ABOUT DEMENTIA

 

Note:

 

To get  more detailed information about Alzheimer Disease and dementia than is provided here, we encourage you to  visit the  “About Alzheimer Disease” section of the Alzheimer Canada website at http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/disease/intro.htm.

IF YOU HAVE ALZHEIMER DISEASE OR A RELATED ILLNESS

 

If you have recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease or a related dementia, we encourage you to get in touch with us. We offer a number of programs and services to help and support you; these include confidential counseling over the telephone or in person,  a peer support group that you may want to join; and an extensive  library of helpful books and videos.

 

We would also like to refer you to two excellent websites:

 

1. ALZHEIMER CANADA  http://www.alzheimer.ca

 

On this site, there is a section specifically for individuals with dementia.  The exact address is  http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/haveAD/intro.htm

 

 

2. DEMENTIA ADVOCACY & SUPPORT NETWORK INTERNATIONAL (DASNI)

   http://www.dasninternational.org

DASNI is an organization made up of  individuals who have been diagnosed with dementia, together with their many allies. DASNI exists to:

 

·         promote respect and dignity for persons with dementia

 

·         provide a forum for the exchange of information

 

·         encourage ways of supporting persons with dementia such as local peer support groups; and

 

·         advocate for services for persons with dementia.

QUICK FACTS

Dementia

“Dementia” is an umbrella term describing a cluster of symptoms associated with cognitive decline.

 

Dementing illnesses can affect memory, personality, reasoning, judgment, learning and language skills as well as the ability to perform routine tasks of daily living.

 

There are more than 50 known causes of dementia; most are not reversible but a few are. Alzheimer Disease is  the most common cause of dementia.   

 

Alzheimer Disease (AD)

 

Note:

Except where specifically noted, the following information on Alzheimer Disease has been adapted from the Alzheimer Canada website at http://www.alzheimer.ca

 

• About two-thirds of persons with dementia have Alzheimer Disease.

 

• Alzheimer Disease is not a normal part of aging.

 

• The risk of getting Alzheimer Disease does however, increase, with age.

 

• One of every ten Canadians over the age of 65 has AD or a related disorder.

 

• Four of every ten Canadians over the age of 85 have a dementing illness.

 

• Approximately 10,000 residents of Hamilton and Halton* have a dementia.

 

• About 130,000 Ontarians ** suffer from a dementing illness.

 

• About 365,000 Canadians have Alzheimer Disease or a related dementia.

 

• By 2031, dementia is expected to affect 750,000 Canadians.

 

*Source:          District Health Councils statistics

** Source:        Alzheimer Society of Ontario

 

 

Signs that it could be  Alzheimer Disease	Examples
1.      Memory loss, especially short-term (long-term memory can remain intact for a long time)	immediately after a meal, asking “When are we going to eat?”; having no recall of a family visit earlier in the day;
2.      Mood, personality changes;	mood swings; uncharacteristic emotional outbursts (anger, laughter, tears etc.); general confusion at times
3.      Difficulty performing familiar tasks	using the telephone; following directions; dressing appropriately;
4.      Problems with abstract thinking	balancing a cheque book; measuring;
5.      Language Difficulties	word finding; may resort to describing rather than naming objects (e.g. “the box that music comes out of” for radio);constantly repeating questions; substituting words (“eggs” for “ages”)
6.      Disorientation of time and/or place	although retired, dressing for “work” in the middle of the night; unable to recognize familiar places; while at home, asking to “go home”
7.      Poor judgement	giving money away to strangers; leaving house barefoot in winter;
8.      Misplacing things	constantly losing articles and/or  placing items in inappropriate places, e.g. milk in the oven; money in  garbage; pouring juice in slipper
9.      Loss of initiative	lethargic; rarely initiates conversation; flat “affect” (facial expression); social withdrawal;
10.  Inability to recognize familiar persons	Fails to recognize close relatives; own self in mirror;

 

 

Progression of Alzheimer Disease

 

• can span 2-20 yrs; average length: 7-l0 years

 

• disease is often divided into “stages” i.e. early middle, and late (three stages); another “staging” system used by professionals is the seven-stage “Global Deterioration (Reisburg) Scale”

 

For more information on the “three” and “seven” stages, please see  http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/disease/progression-3stages.htm

 

Progression of Alzheimer Disease and other dementing illnesses can vary considerably from person to person.  It is important to understand that stages can overlap and fluctuations can occur and vary considerably even within a very short time period (e.g. minutes). An affected person may appear very confused one minute but then appear to revert to “his/her old self” the next.

 

Alzheimer Treatments

 

While Alzheimer Disease has no known cause or cure, there are some drug treatments available to alleviate some of the symptoms in individuals who have mild to moderate Alzheimer Disease.  These drugs may help individuals perform daily tasks better and may improve cognitive abilities such as memory and language.  For more information on available treatments, drugs approved in Canada, and current research please contact our office or  visit the Alzheimer Canada website at http://www.alzheimer.ca.