Managing Alzheimer's Incontinence Issues

For individuals and caregivers, it should be anticipated that they may be responsible for managing Alzheimer's incontinence issues. Bowel and bladder problems are likely and become more prevalent in the later stages of dementia. Precautionary steps such as setting a schedule, limiting consumption, using incontinence products, and monitoring activity can help to address and prevent accidents.

Set and maintain a regular toileting schedule to help maintain consistency in bowel and bladder movement. Occasionally, it may help to use fiber, laxatives, or enemas to augment natural changes in order to maintain regularity. Setting, documenting, and affecting a regular toileting schedule can help to prevent loss of bowel or bladder control.

Managing Alzheimer's incontinence issues is more than just responding to accidents and bathroom schedules. To help control bowel and bladder function, consider holding to a regular food and drink schedule. This would entail planning meal times when the digestive process would not interfere with travel, activity, or rest.

There is no sure way to avoid accidental loss of bladder or bowel control, so be sure to take advantage of available incontinence products. Items like adult briefs and underpads are designed for effectively managing Alzheimer's incontinence issues. Absorbent products can help an affected individual to maintain dignity while controlling the effects of lost bowel or bladder control.

One of the most important, and often neglected, parts of managing Alzheimer's incontinence issues is proper cleanup and skin care. Accidents can happen, but left unattended, urine and fecal matter can cause serious skin degradation resulting in pain and infection. There is an abundance of skin cleansers, creams, and ointments that can be used to maintain healthy skin.

Brain Stimulation Reduces Beta-Amyloid

Researchers at UC Berkeley posit a correlation between lifelong brain stimulation and a reduction in the concentrations of Beta-Amyloid, a plaque commonly found in persons with Alzheimer's disease. Brain scans were performed on individuals that ranged from less to more intellectually focused individuals and seemed to present a link between increased activity and a lower chance of dementia risk. No connection has been defined yet between increasing activity after dementia sets in and the possibility of disease remission.

Findings indicate that increased brain stimulation over the duration of one's life can help to reduce or prevent the deposit of Beta-Amyloid possibly presenting a prevention technique for Alzheimer's. The researchers at Berkeley have found an inverse trend between activity and plaque deposits. Remodeling of prevention and treatment methods may indicate increasing brain usage many years prior to the onset of symptoms.

Despite the findings that increased brain stimulation reduces Beta-Amyloid deposits, there is as of yet no connection between later life increases and plaque reduction. Scientists and medical professionals still encourage increased activity though citing that perhaps the connection has just not yet been conclusively established.

Our takeaway from this should be that increased brain stimulation is positive and can inspire creativity, fulfillment, and may even reduce the onset of degenerative conditions. Building strong habits today may reduce negative effects appearing later in life.

Home Fall Prevention

As late stage Alzheimer's Disease takes hold, home fall prevention becomes an important matter. There are a number of support, alert, and mobility products to ensure the welfare of the affected individual and their loved ones. Wandering, falling, and lack of mobility no longer need to represent road blocks to a happy and fulfilling life.

Home fall prevention means being aware and prepared for the inevitable accident. Safety rails and grab bars placed around the home can help the fully mobile individual when weakened or out of balance. These items are of particular importance in places like the bathroom where many home falls occur. Consider additions such as a floor safety mat, toilet rails, raised toilet seats, bath benches, or even bath grab bars.

As aging sets in and the disease progresses, mobility may be impaired resulting in the need for products like wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, and canes. Home fall prevention is more than support rails, choosing the right products to aid in mobility can make all the difference for navigating the house. Qualified medical professionals and suppliers can help find the right products for your needs.

Mobility issues clearly pose a serious risk, but one of the major issues affecting individuals with Alzheimer's is wandering. This is done at an often unconscious level and is very frightening for the individual and those around them. Home fall prevention includes planning for the eventuality that an affected individual may unknowingly rise and travel around and even out of the home. Many healthcare product suppliers carry alarms for beds, chairs, even doors designed to alert caregivers and loved ones of wandering.

Home fall prevention is a serious issue, and proper steps to protect yourself and your loved ones can prevent injury and even death. A small investment in well being can yield a strong return in quality of life.

Diagnosed with Alzheimer's?

Just because you may have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's doesn't mean an end to life and happiness. Take care of yourself physically and mentally and there is no limit to the activities you can enjoy. It is possible to live a full and productive life while coping with some of the changes you may begin to experience.

Mental Health

If you have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's you may be feeling fearful, lonely, depressed, frustrated, or even angry. These emotions are not only normal, but expected. What matters going forward is that you take the steps to move past these challenges and enjoy the positives that remain.

After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, continue to participate in life, even keep a journal about what you are doing and how you're feeling. If you find difficulty in coping with or participating in the outside world, consider sharing with friends and family, counseling, or even a support group for similarly challenged individuals. Doctor's, various community organizations, and clergy are great resources for help.

Choose not to let Alzheimer's be the end of life, but an opportunity to focus on what really matters.

Physical Health

Many people that have been affected by dementia choose to withdraw from normal practices prematurely and as a result actually make the effects worse. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's it is more important than ever to maintain your physical health including daily activity and routine medical care.

Some common suggestions for healthy living after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's include proper hygiene and diet, routine medical care, exercise, and proper rest. Consumption of alcohol or other substances may actually speed up the disease, so clean living is preferable to self medication. Make sure to take all prescribed medications and stay current with medical appointments to ensure the best success for continued health.

Life After Being Diagnosed with Alzheimer's

Your experiences can be just as full and rewarding after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's if you choose to continue living. The road ahead will be difficult, but the rewards of enjoying friends, family, and the rest of what you love will make the journey worth it. Remember, you are not alone.

Symptoms Alzheimer's Disease

1. Serious Memory Loss

Forgetfulness is a normal part of aging and results in fragmentation of conversations and experiences, but serious memory loss such as losing track of time, whole events, and inconsistent recollection may be symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease. There is no clear indicator that separates dementia from mild interruptions in memory, but consistency and severity may be indicators that it is a result of AD.

2. Frequent Mood Swings

Everyone becomes agitated in response to troubling events which can be caused by fear, insecurity, confusion, or lack of rest, but more frequent mood swings, and more severe, tend to occur in persons with dementia. Often, due to other related symptoms such as degraded function and memory, rapid changes in mood may signal the existence of Alzheimer's Disease.

3. Poor Judgment

Often, persons with Alzheimer's Disease begin to exhibit poor judgment in regard to common activities such as finance, hygiene, and even general safety. These occurrences may include frivolous spending, failing to properly dress, or putting themselves in dangerous situations. Increased risky activities and impaired judgment may signal the onset of dementia.

4. Financial Difficulty

Most of us miss a payment occasionally, or forget to balance the checkbook, but frequent miscalculations, poor spending, and serious financial difficulty can be a sign of the onset or Alzheimer's disease in aging individuals. This can be so pervasive that the recognition and understanding of numbers themselves can occur.

5. Trouble With Common Activities

For the person who spent most of their lives baking pies to forget how to mix ingredients, use the oven, or experience other trouble with common activities this may be a sign of dementia. Many people need reminders of ingredient and shopping lists, but persons with Alzheimer's Disease may forget how to crack an egg, or find the corner store.

6. Impaired Reasoning

Incomplete or impaired reasoning, logic, problem solving, and planning can represent the existence of Alzheimer's Disease. All individuals are likely to struggle with complex problems, however, persons with dementia may find themselves challenged with common planning like budgets, shopping, and directions.

7. Misplaced Objects

Persons affected by Alzheimer's Disease often forget the location of, or misplace items like car keys, glasses, or wallets. Many times these items turn up in strange spots like drawers and cabinets that are not commonly used for such things. These misplaced objects can cause the individual to feel that someone has hidden or stolen them leading to frustration and suspicion.

8. Disorientation

A common symptom of dementia is disorientation in relation to time and place such as incorrectly judging the length of a trip, visit, or even dates and seasons. This loss of orientation can be frustrating for both the individual and loved ones. It is not unheard of for a person to forget where they are, how long they have been there, or when they last saw someone.

9. Communication Breakdown

Communication breakdown is a common symptom associated with Alzheimer's Disease. In mid conversation, the individual may have trouble coming up with the correct word or phrase, and as a substitute may interject incorrect or even inappropriate responses. These responses may include noises, gestures, or even other languages.

10. Tendency to Wander

Persons with dementia have a tendency to wander or get lost which can lead to potentially harmful situations. Typically, this is something like heading out of the house to go home, going to a job they haven't worked at in years, or even finding the bathroom by exiting the building. This is extremely common among individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and though most often without incident, this disorienting experience may have negative results.

11. Repetitive Behavior

Repetition is a common symptom of Alzheimer's Disease prevalent in both speech and action. It is assumed that this repetitive behavior is in response to discomfort, anxiety, or boredom. Those suffering from dementia may find a sense of security in familiar words and actions.

12. Vision Problems

Dementia can affect vision in a variety of ways including clarity, perception of distance, color, or even boundaries of where shapes start and end. Instances such as having difficulty reading, difficulty navigating while walking, or even misinterpreting a reflection as another individual are likely signs of Alzheimer's Disease.

13. Unproductive Activity

Many individuals afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease participate in unproductive activities such as emptying and refilling drawers, closets, or cupboards. These can manifest themselves in various ways, but it is assumed that this seemingly unproductive activity fulfills a need to be busy or useful.

14. Withdrawal and Isolation

Individuals with dementia tend to withdraw from family, friends, and society as a whole particularly as the progression becomes deeper. This can be due to general anxiety, shame, or even a developing apathy. Isolation is a common response even in relation to long enjoyed activities.

15. Degraded Motor Skills

Symptoms such as degraded motor skills are likely to indicate that an individual is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. This can affect activities like buttoning shirts, writing, or using kitchen utensils. Significant changes like trembling, weakness, or loss of sensation are common, but may be signs of other conditions as well like Parkinson's.

16. Poor Dietary Habits

As dementia progresses, individuals may exhibit poor dietary habits such as not eating, eating too frequently, or forgetting how to chew, swallow, or sense temperature. Often, these behaviors can be attributed to a loss of appetite or caused by loss of memory. Even a person's favorite food can seem foreign and unappealing.

17. Questionable Behavior

It is not uncommon for persons with Alzheimer's Disease to exhibit inappropriate or questionable behavior such as the removal of clothes, flirting, unfiltered language, or even touching. These signs represent unrestricted impulses as inhibitions diminish and socially accepted behaviors are forgotten.

18. Emotional Outbursts

More common as dementia progresses are uncontrolled emotional outbursts from feelings of fear, anger, or suspicion. These can manifest themselves verbally or even physically and can have a significant affect on the people closest to those with Alzheimer's Disease. Many times, these expressions are seemingly unprovoked and difficult to deescalate.

19. Disrupted Sleep

Interruption of regular sleep patterns is normal for persons with dementia and can lead to poor rest, wandering, and frustration. These changes occur as a result of a decreased need for rest, changes in biological functioning, and as a response to emotional challenges. One of the main reasons for extended care is due to the challenges presented by these disrupted sleep patterns.

20. Regressive Behavior

In later stages of Alzheimer's Disease the presence of regressive or childlike behavior is quite common. This may be exhibited by a person becoming more clingy, needy, or even fearful. When this occurs, the person may constantly seek attention and company to combat these concerns.

Preventing Alzheimer's Disease

Medical care providers are beginning to understand that delaying or preventing Alzheimer's Disease could be as simple as keeping up with general health and routine care. Though primary causes tend to encompass cardiovascular disease and stroke, other conditions may also be significant including diet, dental care, and even skin care. Studies are now showing that various conditions increase the chance and severity of dementia related illness.

There may be no simple method of preventing Alzheimer's Disease, however, studies have shown that the effects of heart attack and stroke are compounded when the individual is challenged with other conditions such as arthritis or sinus trouble. Medical providers are suggesting that adequate maintenance of dentures, eyewear, hearing, and even general skin conditions will help to reduce the chance and severity of the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Doctors in Canada performed a study on over 7,000 individuals in relation to the development of dementia systems. Based on this research it was found that the presence of seemingly unrelated conditions did indeed increase the occurrence of symptoms. Physicians are now positing that more aggressive routine care can go a long way toward preventing Alzheimer's Disease. Although there is no certainty, those with more risk factors have less chance of combating the deterioration at later stages of life.

Preventing Alzheimer's Disease has become a real possibility through maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. It seems that now, more than ever, maintaining ones overall health may keep them free from developing degenerative conditions in the foreseeable future.

Alzheimer's Risk Factors

Scientists and medical professionals continue looking into Alzheimer's risk factors for more information on how to identify, postpone, treat, or prevent the onset of dementia related illness. The three major factors identified are age, family history, and genetics. These represent uncontrollable influences likely to cause Alzheimer's Disease.

Increasing Age

Age is a primary factor in the onset of Alzheimer's. Studies have shown that most individuals start exhibiting signs of dementia near the age of 65, and this chance doubles for every five years after. At age 80, the chance of experiencing Alzheimer's symptoms increases to 50%. Recently published research has indicated that the warning signs can be identified in controlled studies as a person gets closer to 65 years old.

Lifestyle Choices

Healthcare professionals have begun to understand that lifestyle choices rank highly among Alzheimer's risk factors. Aging patients are being encouraged to improve diet and exercise in conjunction with regularly maintained medical treatment to lower the risk and delay the onset of symptoms.

Family History

Genetics and family history can play a significant role in the development or dementia and related illness. The primary identified Alzheimer's risk factors related to heredity are 4 genes that are often present in the DNA of patients. Though these genes may be identified in an individual, they do not necessarily indicate that Alzheimer's is present, but do signify viable concern. Tied to heredity, Latinos and African Americans tend to be at higher risk of Alzheimer's do to an increased natural risk of vascular disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Combating Alzheimer's Risk Factors

Alzheimer's and other dementia related illness can be influenced by healthier lifestyle choices. As indicated previously, regular medical care, a healthy diet, and exercise can help to delay or prevent the onset of dementia. This is particularly important for brain and heart health. Protect these vital organs by eating right, caring for your body, and guarding them from traumatic injury. If already at risk of falls, consider fall proofing your home with safety grab bars especially in places like bathrooms and stairways.

What is Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's Disease describes significant memory loss and damage to intellectual abilities serious enough to affect daily living.

Contrary to popular belief Alzheimer's is not the only cause of memory loss, but does represent the majority of dementia cases. Also, the severity of brain function loss is not a result of the normal aging process, but a disease that deteriorates natural processes.

Within the brain of a person with Alzheimer's, medical professionals find plaques and tangles inhibiting the nerve cell functioning. The cells lose the ability to operate and communicate effectively and eventually die. This process shrinks the size of the operational brain matter and increases the size of fluid deposits in-between.

Alzheimer's Disease is progressive and often starts well before showing any visible symptoms in the individual. The first few stages of the disease progression reflect only minor losses of memory or association. As the disease progresses, even the simplest tasks can become a challenge.

There is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease, but healthy living, medications, and therapy can help to delay and manage symptoms. Ongoing research for treatments and cures continues around the world.

Individuals are being encouraged to begin checking for early warning signs of Alzheimer's as early as their 30's. Certain genes have been isolated that may indicate a strong chance of developing this or other related dementia.

Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease

According to a study published in the British Medical Journal on January 5th, 2012, early onset Alzheimer's Disease are being seen in patients in their mid to late 40's. This has produced a noticeable affect in areas of short term memory, reasoning, and verbal communication. Based on a variety of tests, it has been shown that disease, health behaviors and cardiovascular risk factors can produce abnormalities in cognitive functioning.

It has long been suggested that a decline in natural functioning becomes more common past age 60, however, recent testing has shown the existence of early onset Alzheimer's Disease in patients 45-50 years old. These affects are not clearly distinguishable in everyday life, but based on specific testing of memory, verbal fluency, and mathematical reasoning, there is a clear decline in performance.

Researchers are now correlating overall health, lifestyle, and genetics to define the causes of early onset Alzheimer's Disease. Health factors that may increase the chance of dementia include family history of cardiovascular disease and the occurrence of disease during early life. Other controllable factors such as diet and exercise become more significant in mid to late life. As previously thought, obesity and high cholesterol have a significant effect on brain functioning.

Dementia has continued to become more prevalent and can be detrimental to an individual's functioning and quality of life. Making the right choices today in diet, exercise, and routine medical care can help to delay or deter the early onset of Alzheimer's Disease and promote a more positive late life experience.