Alzheimer’s in Our Memory
Author: gostjobles
A widespread disease
father and live longer, but not always with us health in old age. Although medicine goes a long way and is not left to investigate, not always possible to ensure the quality of life of older people. The body ages and fails to function properly, but the biggest problem occurs when the brain also begins to breach their duties. We speak of degenerative neurological diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, a disorder that is still not knowing what should and that is affecting more and more people.
In Spain, many associations are responsible for providing necessary assistance and information to both the affected and the relatives. Unfortunately, we still do not have any effective method to prevent and cure this disease, but scientists are optimistic for the great progress made in recent years.
Knowing the Alzheimer
It is a condition in which the brain is gradually losing its most important capabilities, which affects the entire body, causing the patient can not stand on its own. The first symptoms are characterized by a psychological disorientation caused changes in the personality of the victim, who sees and acts before mechanical routine for them, they become an arduous task. During the initial phase can also be perceived slight loss of speech ability.
Then with continuous forgetfulness, even to the point of not being able to recognize some people. It is during this period that the patient’s dependence becomes apparent. Dependence that is caused by the inability of the patient to speak, to orient themselves in space and even a loss of mobility. This phase may take some time and gradually progress until you start talking about the last stage of the disease, in which the affected person becomes totally passive, sometimes in a vegetative state and not sense a signal of awareness of the outside world.
The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is usually associated with old age, although early symptoms may begin to notice even before 50 years. However, due to advances in the understanding of this disease, appears increasingly younger ages. Traditionally states that affects more women than men, but as Jesus assures Maria Rodrigo, Executive Director of the Spanish Confederation of Families of Alzheimer’s and other Dementias (CEAFA), “we must take into account the fact that, demographically, the number of women is always higher than men, “so it does not mean that women constitute a risk group.
The drawback is the great ignorance that exists in this disorder, although in recent years has come a long way, remains a great unknown. However, we laid the groundwork for the analysis, which has led to cases have multiplied greatly, reaching about 30 million people around the world, but the figure is only indicative. In this regard, Rodrigo testified that the actual incidence may be significantly higher, due to “the difficulty of access to diagnosis, family reluctance to accept the diagnosis, or barriers in this regard are consolidated in the developing countries.”
older couple walking walking
Furthermore, to optimize the statistics should be taken into account all those affected, ie adding to the families and people other than the patient who also suffer from this evil neuronal damage having to be constantly monitoring the patient. That is why, so that the different associations that try to cope with the disease, focusing especially on helping families so that they can take care of the patient with the largest correction.
The alert to the aging population and socioeconomic problems that this situation can cause, they say that in the next 20 years of Alzheimer’s cases can be duplicated in developed countries and tripled in those that are developing. This is due to increased life expectancy exceeding 65 years of age, so the higher risk population also grows. Given these figures, and since has not yet found a way to curb the symptoms of this disease, medical actions should be aimed at slowing the progress and ensure the highest possible degree of comfort for both the patient and their families.
A direct their efforts so they want different organizations that deal. It is cognitive psychostimulation programs, through direct intervention with those affected, try to boost their skills and psychological abilities and motor skills. “It’s like a form of training to slow irreversible neurodegenerative process that characterizes the disease,” said Jesús M ª Rodrigo. Still, this specialist warns that the therapies are not always successfully develop and they do not all equally affected.
These treatments are always accompanied by psychological medication that the patient specifically prescribed by your symptoms and it is aimed to alleviate the physical damage that causes Alzheimer’s in the body of the person concerned. In other words, are drug-centric physiological problems that may accompany the disorder, but have no effect on their progress. “Unfortunately, still the definitive drug therapy has not been discovered, despite the continuous efforts and progress of the investigation,” lamented the director CEAFA.
Given that people with Alzheimer need constant help, along with treatment, the actions of the various organizations are aimed at helping families. According to Jesus Maria Rodrigo, “the needs go far beyond the purely healthcare and are not covered or covered by the Public Health, and they have to face from the whole family unit.” And is that charges that carry these patients can reach astronomical figures that not everyone can afford. “Public health spending covers only drug treatment and physical problems that can be found in the course of the disease,” says this expert.
Fortunately, the ‘Law Unit, “recently passed in Spain, opens a new path of hope for the families of the victims of this disease. This new regulation will incorporate measures to gradually improving the quality of life for individuals whose illnesses need someone’s help to live. With this law, is faster and cheaper home care, telecare, and admission to specialized centers or homes. Definitely a good project, but currently does not solve the situation of millions of people living in Spain, so help from associations remains key.
The number of these centers has been increasing support in the past 20 years and currently provide support to anyone who needs it, even though their funds are scarce. “Since these associations develop specific programs to assist families information, advice, legal advice, counseling, self-help groups, therapy, etc..,” Explains Rodrigo.
Alzheimer’s is a disease that has more than a century, but which in the past five years have achieved many advances that can make us feel optimistic about future prospects. The scientific community is turning in search of a definitive treatment, but the difficulty is that even today are well known causes of this illness affects the cognitive abilities of each individual. “It is essential to support research in the broadest sense of the word, encouraging appropriate synergies (neurologists, researchers, pharmaceutical industry, etc..) Leading to the eradication or cure of the disease,” warns the director of the CEAFA.
However, it should create a climate of opinion which might be regarded as being close to a definitive solution to help those affected. The efforts are aimed at obtaining a preventive method, and from there try to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s, but trying to cure those who already have the disease is almost a utopia. Therefore, there is cautiously optimistic, and continue raising efforts to try to improve the quality of life for the millions affected by the disease.
Posted in 
Tags: