Alzheimer's Disease (cont.)
What is the prognosis for a person with Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease is invariably progressive. Different studies have stated that
Alzheimer's disease
progresses over two to 25 years with most patients in the eight to 15 year range.
Nonetheless, defining when Alzheimer's disease starts, particularly in retrospect, can be very
difficult. Patients usually don't die directly from Alzheimer's disease. They die because they
have difficulty swallowing or walking and these changes make overwhelming
infections, such as pneumonia, much more likely.
Most persons with Alzheimer's disease can remain at home as long as some assistance is
provided by others as the disease progresses. Moreover, throughout much of the
course of the illness, individuals maintain the capacity for giving and
receiving love, sharing warm interpersonal relationships, and participating in a
variety of meaningful activities with family and friends.
A person with Alzheimer's disease may no longer be able to do math but still may be able to
read a magazine with pleasure. Playing the piano might become too stressful in
the face of increasing mistakes, but singing along with others may still be
satisfying. The chessboard may have to be put away, but playing tennis may still
be enjoyable. Thus, despite the many exasperating moments in the lives of
patients with Alzheimer's disease and their families, many opportunities remain for positive
interactions. Challenge, frustration, closeness, anger, warmth, sadness, and
satisfaction may all be experienced by those who work to help the person with
Alzheimer's disease. For more, please read the
Caregiving and
Alzheimer's Disease: Caregiving
Challenges articles.
The reaction of a patient with Alzheimer's disease to the illness and his or her capacity to
cope with it also vary, and may depend on such factors as lifelong personality
patterns and the nature and severity of stress in the immediate environment.
Depression, severe uneasiness, paranoia, or delusions may accompany or result
from the disease, but these conditions can often be improved by appropriate
treatments. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, treatments are available to
alleviate many of the symptoms that cause suffering.
Next: What treatment and management options are available for Alzheimer's
disease? »
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