How can WE fight Early Onset Alzheimer's?

Even though Early Onset Alzheimer's currently has no cure, you can prevent its development by keeping your mind and your body as healthy as possible. You can maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, consume less alcohol, and practice relaxation to reduce stress.


For Additional Info on Early Onset Alzheimer's,Visit: www.alz.org www.myalzheimerssupport.com www.alzconnected.org www.helpforalzheimersfamilies.com

Images of Early Onset Alzheimer's Effects on the Brain

 

 

 

Interview

Recently we interviewed Mrs. L. Banks, a retired school teacher, who was a caregiver for her now deceased husband who suffered from complications of Early Onset Alzheimer’s.  We asked her to describe what life was like caring for someone with Early Onset Alzheimer’s and she responded, “It was overwhelming caring for my husband who was once intellectual and active, but slowly declined, both mentally and physically, to a state of not being able to walk and remember recent events”.  Then we asked her to describe the limitations and effects on her husband as a result of the genetic disorder; she responded, “Eventually he was constantly misplacing items such as his glasses and keys due to short term memory loss, and he reached a point where his trips and falls led to his inability to walk and perform basic tasks”.  Finally, we asked Mrs. Banks to describe the greatest challenges of dealing with a loved one who was experiencing Early Onset Alzheimer’s.  She then shared, “We were a very active couple who loved to travel, dine-out and simply go walking or driving.  I was also accustomed to my husband managing the household, so upon his illness, I had to take over many of those responsibilities while caring for him.  It was a very somber time for both of us”.

Our condolences go out to Mrs. Banks and her family.

Articles on Early Onset Alzheimer's

The following articles discuss other news relevant to Early Onset Alzheimer's:

http://news.health.com/2014/02/12/having-2-parents-with-alzheimers-may-raise-risk-of-early-brain-changes/

http://www.healthcanal.com/brain-nerves/brain-diseases/alzheimer%E2%80%99s/47897-global-hunt-for-alzheimer%E2%80%99s-risk-genes-looks-for-clues-in-early-onset-sufferers.html

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-02-elevated-brain-aluminium-early-onset.html

http://m.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/nervous_system_disorders/early-onset_alzheimers_disease_134,63/

Dealing With Early Onset Alzheimer's (VIDEO)

Testing for Early Onset Alzheimer's

Early Onset Alzheimer's can be diagnosed through a series of mental tests, blood tests, spinal taps, chest x-rays which produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs, and genetic testing based on evaluation of family history with Early Onset Alzheimer’s.

Did You Know?

4% of the 5 million Americans who have Alzheimer's, have Early Onset Alzheimer's

Early Onset Alzheimer's Symptoms

Symptoms of Early Onset Alzheimer's Symptoms include but are not limited to; memory loss (especially short-term), difficulty performing everyday tasks, language problems, time and place disorientation, poor judgment, problems with abstract thinking, misplacing items, sudden and frequent changes in mood/behavior, personality changes, initiative loss, and not recognizing well-known people, such as children, siblings, or parents.

What Is Early Onset Alzheimer's?

 Early Onset Alzheimer's was discovered in 1906 by a German physician named Alois Alzheimer and was later named by Emil Kraepelin in 1910. Early Onset Alzheimer's is Alzheimer's that affects people younger than age 65. It is caused by abnormal protein deposits in the brain, genes failing to complete a genetic code, or enviormental risk factors such as pollution, radiation, etc. Plaques accumulate between dying cells in the brain, from the build-up of a protein called beta-amyloid, and tangles accumulate inside of nerve cells from  deposits of the protein tau.