This post was written based on an appearance by Dr. Chad Percifield, PPG – Psychiatry, on the WANE15 program Real Talk on Mental Health.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Oftentimes, when people hear the word dementia, they’re referring to Alzheimer’s disease. There are various kinds of dementia, but Alzheimer's disease is the most common form. There are approximately 7 million people in the United States living with Alzheimer's disease, about 10% of people 65 and older.
What are some of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease can present in different ways. Memory loss is a core component of the condition, but it's very pronounced memory loss, to the extent that it's impairing daily life. This might mean forgetting the names of loved ones, forgetting things that are familiar in terms of daily tasks, as well as other things such as difficulty with problem solving, and forgetting how to do familiar things or jobs.
Additionally, patients experience:
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Disorientation pertaining to time and place
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Behavioral changes
How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?
Treatment is based on a multifactorial approach. Generally speaking, there are medications that can be used to help slow the progression of the disease, but at the moment there is no cure. So, it’s a matter of first making an accurate diagnosis, and then doing everything possible to slow the progression and improve the quality of life for the remainder of the individual's time. And people with Alzheimer's disease, especially if it's recognized and treated early, can live for quite a long time.
Mental health support
Learn more about Parkview Neurosciences here.
If you have concerns about your mental health, call the Parkview Behavioral health Institute HelpLine at 260-471-9440 or 1-800-284-8439 to receive an assessment or learn more about our services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Learn more about our youth mental health services here.
