Does Dementia Run in the Family?

The family pedigree chart looked familiar with the names and birthdays of my parents, their parents, and many great aunts and uncles that I can still faintly remember. I recognized the surnames as those for which Mom had been doing family genealogy for over thirty years, and she had updated the chart many times with handwritten notes of dates and places that marked life’s important events.

The thing that struck me as odd, however, was a single word that she had scrawled in the margin next to the name of almost every relative going back many, many years.  That word was “Alzheimer’s.”

The pedigree chart had been lying on top of one of the piles of papers on Mom’s dining room table.  My sister and I had come to visit her shortly after she received the diagnosis for Alzheimer’s, one which she vehemently denied.  “No!  The doctor said the only thing wrong with me was my family,” she had cried out when we asked her about it some days later.  Reading between the lines, we knew she meant that she was doing fine on her own and we should mind our own business.

In an interesting twist of words, however, Mom was one hundred percent correct.  The only thing wrong with her was, indeed, her family – her family lineage of memory and cognitive impairment.  Mom’s family seemed to have the unfortunate proclivity to pass on from generation to generation whatever it is that sparks Alzheimer’s - be it genetic, environmental, some other medical condition, or a combination of these.  

And so, I must bravely face the fact that, as my mother’s daughter, I am at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s than many of my friends and co-workers.  This is a very sobering thought, but it is one which I can try to ignore - or - I can accept it and begin to make plans for this very real possibility.  I have chosen what I believe to be the healthier of the two and will take the latter path. 

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Uncertainty and fear are born out of a lack of knowledge.  As caregivers who have been on the front lines in the battle against this mind-robbing disease, we may also grow fearful because we do have knowledge of what a future with Alzheimer’s disease looks like.  The good news is that our future need not be as dark as it is for our parent, for even in the midst of caring for our loved one, we can begin the journey to care for ourselves. 

 

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“A Bandaid for the Caregiver” is dedicated to all those families who journey with memory loss in their lives and the sharing of hope and joy and new possibilities.  In each difficult moment there lies an opportunity for love.

Journey with courage,
Elaine 

Author: "Conversations with Nora: a Family's Journal with Alzheimer's"

THE BANDAID BOX…

Family caregivers are treasured gems.  It takes a gentle hand, a gracious spirit, and a whole lot of patience to be a caregiver; particularly when one is caring for oneself.   Handle your life with great compassion, for the contents are precious. 

“…casting all your anxieties on God, for he cares for you.”  I Peter 5:7

“Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.”Audrey Hepburn  (1929 – 1993)

STAY UPBEAT…

Humor is healing… friends are healing… nature is healing.  Fill your days with as much of all three ingredients as possible!  When we surround ourselves with friends who love to laugh, it soon becomes contagious and even the worst of days has a glimmer of sunshine.  It is almost impossible to feel down with the sun shining on your face.  Sit in the sunshine with a good friend or a good book, and already the day is improved.

A positive attitude is limited only by our own bad mood.  We make choices every day, and being happy is often a choice.  When life goes awry, we choose to run away, to let go, or to use the experience to strengthen our resolve that tomorrow will be a better day.   

 

TREAT YOURSELF TO…

…a good night’s sleep!  Those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia often find themselves confused and anxious toward the end of the day.  Sleep patterns are disrupted and individuals spend less time in deep sleep, awakening often during the night.  The urge to get up during the night and engage in aimless activity can be overwhelming.  These symptoms are called “sundowning.”

The direct connection between sundowning and dementia is not yet understood, but many factors are known to be a factor.  Environmental factors such as a streetlight burning outside the window or the noise of a motorcycle can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.  Extraneous distractions are perhaps the easiest to identify and remedy.  Physical factors are a little more difficult to overcome.  Those with arthritis or fibromyalgia may not be able to get comfortable enough to fall asleep.  Drinking caffeine late in the afternoon and drug interactions can also interfere with natural sleep patterns. 

While putting good sleep practices into place for the parent you are caring for, begin to look at how you might improve your sleep, as well:

Keep a regular routine when preparing to go the bed.  Follow the same steps at the same time every evening.  Your body will eventually get the message that it is time for sleep.

Whenever possible, use the bedroom only for sleeping.

Make the bedroom as dark and quiet as possible.  Moderate the temperature.

Avoid daytime naps and limit stimulating activities such as visitors and television to earlier in the day. 

Avoid caffeine and alcohol in the afternoon and evening.  All liquids should be limited in the evening to prevent awakening to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Eat dinner early enough in the evening to avoid acid reflux, although a light evening snack high in carbs and low in protein can be beneficial to sleep.

Exercise and get outdoors regularly.  Getting some sun every day is essential to regulating our natural biorhythms.

Engage in quiet, relaxing activities before going to bed.  Dim the lights and listen to music, knit, or practice meditation.  Begin giving the body and mind signals that it is time to prepare for sleep.       

(for more information, read “Sundowning, Sleep Disturbances and Alzheimer’s Disease” at  http://www.best-alzheimers-products.com/sundowning-and-sleep-problems-in-alzheimer's.html.)  

Gentle Reminder:

Your brain needs beauty sleep.  Take steps to improve the quantity and quality of your sleep.

IDEAS FOR BRAIN HEALTH…

Experts agree that most cases of Alzheimer’s disease are caused by the interaction of genetic makeup and other risk factors.  Although there is little if anything that can be done about one’s genes, there are other ways we might be able to influence the course of the disease in our own lives.

Traumatic head injuries top the list of avoidable risk factors, particularly when the injury is repeated or involves unconsciousness.  Simple things like buckling your seatbelt, wearing a bike helmet, and “fall proofing” your home go a long way toward preventing brain trauma.

There also seems to be a strong head-heart connection in relation to brain health.  When the heart is compromised by high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high cholesterol, the brain’s blood supply is also threatened.  An expansive network of blood vessels carries 20% of the body’s total food and oxygen supply to the brain.  The risk of developing AD or vascular dementia is magnified by conditions that we know damage the heart and the blood vessels.  Maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle also benefits the brain!

(Read more in the Alzheimer’s Association article “Alzheimer’s and Dementia Risk Factors” http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_causes_risk_factors.asp.)

Eating plenty of “superfoods” for maintaining a healthy brain is another way to keep those wheels turning in the head a little longer.  These foods include blueberries (protects the brain’s learning capacity), wild salmon (provides omega-3 fatty acids for brain function), nuts and seeds (great source of vitamin E to reduce cognitive decline), avocados (reduces blood pressure), and whole grains (promotes cardiovascular health).  Other brain healthy foods include beans for a steady stream of energy, pomegranate juice to protect the brain from free radical damage, freshly brewed tea to enhance memory and focus, and dark chocolate which we all know improves one’s mood and stimulates focus and concentration.

(Taken from “Eat Smart for a Healthier Brain” at http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/eat-smart-healthier-brain?page=2.)

   

ABOUT ALZHEIMER’S…  

I often wondered why there is such an emphasis in medical literature on using the term Alzheimer’s disease.  In my mother’s generation, Alzheimer’s was considered to be a mental deficiency that one could control and good, upright people just didn’t get it.  There was such a stigma about the disease that it was spoken about in whispers and little was done to care for those with memory impairments.  

We now know that Alzheimer’s disease is not prejudiced in whom it chooses to reside and that skilled caregiving improves the quality of life for those with all types of dementia.   Current medical research and the accessibility of facts about Alzheimer’s have brought it to the forefront of the public’s attention as a disease process that encompasses every aspect of the individual’s life.  The upside of this is that there is a growing realization that AD is a real and palpable medical condition and this acceptance has empowered future sufferers of the disease to think seriously about their thinking skills and to prepare for their future. 

Lately, I have found myself second guessing every little lapse in memory as the beginning of AD.  Given my family history, it very well could be the beginning.  However, it could be something as simple as a lack of sleep, a vitamin deficiency, or medication side effects!

It is difficult to ascertain sometimes if a memory lapse is something one should be worried about.  Here are the 10 warning signs that family caregivers should know – not just for their loved ones – but also for themselves.  If you notice anything that can’t be explained or improved by getting more sleep; exercising your brain with crossword puzzles and games; or cutting back on alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs, then please seek the advice of a medical doctor trained in identifying memory issues. 

*10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s  (as compared to normal aging)

1.      Memory loss that disrupts daily life. (Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.)

2.      Challenges in planning or solving problems.  (Making occasional errors in your checkbook.)

3.      Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or leisure.  (Occasionally needing help using the microwave or to record a television show.)

4.      Confusion with time, place, or season.  (Getting confused about the day of the week, but remembering it later.)

5.      Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.  (Visual changes due to cataracts.)

6.      New problems with words in speaking or writing.  (Sometimes having trouble finding the right word to express oneself.)

7.      Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.  (Losing something from time to time and retracing steps to find it.)

8.      Decreased or poor judgment.  (Making a mistake in judgment once in a while.)

9.      Withdrawal from work or social activities.  (Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.)  

10.   Changes in mood or personality. (Becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.)

With early detection you can be your own best caregiver!  You can benefit from available treatments and maintain independence and a quality of life for a longer period of time.   Early detection allows you to plan for the future – to put a long term care plan in place; to make arrangements for financial, legal and medical matters; and plug in to a social support system.  Your family can begin receiving the support they need, just as you have while caring for your parent. 

You can continue to live to the highest of your potential!

(*from the Alzheimer’s Association

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp)