By Dr. Gerard Muraida
Dementia is defined as an acquired condition stemming from an insult to the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common diagnosed illness that causes cognitive and memory impairment. Other such insults include stroke (lack of blood to the brain), Parkinson’s disease, and changes in brain neurochemicals.
The predecessor to Alzheimer’s dementia is referred to as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Occasionally forgetting where you put your keys or your glasses is not considered MCI. The Mayo clinic defines (MCI) as the stage between the expected decline in memory and thinking that happens with age and the more serious decline of dementia. “People with MCI may be aware that their memory or mental function has ‘slipped.’ Family and friends may also notice changes. These changes usually aren’t problematic enough to impact daily life or affect usual activities,” Mayo reports.
Health care professionals stage Alzheimer’s disease 1-7. However, it can also be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Early signs and symptoms of (MCI) can include repeating questions over and over, having difficulty with names, decreased ability to follow instructions, mood changes, and apathy and/or missing appointments. This is typical of early stage 1-3, or mild dementia.
In moderate stage (3-5) Alzheimer’s, patients often get lost while walking or driving, particularly in unfamiliar places. They forget the names of people they’ve just met, making social settings more difficult. Concentration problems arise, rendering it difficult to perform complex tasks. This leads to poor job performance. Family members’ names are forgotten, but the people are still recognized. Current and recent events may not be recalled. Organizational skills diminish, and the ability to handle finances falters. Disorientation and confusion occur around dates, times, and locations.
Severe/late stage 6-7 Alzheimer’s patients begin to need more care and can’t recall remote events. They may begin to wander. Personality changes may occur along with hallucinations, anxiety, and even violent outbursts. Incontinence of bowel or bladder can happen. Loss of ability to speak intelligible words, followed by inability to smile and ultimately interact with their environment may ensue.
Alzheimer’s affects more than 3 million older individuals each year. The percentage of people with Alzheimer’s disease increases with age:
ages 65–74: 5 percent; ages 75–84: 13 percent; and 85 and older: 33 percent. In 2023, about 11 percent of people in the United States who were 65 and older had Alzheimer’s disease. That’s one person for every nine.
Though age conveys the greatest risk for Alzheimer’s, there are other factors that may play a role, including genetics, family history, lifestyle, and ethnicity.
The Cleveland Clinic highlights risk factors such as a family history of dementia, Down’s syndrome (onset in middle age) poor heart health (leading to decreased blood-flow to the brain), and ethnicity/race. Blacks have twice the risk, and Hispanics have a 1.5 greater chance for developing Alzheimer’s than white seniors. If you have a gene known as APOE e4, you may have an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. However, having the gene doesn’t guarantee that you’ll have a cognitive decline and/or Alzheimer’s.
Managing blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, and staying active and social can help. Ask your health care provider if vitamin D or vitamin B supplementation would be helpful. Don’t forget to exercise your brain with word searches, puzzles, and reading as much as your health permits. Talk with your family, and ask if they have noticed any behavior changes. Finally, ask your health care provider to assess your risk for dementia.
