Anyone with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease is aware of what it is and the challenges it brings. But there are still some misconceptions about Alzheimer’s disease, from the symptoms to diagnosis and treatments. Knowing more about Alzheimer’s disease will help to empower the Alzheimer’s community and also encourage support for research to continue. Help the community by learning more about it and sharing the knowledge. Read on to learn more about the myths and facts of Alzheimer’s disease!
There Is No Promising Research
Alzheimer’s disease research has been really slow for everyone who is affected by it. It is understandable to feel discouraged by the progress. However, there was a breakthrough in 2021. Aduhelm was approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s.
Researchers Know What Causes Alzheimer’s
The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown. Unlike the other health conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, researchers view Alzheimer’s disease as being caused by both genetic and environmental factors. The biggest risk factor is older age, having the APOE-e4 gene and having a family history of Alzheimer’s disease.
Memory Loss Is The Only Alzheimer’s Symptom
Although memory loss is one of the most obvious symptom of Alzheimer’s, other symptoms can include difficulty completing familiar tasks, challenges in planning or solving problems, confusion with place and time, trouble understanding space and objects, losing ability to retrace steps, problems with writing and speaking, poor judgment, misplacing things, withdrawal from social activities and also general changes in behavior, personality and mood.
Alzheimer’s Is A Normal Part Of Aging
Even though the mind is not as sharp as we age, the memory symptoms linked to Alzheimer’s disease are not a normal part of aging. Not being able to remember the name of an acquaintance can be a part of aging. But not being able to remember the name of a family member is a symptom of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s And Dementia Are The Same
While dementia and Alzheimer’s are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same. dementia is a general term for memory loss symptoms. Dementia can also be a part of other conditions such as Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
Only Older People Get Alzheimer’s
Most people are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in their 80s, but some are diagnosed before the age of 65. Those who develop Alzheimer’s earlier on are due to certain genes. This is known as “familial Alzheimer’s disease”. Researches still don’t know the cause of these early diagnoses.
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