As symptoms appear, you may notice that you or a loved one becomes increasingly withdrawn from common social events, work projects, or hobbies that were previously important. Avoidance can increase as symptoms worsen. You may notice that you or your loved one is increasingly irritated when something outside a normal routine takes place.
You may also have an increased risk of developing AD if a parent, sibling, or child has the disease. If more than one family member has AD, your risk increases.
Many researchers believe that this disease develops as the result of multiple factors rather than one specific cause. Researchers have discovered rare genes that may directly cause or contribute to AD. These genes may be carried from one generation to the next within a family. Carrying this gene can result in adults younger than age 65 developing symptoms much earlier than expected. Talk to a doctor if you or a loved one is finding it increasingly difficult to perform day-to-day tasks, or if you or a loved one is experiencing increased memory loss.
They may refer you to a doctor who specializes in AD. They may also choose to complete an imaging test of your brain. They can only make a diagnosis after the medical evaluation is completed. The symptoms of AD can sometimes be treated with medications meant to help improve memory loss or decrease sleeping difficulties.
Research is still being done on possible alternative treatments. The symptoms of AD may worsen over time. For many people, a period of 2 to 4 years will pass between the onset of symptoms and receiving an official diagnosis from their doctor. This is considered to be the first stage. After receiving a diagnosis, you or a loved one may enter the second stage of the disease. This period of mild cognitive impairment can last anywhere from 2 to 10 years. This is the most severe form of the disease.
You or a loved one may experience periods of total memory loss and may need help with tasks such as financial management, self-care, and driving. Lauren asked us to be in a documentary film she was making. Being on the show was great. My husband, Ken, is a phenomenal man. He used to enjoy going on family vacations, riding motorcycles, and hanging out with family and friends.
He now enjoys working in the garden and around the yard. His prized possession is his service dog, Bella. We hope that people will hear our story and know that this disease can happen to anybody. Nikki Dodson is a year-old wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and caretaker for her husband, Ken, in Adrian, Mich. She has a degree in early childhood education, but put her love of teaching preschool on hold to care for Ken full-time.
Nikki spends as much time as she can speaking at Alzheimer's events and reaching out to others that have been affected by this disease. Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Healthy Living. Reviewed: September 22, Once you or your loved one has been assessed, your primary care doctor should refer you to a dementia specialist to run further tests and ultimately arrive at a diagnosis.
Being able to diagnose the disease early on can help your doctor tailor a treatment plan that may help slow the progression of the disease. One critical reason to address early signs of dementia is the fact that Ellison and other experts say changes in lifestyle—diet, exercise and other steps—can help delay onset of full dementia. In recent research, scientists found that a personalized, tailored prevention plan—taking into account sleep, exercise, diet, supplements and socializing—showed signs of improving brain health.
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It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. By Phil Gutis November 21st, Alzheimer's dementia earlyonset.
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