- Try to eat more fish and fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
- Avoid salt, sugar, alcohol and caffeine.
- Drink plenty of filtered water every day.
Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder in which there is a progressive decaying of brain tissue. It is characterised by a decline in mental and emotional capabilities, and may also be referred to as dementia. The incidence of severe dementia in the population over the age of 65 is estimated to be about 5%, with moderate dementia in about 10% of aged persons. Over 50% of these cases are considered to have Alzheimer’s disease.
Memory, comprehension, and speech deteriorate in a person affected by this disease. The person’s world begins to change as they cannot function as they once had – simple arithmetic skills may become impossible as may keeping their attention on one thing for too long.
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease often become lost and may quite frequently wander off causing havoc for their families. Eventually, the person may become totally introverted, not able to communicate, helpless and incontinent.
In a minority of cases, head trauma may be a contributing factor – approximately 15 percent of Alzheimer’s sufferers have a history of head injury.
If someone in your family is displaying symptoms of this disease, consultation with your healthcare professional is advised.
Caring for a patient with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is often very stressful for family members. Assistance and counselling is often valuable for carers.