I hear about so many these days who have a form of dementia/Alzheimer's. And some are quite young. It doesn't seem to be an old people’s disease anymore. Scientists claim early-onset is rare, but as of today, 110 of every 100,000 adults aged 30 to 64 are diagnosed with it. That’s about 200,000 Americans. This number is increasing, and more women have it than men.
Our daughter was officially diagnosed at age 50, but she had it before she was diagnosed.
Scientists are researching causes, and they have a few
ideas, but no one knows for certain the origins for the disease in each
case. Sometimes, the doctors can’t
diagnose the exact kind of dementia.
When our daughter lived with it, one doctor said it
was Pick’s Disease. And her symptoms fit that disorder. The neurologist said, “No,
it’s not Pick’s, I’m not sure what it is specifically, but it could be alcohol
related.”
I have friends whose husbands are in facilities. Their
doctors could never come up with an accurate description, either.
Here are a few names for the ailment.
1. Late
on-set
2. Early
on-set
3. Genetic
4. Lewy
Body
5.
Frontal Lobal and Posterior Cortical Atrophy.
6.
Pick’s
7. Alcohol
8. Vascular
9. Mixed
I think sometimes, when doctors don’t know, they say
it is mixed. And so many have mixed symptoms. The disease is like snowflakes.
All are similar and all are unique.
Tips for Caregivers
1. Don’t
expect your loved one to be like the others.
2. The
doctor may not know what kind of dementia your loved one has.
3. Don’t
expect answers to what comes next. These stages stabilize, and experts can
guess, but they can’t predict with much certainty.
4. Do
the best you can. Realize you are a limited human being. Forgive yourself when
you act frustrated. Sad. Angry. Depressed.
5. Seek
help for yourself when the rough gets too rough, and it will.
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