Are You Misinformed About Alzheimer's? Check Out Some of These Surprising Questions

Alzheimer's disease may be one of the most common mental health conditions affecting seniors today, but it is still greatly misunderstood. Alzheimer's disease is actually so complex that even doctors who devote their lives to Alzheimer's research still do not understand it fully, so it is no surprise that the average person may have some misinformation about what Alzheimer's is and how it affects others. Unfortunately, this lack of knowledge can result in some people making some harmful assumptions. People may think that a senior with Alzheimer's is no longer capable of doing anything properly, or they may assume that the senior's past behavior has caused the disease. Being properly educated on Alzheimer's disease can help people to care for loved ones with the condition or recognize signs of it before it becomes a serious problem. These commonly asked questions about Alzheimer's help to clear up some confusion and address common misunderstandings.

1. Is Alzheimer's only a condition that happens to old people?

A: When a person imagines the typical Alzheimer's patient, they are often picturing a frail, elderly person in their late 70s or 80s. However, the reality is that it can actually happen to people at a much earlier age. 1 in 20 patients with Alzheimer's disease were showing symptoms before they were even 65. Those with early-onset Alzheimer's typically develop it between the ages of 45 and 60, but it may occur as early as a person's 30s. This type of Alzheimer's tends to be genetic, so you have a higher risk of getting Alzheimer's in middle age if you have had family members in a similar position.

2. Are Alzheimer's and dementia the same thing?

A: People often use these two phrases interchangeably. It is important to note that they are actually two separate things. Dementia is simply a medical phrase that describes a patient having memory loss or a lack of cognitive function. Dementia is a symptom that occurs in several circumstances, and one of the causes of dementia is Alzheimer's. This means that all seniors with dementia have Alzheimer's disease, but some people with dementia may have it due to other reasons.

3. Can you cure Alzheimer's disease?

A: Some people hear about various Alzheimer's treatments or dementia treatments and make the mistake of thinking that this means it is possible to cure Alzheimer's disease. The sad reality is that some forms of dementia are curable, but the type of dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease is not curable. A patient will not be able to reverse the progression of the disease and return to their former state. Alzheimer's treatments just help to manage symptoms like depression and anxiety and potentially slow down the progression of the disease a little.

4. Is it possible to prevent Alzheimer's disease with lifestyle changes?

A: Those who are concerned about developing Alzheimer's often think they can prevent the condition from happening by staying as healthy as possible. This sort of misunderstanding about Alzheimer's disease can be harmful because seniors with Alzheimer's feel like they did something "wrong" to cause the disease. However, a lot of research has been done on various things like taking vitamins, health food supplements, and avoiding toxins, and so far, there is no evidence to show that these sorts of things can prevent Alzheimer's. People can lower their risk a little by eating healthy, exercising regularly, and avoiding stress, but even those who do all these things may still get Alzheimer's disease.

5. Can people with an Alzheimer's diagnosis still do anything?

A: Do not make the mistake of thinking that a person with Alzheimer's disease is incapable of functioning just because of their disease. Alzheimer's progresses very slowly for many seniors, meaning that a person may live decades with Alzheimer's. During the early stages, people can still do things like cook for themselves, live alone, and possibly even drive. Once it becomes unsafe for them to manage these things, they can still have a fulfilling life with the the help of caregivers and family members.

6. Is memory loss the only problem associated with Alzheimer's?

A: Memory loss is the most commonly talked about issue for patients with Alzheimer's disease. It is true that those with Alzheimer's can struggle to remember important facts, the names of loved ones, or the current date. However, Alzheimer's actually affects other parts of the brain too. It can make it difficult for seniors to use logical thinking skills or complete multi-step tasks. They frequently get confused about things like where they are or what they are doing. Alzheimer's may also cause personality changes and sudden mood swings to develop.