Page 8 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - August 2019 - 26-08

Page 8
Senior Times - August 2019
There’s More to Dementia
SEPT
AM 10
14 2019
BATTLE
CREEK MICHIGAN
All ages are welcome to stroll with us along the 1/2 mile or 1 mile routes. Participants can enjoy walking, drumming, painting, music and dancing, photo booth, and more. Also learn about how Miles for Memories safe return programs can help your loved ones.
WAYS TO PARTICIPATE
Community Stroll | Create a Team Become a Sponsor | Become a Volunteer
REGISTRATION
Print form at www.milesformemories.org
SEND YOUR DONATION TO:
4642 Capital Avenue, SW Battle Creek, MI 49015
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:
BCCF/Miles for Memories
MORE INFORMATION
Call (269) 979-1412 Ext. 305 | www.milesformemories.org memories@scenepub.com | Follow us on Facebook
OUR VISION:
Creating solutions for those impacted by dementia in Calhoun County through movement, programming and research.
Than Alzheimer’s
By: Sherii Sherban, Publisher
Dementia is a general term that indicates a loss of memory and other mental abilities severe enough to inter- fere with activities of daily living. It is caused by physical changes in the brain that may result from a variety of differ- ent causes.
Dementia is not a specific disease but rather it describes a group of symptoms that may accompany certain diseases or conditions. Dementia is
not a normal part of aging. Sometimes dementia symptoms are reversible, especially when they are caused by conditions resulting from depression, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, medications, infection, loss of oxygen to the brain, traumatic brain injury, and more. If you recognize moments where your memory seems challenged, an evaluation is the best first option.
motor symptoms like rigidity and the loss of spontaneous movement as well as a shuffling gait and tremors. Cognitive problems such as hallucina- tions tend to occur much earlier in the course of the disease and often precede the difficulties with walking and motor control. Lewy Body dementia can also exhibit as thinking problems as well as memory loss. It can be confused with Parkinson’s disease. More information is available on Lewy Body dementia at www.lbda.org or 1-844-311-0587.
The most common type of demen- tia is Alzheimer’s disease, which com- prises 60-80% of cases. The person with Alzheimer’s disease is character- ized by a loss of function and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain. This loss of function leads to a loss
of independence as it relates to activ- ities of daily living such as cooking, driving, money management, or more basic daily activities like dressing and hygiene. Ultimately, it can lead to the loss of mental functions, such as mem- ory and learning. There is no known cure but there is increasing evidence that they are things that we can do that may prevent or slow the progression of the disease.
There is a relationship between Parkinson's disease and dementia. Dementia is a less common feature
of Parkinson’s disease. A number of people with Parkinson’s disease will develop Parkinson’s disease demen-
tia, but not all. For those patients
with Parkinson’s disease who go on
to develop dementia, there can be a
10- to 15-year lag time between their Parkinson’s diagnosis and the onset of dementia according to helpguide.org. Parkinson’s disease dementia is differ- ent from a similar disorder, known as Lewy Body dementia (or dementia with Lewy Bodies).
The person with Alzheimer’s disease may also have difficulty remembering recent conversations, names or events. This is often an early indicator along with apathy and depression. As the disease progresses communication may become impaired, poor judgment may be exhibited, along with disorientation, confusion, behavior changes, and dif- ficulty walking, speaking, or swallow- ing. It has been shown that the disease begins to develop years before others recognize symptoms. More information is available at www.alz.org.
Frontal Lobe dementia is some- times called Pick’s disease, aphasia, or Frontotemporal dementia (FTD). It is marked by changes in personality or behavior such as a lack of inhibition, aggressiveness, apathy, loss of empathy, etc. Changes in judgment are subtle at first but can become disabling as the disease progresses. One third of those with this type of dementia have a fami- ly history of dementia related disorders and it is more common in women. Although age of onset ranges from 21 to 80, the majority of FTD cases occur between 45 and 64. Therefore, FTD has a substantially greater impact on work, family, and the economic burden faced by families than Alzheimer’s. For more details visit www.theaftd.org or call 1-866-507-7222.
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The second most common type of dementia is vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke. It accounts for nearly 10 percent of the dementia cases. This type of dementia occurs because of a blood vessel blockage or dam-
The National Institute on Aging’s ADEAR Center offers information about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias for families, caregivers, and health professionals. ADEAR Center staff answer telephone, email, and written requests and make referrals to local and national resources. For more information visit www.nia.nih.gov/alz- heimers or call 1-800-438-4380.
age that leads to a stroke or bleeding
in the brain. The amount of damage determines how the individual’s phys- ical functioning or thinking may be affected. Initial symptoms appear more abruptly and become more noticeable in a short period of time. Vascular dementia is more common in men than women and may include impaired judg- ment or ability to make decisions, plan, or organize, rather than memory loss. More information is available at www. stroke.org or www.ninds.nih.gov.
Locally, Miles for Memories is seek- ing to create solutions for those impact- ed by dementia. They have created a safe return program that has led to 33 individuals being returned home that have wandered. They also provide life- style programs from art to music, and respite for family members. Education and research are important from young to old as well as fun activities to raise dollars to create programs. Our main event will be September 14 at 10am in downtown Battle Creek. Sponsor, walk with us, or volunteer. Together we can make a difference. For more informa- tion visit www.milesformemories.org, check us out on Facebook, or call (269) 979-1412 ext. 305.
Lewy Body dementia is the next most common type of dementia. It is characterized by fluctuations in alert- ness and attention, recurrent visual hallucinations, and Parkinsonian
Please note that this article only addresses the more common types of dementia.
Miles For Memories Brain - "Miles"