Category Books

Everything Alzheimer's Book »

Authors: Carolyn Dean
ISBN-13: 9781593370503, ISBN-10: 1593370504
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Adams Media Corporation
Date Published: August 2004
Edition: (Non-applicable)

Author Biography: Carolyn Dean

Book Synopsis

If you or someone you love has Alzheimer's, you know what a scary disease it can be and how it can radically change a family's lifestyle. Now, with The Everything Alzheimer's Book, you can equip yourself with the information and expert advice you need to alleviate your fears and better prepare for the future. This reassuring book, by Dr. Carolyn Dean, provides authoritative information on the disease, its symptoms, current treatments, and effective management. From understanding tests and getting the right treatment to dealing with symptoms and promoting independence, you'll learn all you need to make the best choices for you and your family. With The Everything Alzheimer's Book in hand, you'll have all the tools you need to deal with the symptoms of Alzheimer's and manage its impact on your lifestyle.

	Top Ten Ways to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease	x
	Introduction	xi
1	What Is Alzheimer's?	1
	Alzheimer's--One Cause of Dementia	2
	The History of Alzheimer's	2
	Alzheimer's Awareness	5
	The High Cost of Alzheimer's	6
	A Picture of Alzheimer's	8
	The Risk Factors	10
	The Warning Signs	13
2	The Alzheimer's Brain	17
	The Living Brain	18
	The Brain on Video	22
	As the Brain Ages	22
	Researching Alzheimer's	24
	Causes of Alzheimer's	25
3	Alzheimer's: The Differential Diagnosis	33
	Early Detection of Symptoms	34
	It's a Matter of Exclusion	35
	Senility and Dementia	36
	Organic Brain Syndrome	36
	Cardiovascular Disorders	41
	Trauma-Induced Brain Injury	42
	Metabolic Disorders	43
	Prescription Drugs and Drug Interactions	44
4	Your Physical Examination and Staging of Alzheimer's	45
	Medical History and Physical Exam	46
	The Neurologist	47
	Alzheimer's Testing	48
	Possible or Probable Alzheimer's	50
	Documenting the Progression of Alzheimer's	50
	The Seven Stages of Alzheimer's	51
	How Alzheimer's Patients Succumb	55
5	My Doctor Says I Have Alzheimer's	57
	Mary's Story	58
	Getting a Second Opinion	59
	What Mary Learned	63
	John's Story	64
	John's Medical Exam	64
	Additional Testing	67
6	Coping with the Diagnosis	69
	Bringing Out the Best	70
	Bringing Out the Worst	70
	Creating a Checklist	72
	Take Care of Your Health	73
	Talk with Your Family	76
	Talk with Others	79
7	Personality, Mood, and Behavioral Changes	81
	Everyone Is Different	82
	Forgetfulness and Frustration	83
	Irritability and Mood Swings	84
	Confusion and Depression	85
	Agitation	86
	Compulsive Behavior and Restlessness	91
	Severe Mood Swings, Aggressiveness, and Combativeness	92
	Paranoia, Delusions, and Hallucinations	94
8	Medical Treatment for Alzheimer's	97
	Medical Treatment Strategies	98
	Cholinesterase Inhibitors	98
	The Fifth Drug	103
	Are There Any Other Drugs for Cognition?	104
	Medications for Agitation	107
	Sleeping Medications	107
	Clinical Trials	108
	Regular Checkups with Your Doctor	109
	Assessment Tools	111
	The Expanded Role of the Caregiver	112
9	Treating Alzheimer's Symptoms with Diet and Nutrients	113
	Water	114
	The Food Factor	115
	Nutraceuticals and Alzheimer's	116
	Essential Nutrients for the Nervous System	119
	Fish Equals Brain Food	122
	Herbs and Alzheimer's	124
10	Exercise Is the Key	127
	Exercise Your Brain	128
	Experiments in Exercising the Brain	128
	Keeping Active Mentally and Physically	130
	Mind Boosters	131
	Reading to the Elderly	132
	Exercise Your Body and Your Mood	133
	How Behavior Modification Works	137
11	Caregivers Coping and Caring for Alzheimer's	139
	The Caregiver's Role	140
	How to Be a Good Communicator	141
	Caregiver Behavior Skills	144
	Scheduling Care at Home	146
	The Sexual Reality of Alzheimer's	147
	Care for the Caregiver	148
	Caregiver Respite	151
12	Caregiving at Home	155
	Caring for Your Spouse	156
	Family Choices	156
	When the Nuclear Family Is Involved	159
	Safeguarding Your Loved One	161
	Alzheimer's Safety in the Home	162
13	Alzheimer's Personal Care	167
	Dressing	168
	A Day at the Spa	170
	Eating	170
	The Bathing Ritual	173
	Sleeplessness in the Elderly	175
	Sleeplessness in Alzheimer's	175
14	A Day in the Life Inside and Out	179
	An Alzheimer's Log	180
	Up and At 'Em	181
	Time for Lunch	183
	Criteria for Alzheimer's Activities	184
	Activity Ideas	186
	Planning an Outing	188
15	Daily Health Check and Common Ailments	191
	Routine Medical Visits	192
	Skin and How to Treat It	193
	Eye and Ear Care	197
	Nasal Passages and Sinuses	198
	Mouth, Teeth, and Dentures	200
	Lung Disease	201
	Digestion and Bladder Infections	201
	Extremities	202
16	Community, State, and National Support	203
	Small Beginnings	204
	Community Resources Abound	205
	Health Care Professionals	211
	Government Information	211
	Starting an Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Group	214
17	Insurance, Financial, and Legal Issues	217
	Types of Insurance	218
	Getting Answers	221
	Medicare	222
	Financial Issues in Alzheimer's	226
	Federal Assistance	229
	Legal Issues in Alzheimer's	230
	Estate Inventory	233
	Defining the Options	234
18	Choosing Care Outside the Home	235
	The Long Road to Long-Term Care	236
	Adult Day Care	236
	Assessing Proper Placement	238
	Facilities for Alzheimer's Care	241
	Hospice Care	246
	Last Acts	249
19	Preventing Alzheimer's	251
	Making Choices	252
	Awareness of Alzheimer's	253
	Is Alzheimer's Prevention Possible?	255
	Diet	257
	Nutritional Supplements	262
	Stress Reduction and Mental and Physical Activity	263
	Hormones and Pharmaceutical Drugs	263
20	What the Future Holds	267
	Current Treatments	268
	Sweeping Up Amyloid Plaque with Vaccines	268
	Neurotrophic Factors	270
	Drugs That Prevent Neurofibrillary Tangles	271
	Medical Research	271
	The Latest Breakthrough Drug in Alzheimer's	274
	The Future of Diet and Supplements	275
	Chelation and Alzheimer's	276
	The Future of Diagnosis	279
Appendix A	Resources	280
Appendix B	Questions to Ask the Nursing Home	282
	Index	283