DEMENTIA
Memory loss that is severe enough
to interfere with everyday life and ability to function is not part
of the normal aging process. It is a symptom of dementia.
Dementia is defined as a loss of mental
function in two or more areas such as language, visual and spatial
abilities, memory, thinking and reasoning skills, or judgment.
Dementia
itself is not a disease. It is a general term for a broader set of
symptoms that accompany certain diseases or physical conditions.
Well-known diseases that cause dementia include Alzheimer’s
disease, multi-infarct dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s
disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Pick’s disease, and Lewy body
dementia. Other physical conditions may cause or mimic dementia,
such as depression, brain tumors, head injuries, nutritional deficiencies,
hydrocephalus, infections (AIDS, meningitis, syphilis), drug reactions,
and thyroid problems. Individuals experiencing dementia-like symptoms
should undergo diagnostic testing as soon as possible.
It is important to identify the underlying
cause of dementia because interventions and treatments for different
types may vary. Some conditions such as depression and nutritional
deficiencies are treatable. An early evaluation and careful diagnosis
can help identify “reversible” conditions, give people a greater
chance of benefiting from existing treatments, and allow individuals
and families more time to plan for the future.
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ALZHEIMER’S
DISEASE
Alzheimer’s disease (pronounced
Ahlz'-hi-merz) is the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s
is a progressive, degenerative disease that creates irreversible
changes in brain cells and results in impaired memory, thinking
and ability to reason. Over time, these changes become so severe
that they interfere with daily functioning and eventually result
in death.
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized
by a decline in the ability to perform routine tasks, gradual memory
loss, confusion, loss of language skills, and impaired judgment
and planning. People with Alzheimer’s experience difficulty with
learning, decision-making, personal care activities, and communicating--
both in expressing thoughts and understanding what others are saying.
Other common symptoms include changes in mood, personality and
behavior, such as agitation, suspiciousness, anxiety, delusions
and hallucinations.
Increasing age is the greatest known
risk factor for Alzheimer’s. One in ten individuals age 65 or older
and nearly half of those over 85 are affected. However,
Alzheimer’s disease can strike adults as early as their
30’s and 40’s. A person with Alzheimer’s will live an average of
eight years from the onset of symptoms although the duration can
range from 2 to 20 years. The actual rate of disease progression
varies from person to person.
Alzheimer’s disease
is the seventh leading cause of death for people of all ages and
the fifth leading cause for adults, age 65+.
Today,
about
5.1 million
Americans
have Alzheimer’s
disease, including at least 200,000 individuals under age 65
with
"youth onset" dementia. This number has more than doubled
since 1980. Unless a prevention or
cure is
found,
between
11 and
16 million
Americans
will have Alzheimer’s by 2050.
-
North Carolina
currently has over 150,000 older adults with Alzheimer's disease.
By 2030, the total number is projected to rise to over 294,000.
(D.A. Evans et al.).
-
The results of
the 2004 Behavioral
Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Survey indicate
that 28% of North Carolina residents are providing regular care
or assistance to an older adult with a long-term illness or disability.
Almost half of these caregivers reported that the person they
are caring for has memory loss, confusion or a disorder like
Alzheimer’s disease.
-
Recent studies
estimate that over 70% of persons with Alzheimer’s disease are
cared for at home or in the community by family and friends.
In order to continue their care, families need a strong network
of community support that includes dementia-specific information,
respite care services, counseling, problem-solving skills, training
and educational resources.
In an effort to build the necessary
program infrastructure to be prepared for this upcoming crises
in dementia care, the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult
Services supports several key initiatives that assist individuals
and families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
For more information on the Division's
work in these areas, contact Karisa
Derence, Alzheimer’s Support Specialist and Project C.A.R.E.
Director.
Last
updated June 30, 2008
