Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Alzheimer's Disease Still Uncurable

Dr. Sandra B. Nichols, Director

Arkansas Health Department

A person with Alzheimer's disease will live on average of eight years and as many as 20 years from the onset of symptoms. The causes are not known and although medical research holds promise, there is no known prevention or cure.

Soon after her father's death, Debbie Heller of Little Rock thought her mother's unusual behavior was caused by grief. But, as her mother's behavior became increasingly odd, extreme forgetfulness, inability to perform simple task, and inappropriate responses in convention. Debbie began to suspect a different problem. A diagnosis of Alzheimer's following a comprehensive medical examination confirmed her suspicions.

Since the diagnosis was made six years ago, the lives of Debbie and her mother have changed dramatically. "She became unable to care for herself. I didn't want to put my mother in a nurisng home, so, I quit my job to stay home and provide full-time care," she says.

Debbie begins by cleaning, dressing and feeding her mother, this takes about three hours each morning. Occasionally, her mother develops strange eating habits, refusing to eat at all, refusing to eat anything but cheesecake for days, or accepting only unusual combination. "I have learned that as the disease progresses, it is impossible for the patient to control it or change it. In order to cope, I have had to change my way of thinking about many things. For instance, if my mother refuses to eat canteloupe without honey on it. I will put honey on it."

Before locating an adult day care center in the Little Rock area, Debbie rarely left home, fearing that her mother, if left alone, would accidentally injure herself or cause a fire. Now, Debbie can take time out for errands and chores, while her mother is in a safe environment.

What is Alzheimer's disease? According to the Alzheimer's Association, a national voluntary organization dedicated to Alzheimer's research, prevention, treatment and cure, it is a progressive illness that causes severe memory loss and thinking abilities, and leads to death.

A person with Alzheimer's disease will live an average of eight years and as many as 20 years from the onset of symptoms. The causes are not known, and, although medical research holds promise, there is no known prevention or cure. When Alzheimer's disease was first described in 1907, it was considered rare. Today it is the most common form of dementia in the U.S. An estimated four million Americans are affected. It is estimated that 40 thousand Arkansans are victims of this disease. In a 1993 national survey, 19 million Americans said they had a family member with Alzheimer's disease. In fact, my own family has been affected. My mother-in-law, who died in December, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease seven years ago.

The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include:

• Progressive memory loss that can affect job or living skills

• Difficulty performing familiar tasks

• Problems with language that make responses difficult or inappropriate

• Disorientation of time and place

• Drastic changes in personality, mood, or behavior.

Most people with Alzheimer's disease live at home and are cared for by their families. Because care can be complex and stressful, there is growing concern for caregivers. The four chapters of the Alzheimer's Association that cover Arkansas provide education, referrals, consultation, support services and programs such as "Safe Return," a nationwide community- based network which helps individuals who may wander away and become lost. Debbie Heller says, "Without the Association, it is doubtful that I would be able to keep my mother at home. The Association has provided me with a support system that I was unable to find anywhere else. This makes a wonderful difference in our lives."

"We constantly tell caregivers to take care of themselves. We have monthly group support meetings to help them share strengths, frustrations, and new information about Alzhemer's disease," says Phyllis Watkins, Director of the Central Arkansas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Watkins says a major focus of the association is public education. "By the middle of the next century, it is predicted that 14 million Americans will have Alzheimer's disease. Awareness and compassion will help determine how well we copw with it."

For more nformaiton call the National Alzheimer's Association at 800- 272-3900.