The "To Keep Up" Wiki

A collection of information. This is not definitive and detailed, consult elsewhere for this info; and this is not something you should rely upon for diagnosis or treatment.

Information here comes from Alzheimer's & Dementia for Dummies (much material is taken from and verbatim from this book) available on Amazon, Lexington Cary Memorial Library, and likely elsewhere. See bibliography below for more info.

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia is a general category of medical conditions that affect normal brain functioning.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines dementia as [A] syndrome – usually of a chronic or progressive nature – in which there is deterioration in cognitive function (i.e., the ability to process thought) beyone what might be expected from normal aging. It affects memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgement. Consciousness is not affected. The impairment in cognitive function is commonly accompanied, and occasionally preceded, by deterioration in emotional control, social behavior, or motivation.

Some terms used

• Syndrome: symptoms that together are characteristic of a particular medical condition. (People with the condition have most of these symptoms but don't show all of them to receive the diagnosis.)
• Chronic and progressive: the condition is ongoing long term [chronic] and gets steadily worse with time [progressive].
• Consciousness: in relation to dementia, people with dementia are awake and mentally aware of their surroundings, although what's going on around them is confusing to them.

The most common misconceptions about dementia

• All old people get dementia. Nope, it's not part of growing old. 1 in 9 older than 65 and 1 in 3 older than 85 suffer from it.
• Dementia is same as Alzheimer's disease. Nope, Alzheimer's is one of a number of brain diseases that lead to dementia.
• Memory loss equals dementia. Nope, while dementia does affect memory, a diagnosis of dementia requires that a person show many other more complex symptoms.
• Everyone with dementia becomes aggressive. Nope, although some with dementia can become agitated, aggression isn't always a part of dementia, and it's usually triggered by the way someone is treated or communicated with.
• A diagnosis of dementia means a person's life is over. Nope, many medical, social, and psychological treatments and strategies are available.
• Everyone with dementia ends up in a nursing home. Nope, although 1/3 of people with dementia require more intensive care, many people can get enough help and support to stay in their own homes.
• My relative has dementia, so I'm going to get it too. Nope, while some forms of dementia have a genetic component and may run in families, this is the minority, it doesn't follow that you'll get it. And it's not something you can “catch”.

Alzheimer's is a form of dementia; those with AD have dementia, but not all those with dementia have AD. The Alzheimer's Association defines Alzheimer's disease as “an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.” AD is a fatal disease, ending inevitably in death.

Anormal deposits of specific proteins in the brain disrupt normal brain function; as these deposits spread, brain tissue starts dying leading to further cognitive impairment. The brain shrinkage can be seen in CT and MRI scans.

• Curable
• Contagious
• A natural part of the aging process
• Something you get from using deodorant or cooking in aluminum pans
• Inevitable if you live long enough

Less than 5% of all cases of AD run in families.
A blood test can tell you whether you have a certain form of cholesterol-carrying protein associated with a higher incidence of AD but more than half with the risk factor never get AD. Because of the low correlation between the protein in the blood and getting AD, it's best not to take the blood test or have genetic testing to spare you from unnecessary worry.

A clear correlation between increasing age and chances of developing dementia.

Most common form of dementia, in USA, 62-80% of cases.
Is 5th leading cause of death in Americans >65

Second most common, in USA, 10% of cases.
Previously known as multi-infarct or post-stroke dementia, resulting from stroke.
Similar symptoms to AD but depend on parts of the brain affected by stroke.

Rare, <4% of cases.
Lewy bodies are protein deposits that damage brain cells, these also found in those with Parkinson's disease, thus an overlap in symptoms between these two conditions.
Symptoms similar to AD, but sufferers also develop muscle stiffness, tremors, and shakiness in their limbs, and slower movement. Also frequent visual hallucinations, seeing animals or people that aren't there.

Least common of these, affects about 50,000 in US and is <2% of dementia cases. This type is most likely of these 4 types to be diagnosed in those under 65.
Shares many features of AD but also has symptoms: strange or sexually disinhibited behavior, lack of empathy, poor personal hygiene, apathy and loss of motivation, increased appetite for sweet or fatty foods, and repetitive and compulsive speech and actions.

Like dementia, mild cognitive impairment [MCI] can affect a variety of normal thought processes including memory, planning, and judgement, but it doesn't impact mood or a person' ability to perform day-to-day functions. While it can be a sign of future dementia (most likely AD), 60% of those developing mild cognitive impairment don't get any worse and some get better.

In a person with MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment), it's not uncommon to notice the following

• Forgetfulness
• Difficulty following conversations
• Declining ability to make sensibe decisions
• Getting lost easily
• Poor concentration and attention span

Developed by Dr. Barry Reisberg in 1982, shows generally follow this progression of those with MCI that progress to dementia.

No specific treatment exists.
It might help to address risk factors for poor circulation by: control blood pressure, eat low-carb and high-fiber diet, quit smoking, limited alcohol, and getting regular exercise.
Evidence suggests that keeping the brain mentally active can help: word and number puzzles, reading, maintaining stimulating hobbies, social activities.
Consider reading Staying Sharp for Dummies which discusses this evidence in detail.

Top ten most important early symptoms to look out for. It's more than just being forgetful; to be diagnosed, someone must show at least 2 if not more of these 10, which can be subtle to start with.

1. Memory problems that affect daily life (important dates and events, route taken on well-traveled journeys, where you've left important paperwork, names and faces of friends, neighbors, and work colleagues)
2. Difficulty with planning and problem solving (become confused using debit/credit card, lose track of what their bank or credit card statement shows, have difficulty paying bills or paying taxes, become confused while trying to put gas in the car)
3. Problems finding the right word (finding right word becomes elusive, substituting something similar eg football becomes kick ball, wristwatch becomes hand clock; difficulty following thread of conversations)
4. Confusion about time and place
5. Poor judgement (spending money on things not needed, using inappropriate dress like wear coat to beach or shopping in rain wearing just t-shirt and sandals)
6. Visuospatial difficulties (clumsiness, loss of ability to judge widths and distances resulting in falls and breaks, auto accidents)
7. Misplacing things (losing ability to retrace steps to find things)
8. Changes in mood (rapid switching between extremes of sadness, fear, anger)
9. Loss of initiative
10. Personality change (eg reserved person becomes flirty and disinhibited; extrovert may become withdrawn and reclusive. Common changes include becoming: confusd, suspicious, withdrawn, angry, sexually disinhibited)

Books referenced herein and other useful materials. Available on Amazon, but also in libraries and other bookstores.

• Alzheimer's & Dementia for Dummies
  ISBN 978-1-119-18773-8 available in Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BHBW9JA and elsewhere and in libraries
• Staying Sharp for Dummies
  available in Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DON7O6W. You may need your own copy as the book has puzzles; reviews are not altogether positive, see Amazon

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