Questions to Ask Counselor About Alzheimer’s Disease

7 Top Questions on Alzheimer’s Disease

• Who does Alzheimer’s effect?

Age is the biggest factor for getting Alzheimer’s. Most of the people affected by this disease are over the age of 65. The risk chances doubles or increases above this age.

Women are twice affected than men and mostly after the 65 age.

• Does the health and lifestyle of a person have an impact on the Alzheimer’s condition?

Yes, medical conditions like stroke, diabetes, and heart problems, and also the conditions of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity in midlife, increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. These risks can be at low by keeping these medical problems under control. People adopting a healthy lifestyle and active lifestyle which combines social and mental activity and regular physical exercise will help to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

• What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease?

1. Struggle for finding the right word in the conversation or even sometimes forget names
2. Forget about the events, appointments, etc
3. Lose things around the house
4. Lose themselves in familiar places
5. Face difficulty in decision-making, dealing with problems, planning, concentrating and in organizing.  
6. Vision-related problems which include difficulty with in-depth perception, reading and color contrast.
7. Withdraw from work and social engagements.
8. Changes in personality and mood.
9. Misplace the items and unable to retrieve them again.

• What is the difference between Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease?

Dementia is not a specific disease; It describes a range of symptoms that affect the thinking capability, memory, and social abilities of a person and interfere with their daily functioning.

When a person is said to have dementia or Alzheimer’s, it means they have primary memory problems linked with other cognitive and as well as behavioral issues. Dementia is most of the time caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

• What are the available drug and non-drug treatment options to treat Alzheimer’s disease?

Presently there is no specific remedy for treating Alzheimer’s, but various activities and support like non-drug treatment methods can do a lot in helping the person to live well. Also talking to a professional like a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist, or even occupational therapist can help in overcoming the problem.

Some of the drug treatments like antidepressants can temporarily alleviate the symptoms or even slow down the progression of the disease in some people. The psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, neurofeedback & supportive therapy may also be useful. Counseling as well helps the person in adjusting to the diagnosis.

• What are the side effects of drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s symptoms?

The common side effects of the drugs include loss of appetite, frequent bowel movements nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, confusion, constipation, and dizziness. Starting your treatment at a low dose and continuing it to a higher dose helps to reduce the side effects. Also, taking these medications with proper food might help in minimizing the side effects.

Since Alzheimer’s progresses modestly, the symptoms and effects can change over time. If you are taking medications, it is good you decide how long you should continue your medication with your doctor.

• Who should you talk to regarding the Alzheimer’s care?  

It would best for you to reach out to a mental health team that includes a psychiatrist, psychologist and/ or a counselor would help you with a holistic approach to the treatment. It would also be helpful in handling the progressive diseases like Alzheimer’s, that causes the needs to change over time.

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