Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease affecting the brain. It mainly occurs in older people and can cause great distress and upset to the sufferer themselves and their friends and family. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease but there is plenty of support and assistance available to those that seek it.
The disease is progressive which means that the symptoms will alter over time and will generally get worse. Several changes occur within the brain tissue, altering the way that the affected person thinks and relates to the world around them. Alzheimer’s disease is still not completed understood and many research projects are underway to try to uncover why some people develop it and some people do not. Clinical trails are being performed on new drugs to help with this debilitating condition.
It generally starts over 40 and it is the initial stages, before a diagnosis is made, that can be the most confusing and distressing period of the disease.
Doctors often refer to three distinct stages of Alzheimer’s disease, although the progression of the disease will be unique to every individual. The stages are:
We all forget things, become a little clumsy and suffer from bad moods at times. This should not always be a cause for concern and is simply a part of every day life. However, if you have noticed that your loved one is showing any of the following symptoms over an extended period and they are causing you some concern then you should always get them checked out by your doctor, including:
Sadly, as in many progressive diseases, the eventual outcome in Alzheimer’s is death and this generally occurs around 4 to 10 years after the symptoms start. There is no magic cure for Alzheimer’s but doctors are continually developing interventions which can help the sufferer cope with the effects of the disease.
Physiotherapy is a branch of therapeutic medicine that uses physical therapy and exercise to control the symptoms of many chronic and progressive diseases. Results are often best if therapy is started sooner rather than later, hence it is always a good thing to recognise symptoms early and get the help that is needed.
It is important to note that physiotherapy cannot cure the disease but may be able to slow its progress and help the sufferer to cope a little better.
Physiotherapists work with the patient to retain good posture and preserve mobility for as long as possible. This helps the sufferer’s emotional well being as they remain independent for longer and tend to feel less depressed. It also maintains their physical functions which helps them to lead a more normal life for a longer period of time. Family relationships can be maintained and the impact of the disease lessened.
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