In order to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s one must show symptoms of dementia, in which one must suffer a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Even though the symptoms of dementia can vary, the most common signs are memory issues, communication and language impairment, and the loss of ability to focus and pay attention. According to Alzheimer’s Association (2001), “There are multiple cognitive deficits, which include memory impairment and at least one of the following: aphasia, apraxia, agnosia or disturbance in executive functioning.” Symptoms of dementia often tend to start out slowly and then gradually progress over time. Most of the types of dementia continue to worsen and are usually irreversible. Some of
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The term ‘dementia’ describes the symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by certain diseases or conditions. Some types are far more common than others and they are often named according to the condition that has caused the dementia. According to Charles Davis (2015), “Alzheimer's disease is the most common and well-studied cause of dementia, affecting up to 70% of those diagnosed with dementia. Of those with Alzheimer’s disease, the vast majority, which is about 82%, are age 75 or older.” Alzheimer’s tends to mostly affect people older than the age of 65, and almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women. Of the 5 million cases of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s in the United States, 3.2 million are women and 1.8 million are …show more content…
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “there are two approved types of medications: cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne, Cognex) and memantine (Namenda) to treat the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.” There are numerous non-drug approaches to treating the symptoms of dementia, such as Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is based on the idea that essential oils produced from plants, have healing powers. The oils are generally either applied directly to the skin, through an aroma to produce a pleasant scent, or put in a bath. Aromatherapy and massage are generally viewed as a helpful tool for reducing stress and improving relaxation. Three studies (Burns, 2002) have shown that aromatherapy works when used to treat people with dementia who are agitated. It is not clear how aromatherapy works, although the oils contain chemicals that are quickly released and delivered to the brain after being absorbed through the lungs when inhaled. One project found that aromatherapy and massage given together helped to reduce wandering aimlessly in people with dementia (Alzheimer Society, 2008). Another treatment of the symptoms could be music therapy. Stated by the Alzheimer’s Society, music can have a great effect on a person’s state of mind, and it uses music and sound to restore or improve physical and mental well-being. This kind of therapy can also use
The term ‘dementia’ describes the symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by certain diseases or conditions. Some types are far more common than others and they are often named according to the condition that has caused the dementia. According to Charles Davis (2015), “Alzheimer's disease is the most common and well-studied cause of dementia, affecting up to 70% of those diagnosed with dementia. Of those with Alzheimer’s disease, the vast majority, which is about 82%, are age 75 or older.” Alzheimer’s tends to mostly affect people older than the age of 65, and almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women. Of the 5 million cases of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s in the United States, 3.2 million are women and 1.8 million are …show more content…
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “there are two approved types of medications: cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne, Cognex) and memantine (Namenda) to treat the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.” There are numerous non-drug approaches to treating the symptoms of dementia, such as Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is based on the idea that essential oils produced from plants, have healing powers. The oils are generally either applied directly to the skin, through an aroma to produce a pleasant scent, or put in a bath. Aromatherapy and massage are generally viewed as a helpful tool for reducing stress and improving relaxation. Three studies (Burns, 2002) have shown that aromatherapy works when used to treat people with dementia who are agitated. It is not clear how aromatherapy works, although the oils contain chemicals that are quickly released and delivered to the brain after being absorbed through the lungs when inhaled. One project found that aromatherapy and massage given together helped to reduce wandering aimlessly in people with dementia (Alzheimer Society, 2008). Another treatment of the symptoms could be music therapy. Stated by the Alzheimer’s Society, music can have a great effect on a person’s state of mind, and it uses music and sound to restore or improve physical and mental well-being. This kind of therapy can also use