Q: What causes Alzheimer's?

The <a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-causes-alzheimers-disease" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">causes</a> of Alzheimer&#39;s are still being studied, though more is being discovered about Alzheimer&#39;s causes every year. The causes are thought to be a combination of age-related changes in a person&#39;s brain, along with other factors like genes, the environment, and lifestyle habits. Old age on its own does not cause Alzheimer&#39;s, but your chances of getting the disease increase as you get older. And just because someone in your family has it doesn&#39;t mean you&#39;ll get it too.Doctors and scientists are beginning to see a link between Alzheimer&#39;s and other conditions, like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The best thing you can do to prevent these conditions, and potentially prevent Alzheimer&#39;s is to eat a nutritious diet, stay active, get enough sleep, and keep your weight at a healthy level.<hr/>Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to <a href="https://meetmonarch.com/therapists/alzheimers/near-me" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">find licensed mental health therapists</a> with availability and online booking.<hr/>

Q: What are the best activities for Alzheimer's patients?

The best activities for Alzheimer&#39;s patients are ones that help keep them engaged and active. Those with Alzheimer&#39;s may experience confusion, distress, or frustration as they begin to lose cognitive abilities, so focus on helping them with easy tasks that they enjoy, like cooking or baking simple recipes, getting outside to enjoy nature, staying in touch with friends and family, and reminiscing about their past. Put together a playlist of favorite songs, movies, and television shows, as those with Alzheimer&#39;s often find comfort in things that are familiar to them. Staying active and engaged can not only slow the progress of the disease, but it can also increase the patient&#39;s quality of life by reducing stress and warding off feelings of helplessness and depression.<hr/>Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to <a href="https://meetmonarch.com/therapists/alzheimers/near-me" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">find licensed mental health therapists</a> with availability and online booking.<hr/>

Q: Who does Alzheimer's affect?

Alzheimer&#39;s generally affects people over 65, though somewhere around <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers/art-20048356" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5% of cases are classified as early-onset</a>, meaning that symptoms appear before the age of 65. In rare cases, a diagnosis can even happen while someone is in their 30s or 40s. Though those with Alzheimer&#39;s are usually thought to be the ones most affected by their diagnosis, it&#39;s important to remember how it affects their families as well. Because the disease progresses differently for every patient, it&#39;s impossible to know how much longer your loved one will be able to function on their own, which makes planning difficult.Alzheimer&#39;s affects those with the diagnosis, their families, friends, and loved ones, and the community at large.<hr/>Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to <a href="https://meetmonarch.com/therapists/alzheimers/near-me" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">find licensed mental health therapists</a> with availability and online booking.<hr/>

Question 1

What causes Alzheimer's?

Accepted Answer

The causes of Alzheimer's are still being studied, though more is being discovered about Alzheimer's causes every year. The causes are thought to be a combination of age-related changes in a person's brain, along with other factors like genes, the environment, and lifestyle habits.

Old age on its own does not cause Alzheimer's, but your chances of getting the disease increase as you get older. And just because someone in your family has it doesn't mean you'll get it too.

Doctors and scientists are beginning to see a link between Alzheimer's and other conditions, like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The best thing you can do to prevent these conditions, and potentially prevent Alzheimer's is to eat a nutritious diet, stay active, get enough sleep, and keep your weight at a healthy level.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 2

What are the best activities for Alzheimer's patients?

Accepted Answer

The best activities for Alzheimer's patients are ones that help keep them engaged and active.

Those with Alzheimer's may experience confusion, distress, or frustration as they begin to lose cognitive abilities, so focus on helping them with easy tasks that they enjoy, like cooking or baking simple recipes, getting outside to enjoy nature, staying in touch with friends and family, and reminiscing about their past.

Put together a playlist of favorite songs, movies, and television shows, as those with Alzheimer's often find comfort in things that are familiar to them. Staying active and engaged can not only slow the progress of the disease, but it can also increase the patient's quality of life by reducing stress and warding off feelings of helplessness and depression.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 3

Who does Alzheimer's affect?

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's generally affects people over 65, though somewhere around 5% of cases are classified as early-onset, meaning that symptoms appear before the age of 65. In rare cases, a diagnosis can even happen while someone is in their 30s or 40s.

Though those with Alzheimer's are usually thought to be the ones most affected by their diagnosis, it's important to remember how it affects their families as well. Because the disease progresses differently for every patient, it's impossible to know how much longer your loved one will be able to function on their own, which makes planning difficult.

Alzheimer's affects those with the diagnosis, their families, friends, and loved ones, and the community at large.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 4

What are the seven stages of Alzheimer's?

Accepted Answer

The seven (7) stages of Alzheimer's disease are:

No impairment. People in the first stage of the disease show no symptoms.
Very mild decline. This stage can easily be mistaken for normal age-related forgetfulness like misplacing things or forgetting appointments.
Mild decline. At this point, those closest to the patient may begin to notice signs of memory loss. The patient may have trouble finding words during conversations or can have problems with planning.
Moderate decline. At this stage, memory loss is pronounced and a diagnosis is more obvious. The patient may have trouble managing a household and will have poor short-term memory.
Moderately severe decline. At this stage, most patients may have trouble remembering the names and faces of loved ones and can have problems with things like getting dressed on their own.
Severe decline. During this time, self-care tasks like toileting and bathing become difficult, and the patient may wander away or become confused or disoriented easily. They may not remember even their closest family members.
Very severe decline. This is the final stage of Alzheimer's. Patients in this last stage are nearing death and are usually unable to respond to their surroundings.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

What causes Alzheimer's?

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