if the heart is not pumping efficiently, blood and oxygen to the brain is reduced. Choose a heart healthy lifestyle and visit your doctor about any issues.
- Lack of mental stimulation. Not a guarantee, but you can reduce your risk through exercising your brain.
Lack of social stimulation. We saw this during covid, didn’t we? Even introverts need interaction with family and friends. Interaction with pets can help.- Smoking, alcohol consumption in excess, poor diet, choosing not to exercise: these lifestyle choices can lead to Alzheimer’s and many other diseases. You can get away with it for a while, but the piper must be paid eventually.
- Consistent lack of sleep. Well, that’s scary. We’re not talking about the occasional bad night, but regularly poor sleep. If this is an issue, talk to your doctor.
- Genetics–Obviously, you can’t change genetics, but if you have a close family member with Alzheimer’s, you should be especially concerned with controlling those factors which you can. My genetics have been a worry for many years, but I have learned ways to optimize my health and lower my risk factors through lifestyle changes.
- Old age–Most Alzheimer’s occurs at 65 or older. But here is the mystery. Some people live into their 90s and are cognitively intact, even if they haven’t lived a stellar lifestyle. Some factors can be controlled, some cannot. We should do the best we can.
Is Alzheimer’s and dementia the same thing?
No. There are many kinds of dementias, depending on what part of the brain is affected and how. Dementia is an umbrella term, covering multiple diagnoses. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia.
Because different kinds of dementia require different treatments and medications, it’s extremely important to get a correct diagnosis from a qualified doctor.
Next week: Living with Alzheimer’s. Is quality of life possible?