Alzheimer’s disease, Personality and Memory Loss

One of the most distressing aspects of Alzheimer's disease is the complete personality change suffered by many people. This is especially distressing for the relatives and friends of the Alzheimer's patient. The general behavior and personality of Alzheimer's suffers in the latter stages often seems to be in complete contrast to typical behaviour exhibited throughout the patient's life.

Another facet of personality change due to Alzheimer's disease is the occasional emergence of an underlying feature of the person's character which had previously been well-hidden. For instance, previously unnoticed spiteful traits can be revealed. There is also a common tendency in Alzheimer's disease, mainly in the later stages, for anxiety, nervousness or verbal and physical aggression to surface.

Memory loss is the distinguishing factor in all Alzheimer's cases. However, in the early stages it can be difficult to detect as people often devise elaborate coping mechanisms that disguise their symptoms. Recent memories are the first to be affected. It is only as the Alzheimers condition progresses that more distant memories become affected. Short term memory refers to the brain's mechanism for storage of recent events or things learned. The duration for things stored in a brain's short term memory can be as little as hours or as long as a week or two. It is this recent storage capacity that causes initial difficulty for people with Alzheimer's.

Memory loss is a key factor of Alzheimers disease and it is easily tested. Therefore, it forms an important assesment tool for Alzheimer's diagnosis. A formerly extensively-used test to determine Alzheimer's was to ask a series of questions. These questions evaluated both short and long term memory.

Ten questions routinely asked include:

Where are you now?
What is your age?
What is your date of birth?
When was the first world war?
Can you count backwards from 20-1?
What it today's date?
What month is it?
What year is it?
What is the name of the President or Prime Minister?
The test administrator recites an address, then asks the person to repeat it to you after five minutes

If the patient is cooperative and has been asked these questions in a friendly manner, it is generally an easy test to conduct. It is also a useful assessment for diagnosing Alzheimer’s or dementia as it is quick, non-invasive and inexpensive. These questions not only test a person's short term and long term memory, but they also test for orientation. Consequently, it gives a general indication as to which areas of a person's memory may be most affected. On its own, a low score is not a conclusive diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, as it is possible that not all people will know all the answers to the questions. It is merely a guide to indicate that something may be wrong and further investigation is warranted.

Memory Loss also plays a major role in significant changes of the personality of a person. Many Alzheimer's sufferers retain their personality, albeit with accompanying memory loss and orientation problems. However, others can exhibit varying mood swings which can fluctuate from being ecstatically happy to very sad. In the later stages of Alzheimer's disease, these underlying traits can become very prominent and problematic. For example, combating verbal aggression or continuing anxiety may require continuous reassurance from caregivers and friends.

Very often personal hygiene becomes a major issue for sufferers of Alzheimer's disease. Washing and bathing often becomes sporadic or is forgotten altogether. Additionally, Alzheimer's disease sufferers who were formerly very fastidious in areas of hygiene may become very lax. This can be very distressing for the sufferer's friends and relatives, especially if clothing is stained with urine or feces. It is common for Alzheimer's sufferers to leave the toilet before they are entirely finished or to be inefficient in cleaning after relieving themselves. Therefore, odor as well as soiled clothes and hands can be problematic. Undressing in public and inadvertent genital exhibition or fondling can also become a problem if not carefully monitored. It can be a source of untold embarrassment to relatives and caregivers.

It is important for caregivers and relatives to take into account that the acts of soiling or untoward behavior need to addressed while remembering the value of maintaining the patient's dignity at all times. Dignity is a very precious commodity when suffering from Alzheimer's disease, as their dignity is often all they have remaining.




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		Alzheimer’s disease, Personality and Memory Loss One of the most distressing aspects of Alzheimer's disease is the complete personality change suffered by many people. This is especially distressing for the relatives and friends of the Alzheimer's patient. The general behavior and personality of Alzheimer's suffers in the latter stages often seems to be in complete contrast to typical behaviour exhibited throughout the patient's life. Another facet of personality change due to Alzheimer's disease is the occasional emergence of an underlying feature of the person's character which had previously been well-hidden. For instance, previously unnoticed spiteful traits can be revealed. There is also a common tendency in Alzheimer's disease, mainly in the later stages, for anxiety, nervousness or verbal and physical aggression to surface. Memory loss is the distinguishing factor in all Alzheimer's cases. However, in the early stages it can be difficult to detect as people often devise elaborate coping mechanisms that disguise their symptoms. Recent memories are the first to be affected. It is only as the Alzheimers condition progresses that more distant memories become affected. Short term memory refers to the brain's mechanism for storage of recent events or things learned. The duration for things stored in a brain's short term memory can be as little as hours or as long as a week or two. It is this recent storage capacity that causes initial difficulty for people with Alzheimer's. Memory loss is a key factor of Alzheimers disease and it is easily tested. Therefore, it forms an important assesment tool for Alzheimer's diagnosis. A formerly extensively-used test to determine Alzheimer's was to ask a series of questions. These questions evaluated both short and long term memory. Ten questions routinely asked include: Where are you now? What is your age? What is your date of birth? When was the first world war? Can you count backwards from 20-1? What it today's date? What month is it? What year is it? What is the name of the President or Prime Minister? The test administrator recites an address, then asks the person to repeat it to you after five minutes If the patient is cooperative and has been asked these questions in a friendly manner, it is generally an easy test to conduct. It is also a useful assessment for diagnosing Alzheimer’s or dementia as it is quick, non-invasive and inexpensive. These questions not only test a person's short term and long term memory, but they also test for orientation. Consequently, it gives a general indication as to which areas of a person's memory may be most affected. On its own, a low score is not a conclusive diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, as it is possible that not all people will know all the answers to the questions. It is merely a guide to indicate that something may be wrong and further investigation is warranted. Memory Loss also plays a major role in significant changes of the personality of a person. Many Alzheimer's sufferers retain their personality, albeit with accompanying memory loss and orientation problems. However, others can exhibit varying mood swings which can fluctuate from being ecstatically happy to very sad. In the later stages of Alzheimer's disease, these underlying traits can become very prominent and problematic. For example, combating verbal aggression or continuing anxiety may require continuous reassurance from caregivers and friends. Very often personal hygiene becomes a major issue for sufferers of Alzheimer's disease. Washing and bathing often becomes sporadic or is forgotten altogether. Additionally, Alzheimer's disease sufferers who were formerly very fastidious in areas of hygiene may become very lax. This can be very distressing for the sufferer's friends and relatives, especially if clothing is stained with urine or feces. It is common for Alzheimer's sufferers to leave the toilet before they are entirely finished or to be inefficient in cleaning after relieving themselves. Therefore, odor as well as soiled clothes and hands can be problematic. Undressing in public and inadvertent genital exhibition or fondling can also become a problem if not carefully monitored. It can be a source of untold embarrassment to relatives and caregivers. It is important for caregivers and relatives to take into account that the acts of soiling or untoward behavior need to addressed while remembering the value of maintaining the patient's dignity at all times. Dignity is a very precious commodity when suffering from Alzheimer's disease, as their dignity is often all they have remaining.

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