Expert directs treatment for Alzheimer’s patients

Alzheimer’s disease causes degeneration and death of brain connections, and not only memory is affected, but also daily activities such as eating, getting dressed, and changing clothes.

According to neurologist Pedro Medalha, that is why the family should pay attention to this problem. “This is one way to maintain patient independence for a while,” he said.

Initial stage, arising with memory changes, confusion and even failures in language. Then follows an intermediate period in which the loss of these functions deepens, further affecting the ability to plan and abstract, as well as emotions, personality and social behaviour. When it reaches the most advanced stage, the patient may experience urinary and fecal incontinence, seizures, and other losses.

Families often report losing the ability to perform activities the patient has always done, such as eating and cutting food, holding a cup, bathing, and planning what clothes they will wear, among others.

Pedro notes, “Alzheimer’s disease is often said to be a social disease, and this involves a loss of recognition of the other and also a loss of control over the daily agenda and the ability to plan.”

Through rehabilitation therapies, attempts are made to prolong cognitive ability as much as possible, as aspects of daily living and thinking can be worked on, by stimulating memory, attention and focus, either with games or with remembering the past, among other sources.

“The more we can stimulate these abilities, the better for the patient and his family.” Neurologist says.

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