The average person with Alzheimer’s is a person in his or her late seventies whose symptoms arise slowly, over time. However, of the 747,000 people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia in Canada, up to five per cent of those people have younger-onset Alzheimer’s, which is also commonly misdiagnosed. Here are some early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. You may be surprised to learn that many early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease have nothing to do with memory problems. Behavioural Changes (Stealing and Law Breaking) Early signs of Alzheimer’s include behavioural changes that involve people making poor moral decisions that they wouldn’t normally make. This could include stealing and other law-breaking behaviour. In some cases, the ability to make decisions between right and wrong becomes hindered due to the executive function of the brain (that is, decision-making skills) not working as well. Frequent Falling If you or someone you know…

The perception of palliative care is a very misunderstood area of medicine by most people. Typically, people think of palliative care as a place only for those who are terminally ill. However, it is this very misconception that often causes people to refuse to include palliative care in their treatment plan. In fact, palliative care, a more recent addition to the medical world, provides comfort, relieves suffering through pain management and improves quality of life in a wide variety of people of all ages, including those with serious and chronic diseases. Palliative care also seeks to support caregivers as well. Ideally, palliative care should be added early on into one’s treatment plan for it to offer the most benefits. In fact, studies have shown that it is associated with an increased risk of survival. It would be beneficial if palliative care was part of the treatment plan for every illness…

Most seniors have a preference for living in their own homes. However, this presents its own set of dangers for seniors that you should be aware of. Falls and Other Injuries The combination of declining eyesight, safety hazards and medications that may disrupt balance can lead to an increased risk of falls and other injuries. This can lead to broken hips and other serious injuries. Broken hips are especially linked to a number of other health complications. Decreased Safety: Prone to House Fires Elderly people are at an increased risk of having house fires and other potentially fatal accidents due to memory problems, which makes it more likely that they will forget to turn off the stove and other appliances. Poor Mental Health: Increased Risk of Depression Studies have shown a number of factors that contribute to poor mental health and particularly depression in those living alone. One factor is…

It is important to recognize that sleep problems are very common in those with dementia. This is not abnormal. Unfortunately, however, sleep problems in those with dementia can further aggravate their mental state, which in turn, burdens their caregivers. While it may take some effort to alter the sleep patterns of those with dementia, the good news is that it is possible. What Causes Sleep Problems In Those with Dementia? The contributing factors of sleep problems in those with dementia are considered “multifactorial,” meaning that there may be several underlying causes. In the case of dementia, this could include brain deterioration, which causes individuals to experience less deep sleep and spend more time awake. Those with dementia can also experience problems when it comes to their body regulating their circadian rhythm; some types of dementia are also associated with REM sleep behaviour disorder. Moreover, those with dementia are also more…