The Basics of Alzheimer's Workshop at the SKP Acre Rally in Sevierville, Tennessee

 

Sunny Biden, from the Eastern

Tennessee Alzheimer's Assn.,

presented The Basics of

Alzheimer's Workshop.

Alzheimer's Disease is one

of the diseases under the

umbrella term, Dementia.

Five million Americans have Alzheimer's Disease.  It is a progressive brain disorder, with no cure, and is eventually fatal.  How does this happen?

A build up of proteins in brain

destroys brain cells, creating

cognitive impairments that

interfere with daily life.

 

A PET (Positron Emission

Tomography) Scan shows

 the loss of neurons due to

Alzheimer's.

The risk of developing
Alzheimer's Disease
increases  with age.





More women than men are diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.  Family history can increase the risk of having the disease.

Doctors diagnose Alzheimer's

 Disease & prescribe medications

to help patients remain active &

engaged in daily activities for as

long as possible.

A patient's team can be made up of family, friends, a Neurologist, Geriatrician, a social worker, and caregivers.  The Alzheimer's Association provides many resources to patients and their teams.

Continuing research is focused on isolating genes that trigger Alzheimer's Disease.

No one wants to deal with declining mental faculties as we age.  Exercise, a healthy diet and lifelong learning help keep the brain healthy and prevent the protein build up that damages neurons.