Just hearing the term, "Alzheimer's disease," makes a lot of aging Baby-Boomers cringe. Healthy, active people fear getting Alzheimer's disease and slowly losing their ability to think and care for themselves.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disease that ultimately leaves the victim unable to perform even bodily functions like elimination independently. People with Alzheimer's gradually lose their memory and cognitive functions. There are seven stages of Alzheimer's disease:
Stage 1-pre-Alzheimer's disease: These people do not have the disease, but may have a genetic predisposition to it. If causes and interventions can be identified, we could prevent Alzheimer's disease in these individuals.
Stage 2-the person afflicted by Alzheimer's disease is aware of subtle cognitive problems, but may assume they are "just getting old."
Stage 3-early Alzheimer's disease: The individual has difficulty performing complex mental tasks.
Stage 4-mild Alzheimer's disease: The individual is still able to live independently, but needs help performing some tasks, such as paying bills.
Stage 5-moderate Alzheimer's disease: The individual is usually not able to live alone. They need help with things like remembering to wear a coat when it is cold outside, shopping for groceries, or ordering from a menu.
Stage 6-moderately severe Alzheimer's disease: The individual is not able to live independently. He or she needs help with activities of daily living, such as bathing and toileting. He or she may be incontinent at this stage.
Stage 7-severe Alzheimer's disease: The individual continues to lose functional abilities. Vocabulary becomes a few words, and then ceases. He or she loses the ability to walk, and then to sit upright, and then to turn over in bed or lift his or her head. Without medical intervention to sustain life, the individual usually dies of malnutrition or pneumonia.
The person with Alzheimer's disease may experience other symptoms in addition to memory loss. He or she may be confused or exhibit poor judgment. They may have problems articulating or finding what they want to say. Alzheimer's disease sufferers frequently become agitated. They may also have seizures or hallucinations.
There are some things aging Baby-Boomers can do to help prevent the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. One of those things is to take vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 may be part of the picture in the dementia of Alzheimer's disease. Vitamin B12 deficiency is definitely part of the picture in a similar dementia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. The best way to take vitamin B12-especially as we get older-is by using the B12 Patch, which delivers vitamin B12 through the skin directly into the bloodstream.
