I RECEIVED an email from a young man struggling with his mother’s illness. It is known that when an individual is suffering from any sort of illness, the family suffers along with them. Alzheimer’s offers no exception. I have seen many cases of Alzheimer’s in Guyana and even worse, a lack of understanding – which I hope to now remedy.

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder that severely damages cognitive functioning over some time. This can range from anything such as memory issues to language problems. Sadly, it is a very common cause of death among the elderly population.

Alzheimer’s is generally linked with dementia, which is a common cause of the disease. Dementia is the loss of all basic cognitive functioning such as memory and reasoning skills.

There are both outward and inward signs of Alzheimer’s. Inward symptoms include shrinking of brain tissue, particularly in the hippocampus; the part of the brain most responsible for memory functioning.

Typically, the first outward sign of this disease is memory issues. We all often forget where we put our keys or whether we’ve turned off appliances before we left home but when does it become a problem? This happens when memory loss is so severe that it starts to affect our daily life and overall functioning. One may not be able to drive themself as he/she cannot remember where certain places are- even though they have been frequently visited. The individual may even forget the names of the people closest to them.

Short term memory is usually the first to go. An Alzheimer patient may remember things from their childhood but not in the last few months, weeks or even days.

Other common symptoms include wandering and getting lost, impaired judgement, reasoning and communication skills. These symptoms all lead to heavy stress, aggression, anxiety as well as suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

Different stages come with different symptoms. These are mild, moderate and severe Alzheimer’s.

During the mild stage of Alzheimer’s, the individual may start to repeat questions, lose items and take longer to complete regular daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, paying bills etc. They may require help to do these things.

If the individual is experiencing moderate Alzheimer’s, there is damage in the areas of the brain that are responsible for memory, language and reasoning. The memory issues are more severe whereas the individual may no longer recognise people or places that were once close to him/her. Hallucinations and delusions are possible during this stage and the individual need help during most routine activity.

During severe Alzheimer’s, the brain tissue in the hippocampus significantly shrinks which results in the inability to form any kind of new memories. The individual will not be able to learn anything new, effectively communicate, take their medication on their own or basic self-care. The progression of the disease would have resulted in a loss of ability to read or write and basically anything else that stimulates the mind. During this stage, the patient will typically spend most of their time in bed. It will be almost impossible for them to live alone at this point. More often than not, they will require around the clock care.

There is no one cause for Alzheimer’s but rather a number of factors that make certain individuals more likely than others to develop the disease.

Alzheimer’s is typically developed among elderly people- around mid-60s. Therefore, age in itself is a risk factor. There is the possibility of early-onset Alzheimer’s which usually develops around mid-30s. However, this only happens in about 10% of all people with Alzheimer’s. Like most mental illnesses, genetics plays a significant role in development. This means that an individual is more at risk of developing the disease if a first-degree relative (parent/sibling) has been diagnosed with it. However, this does not mean that Alzheimer’s is inescapable, one can still reduce their risk by living a healthy lifestyle- even with a genetic downfall. Some individuals are also born with a genetic mutation that is usually the cause of development.

Individuals who have a personal history of head injuries, sleep disorders, depression, addiction and overall poor physical health are also more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Gender is also considered a risk factor as women are more likely to develop the disease than men.

Alzheimer’s disease cannot be cured but can be treated and managed. There are medications, counselling and brain activities that can help the individual better manage the physical, mental and behavioural symptoms as well as delay further symptoms of the disease.

Individuals who increase intellectual activities such as word/memory games, chess, reading or any creative crafts have been shown to slow the progression of their disease. Those who have increased hobbies and social activity have done so as well. An individual diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is medicated (exact one depends on the patient). They may go through various methods of counselling before they find which is right for them. A popular one, Reminiscence therapy (RT), involves deep discussion of the patient’s history and past experiences. They are shown pictures, music, home videos or old letters – anything that can spark memories.

We feel helpless as friends/ family in these situations but there are small things that we can do to help. Keep items used daily (keys, medication, phone etc.) in the same place at all time. Clean and de-clutter the house. Keep pictures (associated with good memories) all around the home. Play productive and learning games with them. Label all the items in the house that they may be forgetting. Help them with daily chores or show them easier ways to go about them. Follow them to all doctor appointments. All of the above slow the progression of the disease increases patience lowers frustration and decreases the chances of isolation for the individual suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s is not an easy task. It is very physically, mentally, emotionally and financially taxing. There are inpatient services available within our community that can help.

Inpatient services are offered by Mercy Hospital Resident Care. This means, the patient lives and is taken care of by people within the centre, who are specially trained in these areas.

Address: Lot 3 Pere Street Kitty, Georgetown Contact: 227-1100, 225-3185

If you feel like you or a loved one might be suffering from Alzheimer’s, please visit your nearest health centre to share your concerns.

Thank you for reading and please send in any topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com. 
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