You or a loved one may have Alzheimer’s disease and/or dementia. But do you know what each of them are and how they inter-relate? To help you and others understand Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions, November has been named National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.
In our practice, we regularly come across clients who have dementia or have loved ones with dementia. It is important that we as legal professionals understand Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, since it affects so many of our clients and how we advise them.
It is also important that you understand Alzheimer’s and dementia, since it is reported that over 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s. You will likely encounter someone with the disease or may even have it yourself.
Many people are confused about Alzheimer’s and dementia. Alzheimer’s is a complex neurological disease, whereas dementia is a general term that includes a wide range of symptoms associated with the decline in mental ability that interferes with daily life. Dementia is not a specific disease.
There are many varied symptoms of dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, you must have at least two of the following core mental functions be significantly impaired to be considered having dementia:
• Memory
• Communication and language
• Ability to focus and pay attention
• Reasoning and judgment
• Visual perception
Dementia can often be progressive. This means that it starts out slowly and continues to get worse, sometimes gradually and sometimes faster. And the symptoms may not be the same day-to-day or the same during the day. If you have dementia, some days you may show few symptoms and be sharp as a tack, while other days, you suffer from many symptoms and not recognize family members. Similarly, you may be sharper in the morning than you are in the afternoon.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of these dementia symptoms, accounting for 60%-80% of cases. Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia, accounting for 10% of cases and typically occurs after a stroke. There are other diseases or conditions which can also cause the dementia, such as Parkinson’s disease and HIV.
Dementia results from brain cell damage. This damage causes the brain cells to miscommunicate with one another. Consequently, mental functions are impaired. While most disease related damage to the brain causing dementia is permanent and progressive, there are other causes of dementia that are not.
For example, dementia symptoms may improve or be reversible if caused by the following conditions and are properly treated or addressed:
• Depression
• Medication side effects
• Excess use of alcohol
• Thyroid problems
• Vitamin deficiencies
I have had more than one of my clients’ or their loved ones’ dementia symptoms improve or disappear with a change in medications.
The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Resource Committee of St. Clair County offers these tips if you or a loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s or dementia:
• Write your questions down as you think of them and ask the doctor any questions you have.
• Ask if a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) has been performed.
• Contact organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association for more information at 1-800-272-3900 or www.alz.org.
• Find a support group where you can share your feelings and concerns. Here is a list of resources:
• Port Huron Hospital (810) 989-3121
• St. Joseph Mercy Hospital (810) 987-1035
• Sanctuary at Mercy (810) 989-7440
• Study your day to see if you can develop a routine that makes things go more smoothly.
• Try to be flexible.
• Consider using adult day care or respite services to ease the day to day demands of care giving.
• Begin to plan for the future. This may include getting financial and legal documents in order, and investigating long term care options. Also, what services are covered by health insurance, Medicare and long-term care policies, if you have one?
• Make sure you take care of yourself as the caregiver!
More information from the Alzheimer’s/Dementia Resource Committee of St. Clair County is available on a number of local organization’s websites. One of them is http://www.porthuronhospital.org/alzsupport.
Alzheimer’s and dementia can be very traumatic. You do not have to go at it alone. There are lots of programs and services available. Take advantage of them.
By: Matthew M. Wallace, CPA, JD
Published edited October 26, 2014 in The Times Herald newspaper, Port Huron, Michigan as: November is for Alzheimer’s awareness month