70 out of 100 patients with dementia are due to Alzheimer's disease.;
The most common onset is forgetfulness. This forgetfulness is insidious and has a slow onset. Patients may start asking the same questions over and over again. They may perceive a newly experienced event as if it had never happened.
The location and time assignment is disrupted. Not being able to answer questions such as which year are we in, which month are we in, what day are we on, and can begin to ask questions frequently. They may begin to confuse places and paths they know very well. There may be difficulties in finding frequently used words, sudden pauses in speaking and difficulties in understanding complex sentences.
Personality changes may occur. For example, it may be observed that a very calm person begins to get angry quickly, or a person who is known to be angry becomes increasingly calm and withdrawn.
Daily life functions are impaired in Alzheimer's patients. The first things to go wrong are the most complicated ones. If the patient is working, disruptions occur in his/her working life. He forgets what he did the day before. There may be deterioration in money accounts and inability to weigh concepts such as the value of money. The person begins to be unable to choose what to wear appropriately. While there was color harmony in the past, this may be disrupted by illness. The patient can reduce the frequency of bathing.
In Alzheimer's patients, fixations, accusatory conversations, and obsessions may occur. For example, when he cannot remember where his belongings are and forgets them, he may say, "You stole my things or my money."
They may claim to see and hear things that do not exist.
There may be irritability. Generally, in Alzheimer's patients, irritability occurs through confrontations. Family members or caregivers should not contradict patients and the subject should be changed in a practical way.
They may become restless and become overly dependent on their relatives. For example, they may want to follow their spouse or relative even if they go to the toilet.
They have difficulty falling asleep. Their sleep is frequently interrupted and they may wander around the house aimlessly.
In the later stages of Alzheimer's disease, walking becomes impaired and they become unable to move on their own. First, urinary incontinence occurs, and over time, fecal incontinence also occurs. The patient becomes bedridden only in the final stages of Alzheimer's disease. şir.
Alzheimer's disease is not a destiny, it is a disease that often occurs with advancing age. During treatment, the chemicals that decrease in the brain can be increased with medication. Behavioral and emotional symptoms can be managed with medication and non-drug methods. With appropriate care and treatment, the quality of life of Alzheimer's patients can be improved and life expectancy can be extended.
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