How Quickly Does Alzheimer’s Progress?

I am continually asked what stage a person with Alzheimer’s is in or how long it will be before they are confined to bed. There is no simple answer and certainly one size does not fit all. One of the first things I learned in this business is that if you’ve met one person with Alzheimer’s disease, you’ve met one person with Alzheimer’s disease. In other words, everyone with Alzheimer’s is different – just as you and I are. Some people live only a few years after diagnosis and some for many years. Richard Taylor, a noted PhD. and worldwide lecturer, received a diagnosis ten years ago and still advocates throughout the world very successfully for those with Alzheimer’s.

Research has shown that if one looks at the millions of people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that about a third of them, such as Richard Taylor, don’t experience a noticeable decline in the first five years. Another third decline at a moderate rate during the first five years and another third decline fairly quickly. Much of the research shows that on average, people with AD live for 8 to 10 years after diagnosis. Of course though, this all depends at which point they are diagnosed. Many wait until the symptoms of the disease are into the middle to end stages to even be diagnosed and it’s obvious then, that their life expectancy at this point is relatively short. Others are diagnosed very early on in the process of the disease. These people often have the best chance for a longer survival rate and slower progression if they stay both mentally and physically active.

Those diagnosed before the age of 65 – early onset Alzheimer’s – often show faster rates of brain tissue loss and cognitive decline than those who are older. Those who are over 80 when diagnosed often experience a less aggressive form of the disease.

As for which stage a particular person is in, there are many theories on this. Dr. Barry Reisberg created a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 being no impairment and 7 being very severe cognitive decline. Others simply use early, middle and late stages as a tool for how the person is progressing. I prefer this when speaking with caregivers as I feel it’s easier. A scale of 1 to 7 is often difficult as most don’t fit exactly into any one set of characteristics.

The most important point that I think one can gain from any of this is the importance of early diagnosis. Though there is no known cure yet, there are certainly things that can be done to possibly delay the onset, slow the progression or at the very least, increase quality of life. I hope that if I begin experiencing symptoms characteristic of AD in the future that my loved ones assure that I get the very earliest diagnosis possible. With knowledge comes power and I want to be as powerful as possible!!!

Fact or Myth???

There are many myths surrounding Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association notes that the following eight are among those most often misunderstood.

1. Memory loss is a natural part of aging. There are certainly occasional lapses of memory associated with aging but memory loss from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia is more than occasional and is permanent.

2. Alzheimer’s disease is not necessarily fatal. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s is always fatal though the length of time one survives from this disease varies.

3. Only older people can get Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is certainly more prevalent for those 65 and older but it also affects between 200,000 and a half million of those under 65, some even in their thirties.

4. Drinking out of aluminum cans or cooking in aluminum pots and pans can lead to Alzheimer’s disease. This myth began in the 60’s but research has shown this to be untrue.

5. Aspartame causes memory loss. Health effects of this artificial sweetener have been raised but there is no scientific evidence to support this and many studies have been done to reach this conclusion.

6. Flu shots increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Actually, several studies link flu shots to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and overall better health.

7. Silver dental fillings increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease. There is in scientific evidence that supports a relationship between silver dental fillings and Alzheimer’s disease.

8. There are treatments available to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. At this time, there is not treatment to cure, delay or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. FDA-approved drugs temporarily slow worsening of symptoms for about 6 to 12 months, on average, for about half of the individuals who take them.

And my own #9. There is nothing we can do personally about this devastating disease. As I’ve written about in this blog already and will continue to write about, there is much we can do – both to support research into finding a way to cure, delay or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and in dealing with the environmental factors that may lead to our individual problems with cognition.