13 Myths About Alzheimer's Disease
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Myth #1: Dementia and
Alzheimer's disease are the same thing
Fact: Dementia is not a
specific disease itself; rather, the term refers to a group of symptoms that
can be caused by several different brain disorders. Dementia is characterized
by impaired intellectual functioning such as memory loss, language difficulty,
decreased perception, and impaired reasoning. Alzheimer's disease is just one
of many types of dementia though it does account for between 60 to 80% of all
cases of dementia.
Another difference
between dementia and Alzheimer's disease is that Alzhemier's is degenerative
and there is currently no cure. On the other hand, depending on the cause of
the dementia, such as drug interactions or a vitamin deficiency, the symptoms
of some types of dementia may be reversible.
Myth #2: Alzheimer's disease only happens to
older people
Fact:
While most people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease are age 65 and older,
about 200,000 Americans under age 65 are diagnosed each year with early-onset
(also called younger-onset) Alzheimer's.
When
people are in their 40s or 50s, doctors may not consider Alzheimer's disease
and it may take a long time to get an accurate diagnosis. Symptoms are of
early-onset Alzheimer's may be attributed to stress, menopause, or depression
in younger people.
Myth #3: Alzheimer's symptoms are just a normal
part of aging
Fact:
Some memory loss happens to most of us as we age, but memory loss associated
with Alzheimer's interferes with daily life and is a more serious problem. In
the early stages, people with Alzheimer's may forget information they recently
learned, they may forget important dates or events, and they may ask the same
questions over and over. As the disease progresses, people will eventually
become disoriented, confused, and may be unable to carry out routine daily tasks.
In the later stages people with Alzheimer's lose the ability to eat and talk,
and they may become totally dependent on others for care.
Myth #4: Alzheimer's isn’t deadly
Fact:
Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. One in three seniors
dies with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. People diagnosed with
Alzheimer's live on average about 8 years following their diagnosis, but
survival ranges from four to 20 years.
In
the latest stages of the disease, people with Alzheimer's lose their ability to
respond to their environment and often lose awareness of their surroundings.
They usually require full-time care, and gradually lose the ability to walk,
sit, and eventually, swallow. They also become vulnerable to infections such as
pneumonia.
In
addition, high-risk behaviors in moderate stages such as wandering and getting
lost can increase the chance of fatal accidents.
Myth #5: There are lots of treatments for
Alzheimer's disease
Fact:
Out of the top 10 causes of death in the U.S., Alzheimer's disease is the only
one that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed. There are two types of
medications approved by the FDA to help manage Alzheimer's symptoms,
cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne), and memantine (Namenda)
prescribed to help treat the cognitive symptoms (memory loss, confusion, and
problems with thinking and reasoning) of Alzheimer's disease.
Supplements
such as vitamin E have been tested but have not been shown to be effective in
treating Alzheimer's symptoms.
Myth #6: Aluminum pots, pans, and cans cause
Alzheimer’s disease
Fact: Aluminum exposure does not cause Alzheimer's disease. A
popular theory in the 1960s and 1970s was that exposure to aluminum from pots
and pans, beverage cans, antacids, or antiperspirants caused Alzheimer's
disease. This theory came about because some studies showed higher levels of
aluminum in the brains of people with Alzheimer's, however; some studies did
not show this. There have been numerous studies on the possible connection
between aluminum since and there is no evidence to support the theory that
exposure to aluminum causes the diseMyth #7:
Aspartame causes Alzheimer's
Fact:
There is no evidence that the artificial sweetener aspartame (marketed under
brand names such as Equal and Nutrasweet) causes Alzheimer's disease. The
sweetener is a combination of two protein components, aspartic acid and
phenylalanine, plus 10 percent methanol (found widely found in fruits,
vegetables, and other plant foods). The body breaks down the components in
aspartame the same way it would when these substances are found in foods.
Numerous studies have been conducted to find out if aspartame has any effect on
cognitive function, and so far there has been no link found between use of the
sweetener and memory loss
ase.
Myth #8: Flu shots increase the risk of
Alzheimer's disease
Fact: Flu shots do not cause Alzheimer's. This is a theory that
was proposed by a now-discredited doctor. In fact, the opposite seems to be
true: numerous studies have shown that flu shots and other vaccinations lead to
a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. A 2001 report in the Canadian Medical
Journal suggested older adults who received vaccinations for the flu and other
diseases had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer'Myth #9: Alzheimer's disease can be prevented
Fact:
If you have a certain genetic mutation for early-onset Alzheimer's disease
(which accounts for 1% of all cases) you cannot prevent it. However, making
healthy lifestyle choices such as exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet,
maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking can support brain health.
Physical activity and healthy eating can also lower your risk for other
diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, which have been linked to
Alzheimer's. Several studies have also shown that maintaining social
connections and staying mentally active and engaged may strengthen connections
between the nerve cells and the brain and help lower the risk of cognitive
decline.
s than those who did not receive
the vaccinations. There are, however, real risks to getting the flu, especially
in the elderly.
Myth #10: My parent had Alzheimer's, so that
means I'll have it
Fact: Unfortunately, research has also shown that those with a
first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) with the disease have a
higher risk of developing it themselves. And if your parent had early-onset
Alzheimer's and you have the specific genetic mutation for the early-onset
type, then you cannot prevent developing the disease. There are risk genes and
deterministic genes that influence a person's likelihood of getting the
disease. A deterministic gene is one that directly causes a disease,
guaranteeing that anyone with the gene will inherit the disorder, such as the
one that causes early-onset Alzheimer's. Risk genes are those that increase the
likelihood of developing a disease, but it is not guaranteed. APOE-Myth # 11: Head injuries cause Alzheimer's disease
Fact:
Some research has shown that moderate severe traumatic brain injury can
increase the risk of an individual developing Alzheimer's disease or another
type of dementia, even years after the initial injury. Not everyone who
experiences severe head trauma will develop dementia and more research is
needed to understand the possible link. Recent studies have suggested that
repeated mild traumatic brain injuries, such as mild concussions from contact
sports such as football, hockey, soccer, and boxing could be linked to a type
of dementia called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Traumatic
brain injury may be linked to certain key protein abnormalities found in the
brains of Alzheimer's patients. Research also suggests that traumatic brain
injury may be more likely to cause dementia in those who have the risk gene
APOE-e4. More research is needed to understand these connections.
e4 is one such risk gene that
present in about 20 to 25 percent of Alzheimer's cases.
Myth #12: People with Alzheimer's are agitated,
violent & aggressive
Fact:
It is true that some people who develop Alzheimer's disease can become agitated
or aggressive, but everyone experiences the disease differently and not
everyone with Alzheimer's becomes violent. When people act aggressively, it is
often due to the increase in confusion, fear, and frustration that Alzheimer's
causes. It is important for caregivers to understand what might upset the
person with Alzheimer's, in order to manage their environment and to communicate
clearly. When caregivers learn how to respond to an Alzheimer's patient they
can often calm them and prevent many negative behaviors.
Myth #13: People with Alzheimer's can't
function and can't enjoy activities
Fact:
People with Alzheimer's disease live active and engaged lives. The Alzheimer's
Association suggests many people consider their legacy and find renewed purpose
in life following their diagnosis. In the earlier stages of the disease, many
people become proactive by volunteering, spending more time with family, making
photo albums and writing letters, and even participating in Alzheimer's
research. In the later stages, people with Alzheimer's who have support and
care can still participate in some activities, and share love and joy with others.
Reviewed by Joseph Carcione, DO on Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Alzheimer's Diagnosis:
Your Family's Questions Answered
This tool does not provide medical advice
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