How does Alzheimers Disease affect a persons ability to function in society, how does it affect their family?
401448
this is a subject that i know all to well. I watched my grandmother go from a vibrant woman at the age of 71 to a woman with an IQ of a child at 73. It attacks the functions of the brain which controls all functions of the body. It slowly diterates the cells in the brain starting with memory first. Then it attacks motor functions like swallowing, chewing, moving the hands and feet, talking too. Then it goes into full scale where the body starts to chut down that's where they are in a vegetative state and bedridden. Then ultimately death. My grandmother started showing signs of it in the form of forgetfulness, then she started to go back in time and forget who or what she was talking about. It was the hardest thing when she would call me on the phone crying her eyes out because she was sitting in the bath tub and forgot how to turn off the water and it was running over all over the floor and into the rest of the house. To the families its expecially tough because you are watching someone you love dearly fall to pieces literally is front of your eyes. When they get to the point that they start to wonder off or get up during the midnight hour and walk off and get in the car or take a walk trying to go back home to when they were children it's scary and hard because it takes time out of your life. For me I had to put my life on hold almost and I was pregnant at the time, but I loved my granny so much it didn't matter to me. You have to understand that they are someone different now and that it's not pf their control they act the way they do. She also cussed us out, accused us of stealing or poisoning her. She hid things from us because she got to the point she didn't recognize us or trust us anymore. She would argue with us because she would forget things and she got frustrated easily. It's hard to take care of someone like that. Because they are unpredictiable. then when they get to a certain way they might only trust you to take care of them. Which for me was the case. it's a disease that changes not only the person suffering from it, it changes the person or people taking care of that person. After my granny died from this disease, I didn't want to become a nurse anymore. I couldn't take it again to see someone else go through that. It turn my world apart because she wasn't granny anymore. I had to take care of her like a 1 year old. Changing her diapers and cleaning up after her and feeding her. You go through so much. But I wouldn't have had it no other way. She raised me and took care of me, the least i could have done was do the same and for that i am grateful for because i was there the whole time. I loved her that much and will always.
792687
Your grandfather has Alzheimer’s and it will only get worse, there is no cure for this. My mom has it and I am taking care of her. No you are not overreacting about sharing a room with an eight-year boy. Can’t they fix the basement or attic into a room for one of you or add on a room in the back for you. Grandpa needs to be close to mom as it is very trying to care for a loved one in his condition. Your mom will need all the help she can get and if you are helpful you will stand a better chance of getting a separate room. I think there are laws about boys and girls sharing a room if the youngest is of a certain age and eight sounds plenty old enough but if you go to the authorities about it grandpa will end up in a nursing home and your family will be terribly upset with you and you will regret what you did to grandpa in the future as nursing homes give terrible to no care. If worse comes to worse maybe you can put up a divider wall in the middle of the room. I wish you and your family the best of luck.♫
821545
Sounds like Undifferentiated Schizophrenia and/or a severe case of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) given the severity of your family member's situation and the longevity of same.  Please know, I hope your family member can get some help; however, you cannot make that person seek out professional assistance.  I really feel for those who have such hoarding issues along with extreme social isolation...this person cannot be happy, and your family member sounds very "trapped" in her/his "illness".  Good question, and it's nice to know you have concern for your family member as most of society would shun this person due to the uncleanliness and social withdrawal.
517213
It used to be Alzheimer's Disease. Now, it's just Alzheimer.
533798
I understand how you feel. My father also had Alzheimer's. It is more difficult on you than it is on him. Don't think of your father as he is now, but remember the good times.\n\nTake time and visit with your dad when you can. If he says things that are hurtful, it is the disease talking, not your dad.\n\nThink positive, life on earth is just a very short time. God has bigger and better plans for us in heaven.
292845
Global Assessment of Functioning.  \n\nConsider psychological, social, and occupational functioning on a hypothetical continuum of mental health-illness. Do not include impairment in functioning due to physical (or environmental) limitations. \n  \n\nCode (Note: Use intermediate codes when appropriate, e.g., 45, 68, 72.) \n  100 \n| \n91 Superior functioning in a wide range of activities, life's problems never seem to get out of hand, is sought out by others because of his or her many positive qualities. No symptoms. \n90 \n| \n| \n81  Absent or minimal symptoms (e.g., mild anxiety before an exam), good functioning in all areas, interested and involved in a wide range of activities, socially effective, generally satisfied with life, no more than everyday problems or concerns (e.g., an occasional argument with family members). \n80 \n| \n| \n71  If symptoms are present, they are transient and expectable reactions to psychosocial stressors (e.g., difficulty concentrating after family argument); no more than slight impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., temporarily falling behind in schoolwork). \n70 \n| \n |  \n61 Some mild symptoms (e.g., depressed mood and mild insomnia) OR some difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., occasional truancy, or theft within the household), but generally functioning pretty well, has some meaningful interpersonal relationships. \n60 \n| \n| \n51  Moderate symptoms (e.g., flat affect and circumstantial speech, occasional panic attacks) OR moderate difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., few friends, conflicts with peers or co-workers). \n50 \n| \n| \n41  Serious symptoms (e.g., suicidal ideation, severe obsessional rituals, frequent shoplifting) OR any serious impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., no friends, unable to keep a job). \n40 \n| \n| \n| \n31  Some impairment in reality testing or communication (e.g., speech is at times illogical, obscure, or irrelevant) OR major impairment in several areas, such as work or school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood (e.g., depressed man avoids friends, neglects family, and is unable to work; child frequently beats up younger children, is defiant at home, and is failing at school). \n30 \n| \n| \n21 Behavior is considerably influenced by delusions or hallucinations OR serious impairment, in communication or judgment (e.g., sometimes incoherent, acts grossly inappropriately, suicidal preoccupation) OR inability to function in almost all areas (e.g., stays in bed all day, no job, home, or friends) \n20 \n|  \n| \n11  Some danger of hurting self or others (e.g., suicide attempts without clear expectation of death; frequently violent; manic excitement) OR occasionally fails to maintain minimal personal hygiene (e.g., smears feces) OR gross impairment in communication (e.g., largely incoherent or mute). \n10  \n|  \n1  Persistent danger of severely hurting self or others (e.g., recurrent violence) OR persistent inability to maintain minimal personal hygiene OR serious suicidal act with clear expectation of death. \n0 Inadequate information. \n\nThere is a similar scale for children - the CGAS.  As a therapist, I can use GAF scores to track whether or not someone is improving.  They are somewhat subjective - I might rate someone at 45 and another therapist might say 40 or 50 depending on the situation.  It's not a huge deal to most people, your diagnosis and treatment should be your primary focus.
919767
get checked for Alzheimer's
886612
In my line of work, I have alot of dealings with Alzheimer's pt.'s as well as the mentally ill. Like others have stated, they have good days & bad days & the symptoms only get worse with time. This said, it would be better to bring your son to see his father on a good day before there are no good daysd left. Your X didn't choose this disease, it chose him. He should not be punished for it. \nI wonder what contactyou have had with him over the past year? If none to little, you should do some homework. Learn about the disease, go to some support groups & go for a visit. \nHe is not in a,"nut house", he is on a lock down unit for his saftey. You really need to get rid of your uninformed & judgmental attitude. This will only hurt your son in the long run.
828148
Do you mean Alzheimer's?
1078554
Obey them, study hard, get a good job, be a good person, useful to society, have a family is you can, bring up your children well, be loving and kind to your wife, be filial to your parents and take care of them when it's required. Keep them in your life at all times.
594503
Alzheimer's disease is due to decrease activity of acetylcholine producing cells in a  certain part of the brain due to the continuous destruction of these cells, some new researches showed that it might have a link with some other neurotransmitters too like serotonin  and perhaps dopamine, as giving the patients centrally acting acetylcholine agonists only improves the case for a  short period of time and might slow the process of the disease a little bit but the cell distructions cannot be stopped and that's why there is no cure for it until this day.
939442
It will depend on what the doctor orders for medications and what stage of Huntingtons the patient is in.  If they are in the early stages they can probably still work and take care of themself but as the disease progresses they will need more care and eventually probably need to be in a nursing home.  If they have the disease though they will be on disability after they cannot work any more so disability will help with the cost of some meds and with care etc.
499376
As a generalization, absolutely.\n\nPeople in America don't stay as close to their families, physically or emotionally, as they do in other countries. \n\nWe move far away from our families and they don't occupy as high a place in our list of priorities as they do for people from other countries. \nAlso, when our family members need help- i.e. get old and/or sick- we tend to send them off to a "home" instead of taking them into *our* home. Retirement homes and nursing homes aren't very common in the rest of the world.\nPeople in other countries seem to have a stronger sense of familial duty than Americans.
78867
As long as a family can take care of their family member the better.  Nursing homes are a horible fate that no one should have had to face if can be avoided
395241
Symptoms can vary from person to person. Some common symptoms of Alzheimer's are:\n\n Memory loss\n Problems doing familiar tasks\n Problems with language\n Trouble knowing the time, date, or place\n Poor or decreased judgment\n Problems with abstract thinking\n Misplacing things often, such as keys\n Changes in mood and behavior\n Changes in personality\n Loss of interest in starting projects or doing\n things
35714
My mother is an expert on this subject althoguht i dont no al the correct terms this is how she explains it to me.. shes brillant by the way. but she says there are 5 genes we no what 4 of them are but theres this ONE gene you MUST have.. so get it.. the yougnest person EVER to get Alzheimers is 21... my mom said "it's liek a VCR.... our buttons are on play..... and theirs are just rewinding.."
225861
I would rather have all my mental abilities. I've had family members that have had dementia. And I would not wish that horror on anyone.