If someone you love has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, it is common to want to learn everything you can about the disease, so you are better prepared for what will happen and how you can help care for your loved one. Alzheimer’s is often associated with a disease older adults get or the disease that causes memory loss. However, it is far more complex, and there are a lot of myths about Alzheimer’s Disease that may confuse and frustrate people while they are trying to learn.
While there may be plenty of people eager to tell you about the disease or what to expect, you are going to get the most valuable information from people and organizations that are trained in understanding all aspects of the disease. You can also gain a great deal of knowledge on the day-to-day functions from others who are living in the same or a similar situation. Here are three valuable resources to help you answer the question, what is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation
The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation is a hub of information on Alzheimer’s Disease, potential causes, risk factors, and available treatments. They have done and continue to do extensive research to identify early symptoms of Alzheimer’s for early detection, common causes of dementia that may lead to a better understanding of what causes the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease, and how the disease impacts the different parts of the brain. They study amyloid plaques, tangles, the loss of connection in the brain. While the level of information may be beyond what you need, it is a great place to start when you don’t know anything about the disease.
Support Groups
Being a caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease can be mentally and emotionally exhausting. Due to the stressful nature of being a caregiver, there are support groups available to help caregivers and family members learn more about the disease and get support from others who understand what you’re dealing with. Support groups can help you with knowledge about the day-to-day needs, handling complicated situations, aggression, fears of injury, or accidents. Many situations will arise that you’ll need guidance on how to handle.
For example, your loved one will forget who you are, leading to fear or aggression towards you. Learning how to deescalate the situation is critical. You can learn practical tips on how to interact with your loved one once they stop remembering you or start getting into dangerous situations. For example, at some point, you may be the one that has to stop your loved one from driving because they won’t recognize the danger of the situation.
Physician
Once diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, your loved one will be referred to a doctor experienced in dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. This will be a valuable resource to ask questions pertaining specifically to your loved one, the progression of their disease, and what you can expect going forward. While the doctor won’t give you exact answers about the timeline of progression because it varies for each patient, they can answer a lot of questions. They can also provide information on new treatment options that may slow the progression and whether or not your loved one is a good candidate for those treatment options. They may also know potential research studies looking for participants who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.
There is a wealth of information available online about Alzheimer’s Disease, but it can be overwhelming. There may also be misleading information online. Going to reputable online sources like the Fisher Center, as well as talking to people face-to-face who have personal or professional experience with Alzheimer’s Disease, will provide you with invaluable insight. You’ll gain information and knowledge and mental and emotional support to get you through a difficult situation.
