Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias have long been at the forefront of Canada’s social conscience.
For over 30 years the Alzheimer Society of Canada has been in operation and is one of the founding members of the worldwide organization Alzheimer Disease International (ADI).
In spite of society’s long and often intimate knowledge of this progressive and fatal disease, the Alzheimer Society reported that recent survey results indicate Canadians do not actually know all that much about the disease.
“This is a challenging disease, but like other diseases, there are choices to make enabling us to be more responsible for our brain health. We need to take this beautiful brain of ours more seriously,” said Donna Durand, Alzheimer Society Alberta’s regional manager for Central Alberta.
The society has shifted its focus to the perspective of the person who has the disease in order to help them and their caregivers understand the disease better.
A person who has a dementia-related disease needs security and “the knowledge we are their advocate and their feelings matter most and each of us knows who has their back,” said Durand.
Early recognition is the key to treating this disease that will be affecting more and more Canadians as the populous Baby Boomers enter their senior years.
“Early stages are hard to detect and vary from person to person. The symptoms are quite mild at first until they really start to interfere with work or social activities,” Durand said.
Early signs include if a person has difficulty with problem analysis such as balancing a chequebook or second guessing routine work tasks.
Sufferers could lose their car in a parking lot and not remember they walked or they no longer enjoy usual activities such as going to movies because they can’t follow the storyline.
Durand cautions that the symptoms are cognitive and there are no physical symptoms at the early stages of the disease.
If a person is experiencing headaches, they need to rule out the possibility of a stroke or other vascular abnormality.
“How a person’s brain is diseased varies from person-to-person, and as to where the brain is affected,” Durand said. “These early-warning signs can be very subtle, especially if someone is helping the person out.”
Alzheimer’s is not an old person’s disease. It can afflict people in their 40s.
Durand mentioned that Alberta has the highest incidents of Alzheimer’s in Canada, but it has not been determined if Alberta’s high rate is “due to assessment or environmental factors.”
It is important that once a person has a positive assessment that they receive ongoing care assessments throughout this fatal disease’s progression.
Durand said this is important as often simply treated conditions such as dehydration and infections can acerbate dementia-related symptoms.
As well, the medications used to treat Alzheimer’s are specific to both the individual and the stage of the disease.
Alzheimer patient caregivers face a high risk of developing emotional and physical symptoms of stress.
In addition to assisting those with the disease, the Alzheimer Society also provides reliable and up-to-date information for caregivers at its website alzheimer.ca.
Along with providing information on the variety of support groups available, peer-counselling and online workshops, the site also contains information on concerns for caregivers, including how to reduce stress.
“Whatever vehicle we can use we will operate to help our caregivers,” Durand said.
Durand reported positively on the society’s ‘Heads Up for Healthier Brains’ campaign.
This campaign identifies the factors that put a person at risk for developing Alzheimer’s, and what they can do to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and related-dementia.
The factors that put a person at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease include high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, depression, diabetes, thyroid disorders and any brain injuries a person might have sustained during their life.
"We need to take this beautiful brain of ours more seriously."
Donna Durand
Alzheimer Society
