A few years later, I flew home after my dad had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), an umbrella term for up to 80 percent of dementia cases in American adults. I was shocked by his appearance. His muscles had wasted away, his hair and nails were long and unkempt, and this once clean-shaven man had days of stubble. He slept most of the time.
When we got him out of bed, we cleaned him up, changed his adult diaper, tried to get him to swallow his medications and gave him tissues when he insisted on spitting on the carpet when his sinuses dripped, which was often. One dinner conversation consisted of my dad recalling one of his fellow WWII buddies tying a snake to a light cord, surprising all who turned on the light that night. It was funny the first time but he repeated it, almost verbatim, another four times back-to-back. Alzheimer’s had changed my dad forever.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia that causes problems with memory, decision-making, thinking and behavior. Contrary to popular belief, AD is not part of the normal aging process. The condition becomes more common among people as they age, but “it isn’t an inevitable part of aging,” says Dr. George Perry. He's a neuroscientist and a member of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
According to studies, Alzheimer’s is the result of a degraded state of coordination between brain cells. The first affected centers are those responsible for memory. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments available to slow the progression of symptoms. These medications can improve the quality of life for both the person with AD and the caregiver.