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Alzheimer's Disease From the Patient's Perspective

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive incurable disease that results in the brain cells shrinking and dying leading to loss of cognitive and behavioral abilities. The individual gradually losses the ability to remember important people, and events in life as well as to lose the ability to function. The disease is usually characterized by stages that go from mild Alzheimer's to severe. At the end stage of Alzheimer's the patient loses all control over cognitive, behavioral and physical function. The disease is devastating to watch a loved one go through but even more frightening and confusing to experience.

In the first or mild stage of Alzheimer's the individual is aware of not being able to remember things like familiar streets while driving or how to perform tasks at work that were once very familiar and routine to them. They may forget where they put car keys or their medicine on more than just an occasional basis. They notice a decline in their ability to speak or write when words just fail to come to them when they need them to. Not only do those suffering from Alzheimer's lose memories that are precious to them but they lose the ability to function at work and at home in tasks that they do on a daily basis like eating, bathing, and dressing for the day.

It is frightening to know a familiar face but not to be able to put a name to it, even when you know that you should know the name of the person. It can be very confusing to not be able to think straight when balancing the checkbook and can even cause financial problems that can cause further stress.

As in most serious diseases, getting the diagnosis can be a very emotional experience as the individual faces the knowledge that all they know and hold dear will slowly disappear and that they will lose all control over what is happening to their bodies, mind and in most cases to their ability to control emotional expressions. This knowledge can be very frightening at first. Quality medical staff can help ease the transition from diagnosis towards a place where the patient can understand the stages of the disease and how treatment plans can help them to manage the symptoms so that they will be able to retain as much independence as possible for as long as possible. Symptom management is all about bringing comfort and control to the patient for as long as possible.

The patient needs to feel respected and that they have a say in what happens to them even when they lose all cognitive awareness. It is important that the patient be given a voice in treatment and to have the ability to express wishes for when they reach a stage in the disease where they are unable to express their desires. When patients are given this ability to control events later in the disease through expressing desires in the earlier stage of the disease medical professionals and family members are giving the patient the gift of respect and comfort that is so important.