This Is The One Alzheimer’s Warning Sign That People Mistake For A Character Flaw, And It’s Actually Breaking My Heart

Alzheimer’s It is a terrible disease that has uniquely devastating effects on the people who suffer from it and their loved ones.

Roughly affects 72 million Americans first-hand, common symptoms includes memory loss; striving to plan, complete tasks, or solve problems; feeling of confusion; experiencing new problems with speaking and writing; incorrect placement of items; making poor judgment calls; social withdrawal; and more.

While these symptoms are the ones we hear about often, they are not the only ones. There is a symptom that many caregivers are unaware of and think is the result of a “bad” situation. babysitting: agitation.

“First of all, it is very important to understand that agitation is not poor caregiving but a symptom of brain changes caused by Alzheimer’s disease,” he said. Dr. Richard StefanacciHe is the medical director of Inspira LIFE, a senior living program.

“Brain damage from Alzheimer’s predisposes people to agitation, no matter how loving caregivers,” said Stefanacci, who also specializes in older populations and Alzheimer’s.

According to information sent to HuffPost by the Alliance of Aging Research, “agitation” in this sense can present itself in a variety of ways: pacing, trying to leave, angry outbursts, swearing, hitting, mood swings, throwing objects and more. caregivers They may blame themselves, AAR continues, thinking it’s because they’re burnt out, introducing a new routine, or not being patient enough.

Dr. Nikhil PalekarThere is a stigma when it comes to this specific symptom, said Stony Brook, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center of Excellence at Stony Brook Medicine.

“Caregivers often feel like they’re doing something wrong, causing their loved ones with Alzheimer’s to respond in an uncooperative, hostile, or agitated way, not realizing that agitation is very common in Alzheimer’s, with rates ranging from 56% in the early stages to 68% in the moderate-to-severe stages of the disease,” he said.

How Can Alzheimer’s Cause Agitation Symptoms?

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As with other Alzheimer’s symptoms, it all depends on the brain.

“Alzheimer’s disease is the result of brain damage to the controlling areas of the brain. feelings“This neurological damage explains why Alzheimer’s patients can have strong reactions to situations that would not have bothered them before the disease progressed to this point,” Stefanacci said.

More specifically, we look at neurotransmitters. “Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder of three neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain—serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine This makes sense, Palekar said, keeping in mind that these neurotransmitters help with mood, motivation, energy, anxiety and more.

We also need to consider environmental factors. For example, the holiday season or other high-turbulence events can exacerbate anxiety and its causes.

“Large gatherings with unfamiliar faces, disrupted routines, unusual foods, and changes in previously familiar environments can cause agitation, especially in a person with Alzheimer’s disease.” [in] In the later stages of the disease,” Stefanacci continued, “the most important thing is to make adjustments and adapt to reduce stress; routine and familiarity.”

There is Hope for Alzheimer’s Agitation

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Whether you are excited about Alzheimer’s or love someone who has this condition, know that hope is not lost. Below, doctors share tips and other helpful information that can help you manage this symptom together:

Create and maintain routines.

According to Stefanacci, consistent daily schedules with meals, activities and sleep times are very important. When you need to prepare your loved one for a change, she encourages doing so in advance if possible and trying to maintain other routines.

Avoid arguing as much as possible.

If the person with Alzheimer’s disease has a belief that they are harmless, Stefanacci suggested not arguing with them about it. Instead, he said to focus on the emotion behind what he’s saying and remember that you can’t reason with a brain with Alzheimer’s disease.

Use calming approaches.

Although it may be difficult at times, it is important to stay calm and help the Alzheimer’s patient stay calm. Speak in a calm, reassuring voice, play familiar music they enjoy and reduce confusing noise, Stefanacci said.

Know that helpful treatments are available.

When someone has Alzheimer’s, it’s easy to despair and think that small interventions won’t make a difference. This is understandable and thankfully not true.

“This symptom can be effectively treated with behavioral interventions as well as drug therapy, which is FDA-approved for the treatment of agitation in Alzheimer’s disease,” Palekar said.

To get to this point, he recommended discussing agitation-like symptoms with the patient’s healthcare provider.

Similar to the tips above, Palekar also listed some specific, non-pharmacological interventions that may reduce agitation:

• Maintaining a daily routine and structure

• Reducing noise and clutter

• Walking (ideally outside in sunlight)

• Preoccupation with distractions such as snacks, objects, or fun activities

• Avoiding stimulants such as caffeine later in the day.

Take care of yourself as a caregiver.

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Being a caregiver is, to put it mildly, a difficult job. Stefanacci urges these individuals to seek support from other caregivers, support groups, and counseling. He also talked about giving yourself permission to simplify or omit. holiday traditions These are so depressing.

In short, it is “normal” for someone with Alzheimer’s to show agitation, and this is true in Alzheimer’s, not anything the caregiver does. As a person with Alzheimer’s or a loved one, know that you are not alone and that people are available and want to support you.

This article was first published on: HuffPost.

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