Alzheimer’s disease has been increasing in frequency over the last couple decades. There are an estimated 5.2 million cases of the disease currently in the U.S., and with the senior population on the rise, this number is going to keep going up into the future. There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s right now, but there are some things that can be done to help prevent it. Couple this with earlier detection methods, and the quality of life for people in the early stages of the disease is better now than ever before. It’s not a solution to the problem, but it is a step in the right direction.
Researchers are currently looking at the factors that can trigger Alzheimer’s so that it can be detected long before any symptoms are felt. There are some early methods of detection, but a lot of them are impractical unless some sort of reason is present to do the testing. However, preventative measures are things that everyone should be doing, even if you are not elderly. Things like physical exercise create a better chemical balance within the brain and have been shown to stave off the disease. If you are in the early stages of the disease and are not physically impaired, aerobic exercise will help slow down the disease, too.
A mixture of prevention and detection is not enough, though. Treatment is necessary, too, and this is where things get tricky. There’s no cure, as you know, so the best treatment involves improving quality of life for those that do have the disease. High quality health care and senior care are important. So is having a good emotional support system. In-home care can sometimes be a good way to help an elderly loved one in the beginning stages of this illness. Dementia affects memory, amongst other things, and it can make people very confused at times. Alzheimer’s patients have been known to wander out of the house from time to time, and being supervised is a must. While you are at work, an in-home caregiver might be the right solution so that your loved one can stay in the home a little bit longer. It’s certainly not right for all situations, and more intensive care could be a necessity in the future. However, until this becomes the case, in-home care can be a great and more personalized solution.
If your elderly loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, hopelessness is a common feeling, but it doesn’t have to be how you handle the situation. Take control of the situation by doing what you can to prevent the disease. If you find that you or a loved one has it through early detection, do what you can to treat it effectively. Consult a good doctor, exercise if you can, and make sure that you have loving senior care in place so that your loved one is safe and as happy as possible. Rather than being upset and giving up, give your loved one the best support system that you can give them. You’ll be glad that you did.
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