Overview
Alzheimerʼs disease (AD) is a condition that causes abnormal changes in the brain mainly affecting memory and other mental abilities. Alzheimerʼs is a disease, not a normal part of aging. Loss of memory is the usual first symptom. As the disease progresses, the loss of reasoning ability, language, decision-making ability, judgment, and other critical skills make navigating day-to-day living impossible without help from others, most often a family member or friend. Sometimes, but not always, difficult changes in personality and behavior occur.
Alzheimerʼs disease poses real challenges for both the person diagnosed with AD and to those who assume caregiving responsibilities. This does not mean that there will no longer be times of joy, shared laughter, and companionship. AD often develops gradually, offering time to adjust to the diagnosis, plan ahead, and spend quality time together.
Nearly 15 million Americans provide unpaid care to a person living with Alzheimerʼs disease or another dementia (Alzheimerʼs Association 2011 Facts & Figures). Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist, is credited with identifying the first published case of “presenile dementia” in 1907, a condition that is now called Alzheimerʼs disease.
Alzheimerʼs is the most common form of dementia in older adults. The terms “Alzheimerʼs” and “dementia” are often used interchangeably, but the conditions are not the same. “Dementia” is a term that means a person is no longer able to function on their own because of a lasting impairment of multiple mental abilities affecting memory, attention, and reasoning. Dementia can be caused by many different medical conditions, such as a severe head injury or major stroke. Other common dementias are Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, and Parkinson's disease dementia (see FCAʼs fact sheet, Dementia: Is This Dementia and What Does It Mean?).
Although the cause and progression of AD are not fully understood, increasing evidence shows that the first changes in the brain happen as much as 15 years before symptoms of dementia are exhibited by the person with AD. Certain kinds of brain scans can detect these changes. However, this work is not yet advanced enough for it to be of practical use in predicting who will later develop Alzheimerʼs disease.
The prevention of Alzheimerʼs disease is a popular topic in the media. A number of non-medical, lifestyle practices are recommended for possible prevention, a healthy way to manage the disease, and general age-related well-being. There is evidence, but not definitively documented proof, that mental stimulation (brain games), exercise (like walking, swimming, yoga), social activities, and a healthy diet (fruit, vegetables, and foods high in antioxidants) may help.
However, a great deal of evidence does suggest that small strokes are common in people with Alzheimerʼs disease, which only make AD symptoms worse. Given what we know about stroke prevention, maintaining healthy blood pressure, avoiding diabetes or managing it well, keeping cholesterol down, and not smoking are four key things you can do to lower your risk.
This disease can appear as young as age 30, but is typically diagnosed after age 60, and risk of having the disease increases with age. By age 90, as much as 40% of the population may be affected. The genetics of AD are complex, and knowledge is changing rapidly. Except for a small percent of families where a single gene causes the disease, having a family member with AD increases your risk only moderately. Alzheimerʼs disease is reported to be the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.
Symptoms
People with AD may show symptoms of the disease three to five years before diagnosis. This period, when changes are present but the full-blown disease is absent, is called “mild cognitive impairment” or MCI. It is important to understand that not everyone with MCI goes on to develop AD. In fact, as many as 40–50% may never develop the disease. (See the FCA fact sheet Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).) Early problems are often seen as normal changes due to aging, and only in retrospect do caregivers see that symptoms have been occurring for several years. Although on average, individuals survive four to eight years once diagnosed, living for 20 years is not all that unusual. For ease in understanding the changes that occur as the disease progresses, AD is generally divided into three stages: early, middle, and late. However, the development of symptoms in an individual will differ from person to person, as will the progression of symptoms.
Diagnosis and Science of Alzheimer’s Disease
At present there is no single test that leads to a diagnosis of AD. The doctor first needs to establish that the memory loss is abnormal and that the pattern of symptoms fits AD. This sometimes requires specialized memory testing. The doctor then needs to rule out other illnesses that can cause the same symptoms. For example, similar symptoms can be caused by depression, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, thyroid and other metabolic disorders, infections, side effects of medications, drug and alcohol abuse, or other conditions. If the symptoms are typical of AD and no other cause is found, the diagnosis is made. In the hands of a skilled doctor, this diagnosis is very accurate.
An evaluation for Alzheimer’s disease is often requested by a family member or friend who notices memory problems or unusual behavior. The doctor typically begins the evaluation by taking a health history and performing a physical examination, as well as evaluating the patient's cognitive abilities (mental processes of perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning). This approach can help the doctor determine whether further testing is needed. A primary care physician may refer a patient for more extensive examination by a designated Alzheimer’s diagnostic center, or by a neurologist, dementia, or geriatric specialist. This examination will likely include a thorough medical evaluation and history, blood tests, and brain scans (MRI or PET), followed by extensive neurological and neuropsychological assessments. A dementia evaluation should include interviews with family members or others who have close contact with the person being evaluated.
Rapid scientific progress is being made in identifying “biomarkers” of AD. Biomarkers are abnormal findings in blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or on brain scans that are markers of AD. Strong evidence suggests that special tests of the CSF may be useful diagnostically. It is also possible now to see amyloid, a key abnormal protein in AD, in the brain using PET scans. As knowledge advances, these tests may come into clinical use. Even now, however, it is clear that they will not be good enough to diagnose AD on their own. The diagnosis will still depend on a skilled and thorough evaluation.
Treatment After Diagnosis
No one fully understands what causes Alzheimerʼs disease yet, and currently no cure exists. Considerable progress has been made by researchers in recent years though, including the development of several medications for early-stage AD that can help improve cognitive functioning for awhile.
Three main drugs, donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon) and galantamine (Reminyl), have proved beneficial in improving memory, with limited side effects, usually gastrointestinal upset. Exelon comes in a patch form, which is helpful for people who have trouble swallowing pills. Unfortunately, these drugs are not effective for everyone, and their effectiveness is limited to the early and middle stages of AD. Another drug, memantine HCl (Namenda) also prescribed to help delay the progression of AD, is often used in combination with the above drugs. A doctor may also prescribe medications to help reduce agitation, anxiety, and unpredictable behavior, as well as to improve sleeping patterns and treat depression.
New medications are developed and tested regularly. People interested in participating in clinical trials should discuss the pros and cons with their physicians and families. Information on clinical drug trials and other research is available from the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center (ADEAR) and FCAʼs Research Registry.
Regular care from a physician is important. Major, sudden changes in mental status can be the main symptom of important treatable conditions such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), pneumonia, or even a bone fracture. If the physician knows the patient, he or she can quickly recognize a change in mental status. But if they are presented with a demented patient that they have not seen in years, it can be extremely difficult to know whether anything has changed and the proper workup may not be initiated.
Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is called a family disease, because the chronic stress of watching a loved one slowly decline affects everyone. An effective treatment will address the needs of the entire family. Caregivers must focus on their own needs, take time for their own health, and get support and respite from caregiving regularly to be able to sustain their well-being during this caregiving journey. Emotional and practical support, counseling, resource information, and educational programs about Alzheimer's disease all help a caregiver provide the best possible care for a loved one.
Absolutely the easiest thing for someone to say and the hardest thing to accept is the advice to take care of yourself as a caregiver. As stated by one caregiver, “The care you give to yourself is the care you give to your loved one.” It is often hard to see beyond the care tasks that await you each morning.
Through training, caregivers can learn how to manage challenging behaviors, improve communication skills, and keep the person with Alzheimer’s safe. Research shows that caregivers experience lower stress and better health when they learn skills through caregiver training and participate in a support group(s) (online or in person). Participation in these groups can allow caregivers to care for their loved one at home longer.
When you’re starting out as a family caregiver, it’s hard to know where to begin. Perhaps you’ve only recently realized that a loved one needs assistance and is no longer as self-sufficient as he or she once was. Or perhaps there has been a sudden change in their health.
Now it is time to take action, and take stock of the people, services, and information that will help you provide care. The earlier you get support, the better.
The resources listed at the end of this fact sheet will help you locate local training classes and support groups. (See two of FCA’s fact sheets: Caregiver’s Guide to Understanding Dementia Behaviors, and Dementia, Caregiving, and Controlling Frustration; as well as the article, Ten Real-life Strategies for Dementia Caregiving).
The role of the caregiver changes over time as the needs of the person with AD change. The following table offers a summary of the stages of AD, what kinds of behaviors to expect, and caregiving information and recommendations related to each stage of the disease.
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Early-Stage Alzheimer’s |
Early-Stage Caregiving |
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Trouble remembering recent events or conversations, the month or day of the week
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Asking the same question over and over or repeating stories
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Loss of ability to manage finances, making mistakes in writing checks
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Withdrawal from social situations and general apathy; trouble initiating an activity
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Cooking and shopping become more difficult; pans may be left to burn on the stove, and food may be forgotten in the refrigerator
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Poor judgment, difficulty making wise decisions; may be easily swayed by others
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Tendency to lose things or forget where they are when they are “put away carefully”
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May become disoriented in familiar surroundings or get lost easily
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Driving ability is compromised; unfamiliar driving routes or driving in an unfamiliar place will prove difficult
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Denial that anything is wrong
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During the early stage, both the caregiver and the individual with AD will want to take time to adjust to the diagnosis and make plans for the future:
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Learning: The more you know about AD, the easier it will be for you as a caregiver. Learn as much as you can about the early and middle stages of AD; donʼt worry about the late stage yet. Finding other caregivers to talk to can also be a great way to learn about and make sense of your own experience. One of the most difficult things to learn is to differentiate between the disease and your loved one. Particularly in the early stage, caregivers may find themselves thinking, “He's doing this to spite me!” or “She is just being lazy.” In these cases, the behavior that is upsetting to the caregiver is usually a result of the disease process, not an attempt by the person with AD to hurt or frustrate the caregiver.
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Emotional support: A diagnosis of AD can be a heart-wrenching experience for both the person diagnosed and the caregiver. The person with AD may not remember or may not admit to having the disease or ever being told they had Alzheimerʼs. Trying to convince them otherwise is fruitless and frustrating for the caregiver. The caregiver needs to get appropriate emotional support through counseling, a support group, or other family members. The goal is to establish a system of emotional support that will grow and change with you as your caregiving role and the emotional challenges change. Depression is common in caregivers of people with AD and should be addressed.
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Family roles: As the disease progresses, it will be harder for the person with AD to fulfill the roles they have typically played in the family. For example, if he or she was the only driver in the family, it will be important for family members to find alternative means of transportation (e.g., learning how to drive, recruiting volunteer drivers from among family and friends, using public transportation or paratransit). If the person with AD customarily prepared all of the meals, now is the time for the caregiver to begin learning how to cook. If the person with AD was in charge of household finances, someone else will need to assume this role. Focusing on these issues early will allow the person with AD to help the caregiver prepare for the future.
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Finances: AD can be a costly disease. It is important to begin mapping out strategies for meeting the increasing financial demands placed on the family as the disease progresses. Financial planning should include reviewing your insurance coverage, e.g., health, disability, long-term care. Be aware that Medicare does not pay for long-term care or custodial care. Medicaid, the safety net for those living on a limited income, does provide coverage for those who qualify. Health insurance counseling is available free to seniors. To locate help in your community, see the Eldercare Locator website: www.eldercare.gov(link is external).
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Legal: Eventually the person with AD will need help making medical decisions and financial decisions, and in making all sorts of important personal decisions such as who will provide for their care. Legal documents should be completed as early as possible in the disease process, even prior to a diagnosis. Waiting too long may result in the person no longer being deemed capable of signing legal documents. A Power of Attorney for Finances and Power of Attorney for Healthcare (Advanced Health Care Directive) can ensure that the person with AD is cared for by trusted family members or friends. Without these documents, caregivers may have to petition for conservatorship through court proceedings in order to obtain the right to make decisions on behalf of the person with AD. The family may also lose access to bank accounts if a member is not co-named on the account(s). Clear legal documentation can help prevent someone from attempting to take advantage of or lay claim to financial resources for their personal gain. Free and low-cost legal services are available to seniors. See the resource section of this fact sheet for organizations that can help with legal issues.
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Middle-Stage Alzheimer’s |
Middle-Stage Caregiving |
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Difficult behaviors emerge often, but not always. Common examples include: anger, suspicion, overreacting, and paranoia (e.g., believing that family members are stealing money or a spouse is having an affair)
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More repetition of questions or statements
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Wandering or sundowning (i.e., restlessness or agitation in the late afternoon and evenings)
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Fear of bathing
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Eating problems, table manners decline
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Involuntary leakage of urine (incontinence) or having urine “accidents”
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Hoarding belongings, especially paper
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Inappropriate sexual behavior
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Violent behavior— hitting, shouting, arming themselves for protection
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Will go from needing help choosing clothes and remembering to change clothes to needing help getting dressed
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Will progress from needing reminders regarding personal care to needing help bathing, taking medication, brushing teeth, shaving, brushing hair, toileting, etc.
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Increased difficulty with verbal expression and comprehension, particularly when trying to name items
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Spatial problems (e.g., having trouble finding their way, sometimes even at home)
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Loss of reading, writing and arithmetic abilities; difficulty following the story line of a television show
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Loss of coordination often leading to shuffling feet or gait problems
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Will need care or supervision; possibly for 24 hours a day
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May lose the ability to recognize family and friends at times
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During the middle stage of AD, the caregiverʼs role will expand to full time. Keeping the person with AD safe will become a priority. Both the person with AD and the caregiver will need help and support.
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Dealing with challenging behaviors: We often use intuition to help us decide what to do. Unfortunately, dealing with Alzheimerʼs disease and other dementias is counterintuitive; i.e., often the right thing to do is exactly opposite of what seems like the right thing to do. (See FCA article: Ten Real-life Strategies for Dementia Caregiving.)
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Emotional support: People caring for loved ones with AD frequently feel isolated, and feelings of grief and loss surface as the person they are caring for changes (see FCA fact sheet, Caregiving and Ambiguous Loss). Getting emotional support from professionals, family, friends and/or a support group, as well as taking periodic breaks from the responsibilities of caregiving, is crucial to the mental and physical health of caregivers. Be sure to speak to your physician if you feel depressed or anxious.
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Respite care: Caregivers need a regular break or “respite” from providing care and assistance. Respite care includes in-home help (another family member, a neighbor, friend, hired caregiver, or volunteer caregiver), and out-of-home help (adult day care or a short stay in an assisted care facility). The Family Care Navigator on caregiver.org can help you locate the Area Agency on Aging, a source for your local community respite resources. (See FCAʼs fact sheets Caregiving at Home: A Guide to Community Care Options and Making Choices About Everyday Care to learn about programs that can help ease the demands placed on the caregiver.)
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Safety: Creating a safe and comfortable environment is important. An occupational therapist or physical therapist can provide advice and help in making the home safer for both the caregiver and care recipient. Ask your physician, the local Alzheimerʼs Association, or the Area Agency on Aging for a referral to a professional who is experienced in home modification and assistive devices. For people with AD who are at risk of becoming lost outside of their home, the local police should be advised, and the person should register with the Alzheimer's Associationʼs Safe Return program.
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Medical care: The person with AD will need ongoing medical care both for AD and for any other health problems that might arise. Over time the caregiver will be depended upon to help provide the status update to medical staff. Make sure there is a release of information noted in the medical chart of the patient so that the physician can speak freely with you. It is important to develop a positive relationship with the physician(s) and other health care professionals. You will need them to understand your role as the caregiver, listen to your input, and work with you as a team member in providing appropriate medical care.
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The stress of caregiving can affect your health. Be sure to take care of yourself by getting regular medical care for yourself. If you need to be hospitalized or need time off from your caregiving duties, emergency respite care can be arranged. A caregiver whose health is seriously affected may need to look at alternative options for a loved one, such as a residential facility.
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Planning for the future: Many caregivers wish to keep their loved one at home for as long as possible. However, if more care, or a different type of care, is needed than what can be provided at home, residential care is often then next best option. Many assisted care facilities have programs specifically designed for individuals with dementia. Hiring in-home help is an alternative to relocating your loved one to a care facility. (For more information about these next steps, see FCA's fact sheets, Home Away from Home: Relocating Your Parentsand Hiring In-Home Help.)
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Late-Stage Alzheimerʼs |
Late-Stage Caregiving |
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Loss of ability to communicate
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Inability to recognize people, places, and objects
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Requires full assistance with all personal care activities
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Loses ability to walk
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Loses ability to smile
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Muscles may become contracted
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May lose ability to swallow
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Seizures may occur
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Weight loss
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Majority of time spent sleeping
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May exhibit a need to suck on items
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Incontinence of both bowel and bladder
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Placement: Families caring for a loved one with end-stage Alzheimerʼs should give thoughtful consideration to placement in a skilled nursing facility or dementia care facility, where adequate management and supervision can be provided.
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Hospice: Hospice services are designed to support individuals at the end of life. Services may include support groups, visiting nurses, pain management, and home care. Hospice services are usually arranged through the treating physician, and are usually not available until the physician anticipates that a person has less than six months to live. Several organizations specialize in helping families deal with the challenges involved in end-of-life care. (See FCAʼs fact sheet, Making Choices About Everyday Care and the end-of-life fact sheets, including Holding on and Letting Go; refer to the resource section at the end of this fact sheet for more information.)
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Again, itʼs important to remember that the life-changing effects of Alzheimerʼs disease for both the person diagnosed with AD and those who assume caregiving responsibilities does not mean that there will no longer be times of joy. Although the challenges are real, the often slow progression of the disease offers time for shared laughter, intimacy, and social experiences. You will have opportunities to manage legal and financial issues in advance, and adjust to the diagnosis so that you can make the most of your time together.
Resources
Family Caregiver Alliance
National Center on Caregiving
(415) 434-3388 | (800) 445-8106
Website: www.caregiver.org
Email: info@caregiver.org(link sends e-mail)
FCA CareJourney: www.caregiver.org/carejourney
Family Care Navigator: www.caregiver.org/family-care-navigator
Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) seeks to improve the quality of life for caregivers through education, services, research, and advocacy. Through its National Center on Caregiving, FCA offers information on current social, public policy, and caregiving issues and provides assistance in the development of public and private programs for caregivers, as well as a toll-free call center for family caregivers and professionals nationwide. For San Francisco Bay Area residents, FCA provides direct family support services for caregivers of those with Alzheimer's disease, stroke, ALS, head injury, Parkinson's, and other debilitating brain disorders that strike adults.
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