What You Need To Know About Alzheimer’s Disease

World Alzheimer’s Month was an initiative started in 2012 by Alzheimer’s Disease International. Every September, they strive to raise awareness around Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, as well as reduce the stigma around Alzheimer’s, and encourage seniors to educate themselves about dementia and seek treatment. If you or a loved one is facing dementia, here are a few things you need to know about Alzheimer’s Disease.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s Disease is a degenerative brain disease that damages areas of your brain involved in thinking, memory, behavior, emotion, personality, and mood. Most individuals living with Alzheimer’s Disease are over the age of 65, and it affects millions of people around the world. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, and affects cognitive functioning. Those with mild dementia experience only minor annoyances, but as the disease progresses to more severe stages, it affects every aspect of life, and those with dementia or Alzheimer’s become completely dependent on others for performing the basic activities of daily living.

Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

The brain is the most complex organ in the body, and scientists are still far from understanding everything about the brain. One thing they do know is that changes in the brain start as many as 10 years before any of the warning signs of Alzheimer’s Disease are noticeable! The earliest warning signs of dementia include memory loss and poor judgement. Those with dementia often have difficulty performing routine tasks, and get stuck half way doing something they’ve done a hundred times before. They’re prone to misplacing things, or get lost when they leave the house. Other warning signs of Alzheimer’s include forgetting the time or date, misplacing things, changes in mood, language problems, and social withdrawal.

Reducing the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

Since brain damage starts before we can recognize Alzheimer’s Disease, it’s critical that you do everything in your power to reduce your risk of dementia. The only drug treatment options are to manage symptoms of the disease, like agitation or insomnia, and the most effective treatments include emotional and practical support. However, none of these treatment options can cure Alzheimer’s, or restore brain cells that have died.

While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, there are a number of ways you can reduce your risk of developing dementia. It’s important to look after your overall health, such as being physically active, maintaining a healthy diet, and keeping your heart strong. One of the best things you can do to reduce your risk of dementia is keeping your brain healthy. Keeping socially active, interacting with people, and finding ways to challenge your brain will greatly reduce your chances of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Hearing Loss and Alzheimer’s Disease

Hearing loss affects cognitive abilities and has long been recognized as a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. With hearing loss, you slowly lose the ability to communicate, and you start to withdraw from social situations. You may stay home a lot more often, and even a trip to the grocery store can be disorienting and confusing when you can’t hear. Living with hearing loss speeds up cognitive decline, and will increase your risk of developing dementia. One of the best ways to challenge your brain, maintain an active social life, and reduce your risk of dementia is to treat your hearing loss!

How Treating Hearing Loss Can Help

If you’ve been having trouble following conversations, being social, or enjoying your time away from home, you’re lowering your quality of life, making it difficult to keep your brain healthy, and putting yourself at risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.

To find out how hearing aids can change your life, visit us at Orange County Physicians' Hearing Services for a hearing assessment. We have a wide selection of hearing devices from the world’s top hearing aid manufacturers with programs and settings that will amaze you. Whether you want a discreet behind the ear device, or a hearing aid that sits within the ear canal and is practically invisible, we have the hearing aids that will perfectly fit your needs. Not only will you enjoy clear hearing, easy communication, and a vibrant social life, you’ll also be doing the right thing for your brain, and reducing your risk of Alzheimer’s Disease.