Diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease

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Today Bateeilee Blog will share about Diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease If you or someone you know is showing some of the symptoms of Alzheimer's, what should you do? How do you know if it's Alzheimer's or just some normal forgetfulness? What kind of doctor do you call? What questions or tests will they perform? Sometimes, knowing a few of the answers ahead of time can ease our anxieties and prepare us well.

Alzheimer's Versus Normal Forgetfulness

Don't panic at the first sign of forgetfulness. It's normal to forget from time to time where you put your glasses or the overdue library book. Alzheimer's is not a minor episode of forgetfulness, nor is it a sudden change in cognition; rather, it's a gradual progression of symptoms over time. So, keep track of the symptoms over the course of a few months. Consider asking a trusted family or friend for input as well. (Any significant, sudden change in someone's ability to think clearly merits a call to your doctor immediately.)

What Kind of Doctor Should You Call?

Several different kinds of physicians can diagnose Alzheimer's disease. You can make an appointment with your primary care doctor or seek out a specialist such as a psychologist, neurologist or geropsychiatrist. Some communities have specific programs that specialize in Alzheimer's testing and diagnosing, so check out your local Alzheimer's Association for recommendations as well. When calling to make the appointment, briefly share your observations and ask for an evaluation for Alzheimer's.

Why Get Diagnosed?

If you're like some people I've spoken with, you may feel like you'd rather not know if you or your loved one has Alzheimer's. After all, what's the point? Why go to the doctor to hear something that may be very hard to hear? While receiving this kind of news is difficult, there are some benefits to receiving a diagnosis.

Early Treatment
An accurate diagnosis early in Alzheimer's allows for appropriate treatment to begin sooner. There are some medications that appear to work more effectively if given early in the stages of Alzheimer's.
Control Over Decisions
Early diagnosis also allows time for you to plan ahead and make decisions. Although difficult, knowing what you or your loved one is facing can allow you some control over how the progression and effects of Alzheimer's disease are handled.
Improved Coping
Having a name for the various symptoms you or your loved one has experienced can sometimes provide a sense of relief, despite the sadness that may accompany it. As you increase your understanding of Alzheimer's, you may also be able to more effectively cope with your feelings about the disease and its challenges.

How Is Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosed?

A definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease cannot be made until after death when a brain autopsy is conducted. A physician can, however, diagnose Alzheimer's with reasonable certainty by conducting several tests that can eliminate other causes of confusion and memory loss and by comparing symptoms with those of Alzheimer's. The following are often considered when diagnosing Alzheimer's disease:

Reports of Symptoms
The physician may ask the person and a loved one to tell them about the symptoms they've experienced to determine if they are consistent with the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Mental Status Exams
A mental status exam is often used to objectively evaluate cognitive functioning. There are several ways to evaluate cognition, but one of the more common exams is the Mini Mental State Exam. This exam tests different aspects of the ability of the brain, such as memory, calculation, orientation and communication.
Imaging Tests
Brain changes can also be observed through various imaging techniques such as a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, a computed tomography (CT) scan and an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test. These tests can assess the brain for any changes in size and structure, as well as rule out a tumor or other abnormality.
Laboratory Tests
Some physicians will order tests such as blood work or a urinalysis. These tests can screen for infections or other medical conditions that could hinder your ability to think clearly. Infections can often cause increased confusion, especially in older adults, so it's important to eliminate these and other reversible conditions as a cause.
Evaluation for Conditions that Mimic Alzheimer's
The exam should include an evaluation for reversible conditions that can mimic Alzheimer's disease, such as depression and delirium, and tests to differentiate between Alzheimer's and other types of dementia such as vascular dementia, Pick's disease, Parkinson's disease dementia and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Discussion of Your Overall Health Condition
You may be asked if there are other health conditions that you have been diagnosed with or any additional symptoms you've been experiencing. If you're at a new doctor's office, they may request that you have your records sent from your primary care physician ahead of time so that they know your history and current medical condition.

How Should You Prepare for the Doctor Appointment?
Make a list of your symptoms and any questions you can think of before you go. This will help ensure you get the information you need and want from the appointment. It's often very helpful to have a second set of ears along at this doctor's appointment. This person can help you by providing additional information to the doctor, asking other questions about the tests and process of evaluation and, most importantly, being there to support you.

Receiving Results
Some physicians will discuss their diagnosis with you at this appointment and others will schedule a follow-up appointment to share their findings. It can be nerve-racking to wait for answers and scary to receive a diagnosis, but knowing what you're facing can allow you to cope and prepare for the future, as well as receive early treatment. If, after the exam, the diagnosis is Alzheimer's disease, stick around. We're here to help.

Eye Disease Darkness

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Dr Jeremy Joseph volunteered to perform cataract surgery on patients in Zimbabwe in 1995, and participated in his first expedition for SEE International (Surgical Eye Expeditions). This London-based ophthalmologist knew to expect hundreds of patients prematurely blinded by cataracts; their condition compounded by poor facilities and lack of medication.

What he had not anticipated was the powerful impact this experience would have on his own life. "My work with SEE International is challenging and inspiring; very much a two-way process," says Dr Joseph. "I have gained just as much from my experience as I have given back. Many of the cases are not ordinary cataracts. Patients are often young with traumatic cataracts, or they are old with complex cataracts. I've had to learn to operate in less than ideal circumstances, where the water or electricity supply or both can stop at any time. But I've had the pleasure of working with some of the world's most dedicated ophthalmologists, and the experience has been one of personal growth and confidence for me".

This seems to be an ongoing learning process. At the end of a follow-up Eye Camp in Namibia, where Dr Joseph and his colleagues operated on more than 125 patients, they walked into a local hall where the patients had gathered to say goodbye. "Every patient, who had previously been brought in blind, and who could now see, came forward and in turn clasped each surgeon's hand in thanks. The room spilled over with emotion," says Dr Joseph.

Cataract-induced blindness in this part of the world robs the individual of the ability to work and earn a living, and the social and economic consequences of blindness, are staggering. Dr Joseph expands, "Our work isn't just about giving people back their sight; we are helping them get their lives back."
Since that first expedition, Dr Joseph has participated in nine more. He is one of hundreds of ophthalmologists from around the globe, that have teamed up with SEE International to devote their time and energy to fight cataract induced blindness, and other eye diseases in the developing world.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cataracts account for about half of the world's preventable blindness and bilateral cataracts (cataracts in both eyes) currently blind at least 20 million people. Harry Brown, a Californian ophthalmologist, launched SEE International in the early 1970s with a group of trained ophthalmic surgeons, nurses, and technicians from around the world.

Dr Brown's aim was to transform languishing lives into productive ones. Now that this dream has reached fruition, thousands of blind people in more than 40 countries including the Philippines, Mexico, Peru, Thailand, Kenya, Ecuador, and Malawi are successfully treated. More than 600 volunteer ophthalmologists offer their services each year. Despite the help dispensed to many patients; there are still some who are not receiving treatment due to the fact that SEE International can only operate in one location for a limited period of time.

Often, other problems such as glaucoma, corneal blindness, or retinal diseases remain untreated due to limited resources. Because they recognize that their high volume of cases represent only a tiny fraction of the curable or preventable cases of blindness in developing countries, SEE International fund a separate education programme for ophthalmologists in Third World countries. The Eye Camp programmes team up with a host ophthalmologist, to provide some training if it is required, and to help provide equipment, such as microscopes and autoclaves (used for sterilising surgical instruments). Repeat visits are made to the same country to maintain the projects' momentum.

Arthritis Living Coping

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Arthritis pain can be frustrating. Nagging and crippling arthritis pain can continue day after day. How much happier would you be if you could stop your arthritis pain right now and feel great all day? Knowing the nature of the disease can really bring you the right answers.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis comprises over 100 different diseases and conditions. The word arthritis means "joint inflammation". When joints are inflamed, it causes pain and usually also limits movement of the joints that are affected. For many people, arthritis pain has a large impact on their life. Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability. Arthritis limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing and bathing for more than 16 million Americans. Each year, arthritis results in 750,000 hospitalizations and 36 million outpatient visits. Arthritis is not just an old person's disease. Nearly two-thirds of people with arthritis are younger than 65 years including nearly 300,000 children. Arthritis affects children and people of all racial and ethnic groups but is more common among women and older adults.
The disease can affect different parts of the body. Two of the most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the joint lining becomes inflamed as part of the body's immune system activity. RA is one of the most serious and disabling types, affecting mostly women. Rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more common in women than in men and generally strikes between the ages of 20 and 50. Both sides of the body are usually affected at the same time. Symptoms of RA differ from person to person but can generally include:

Joint tenderness, warmth, and swelling.
Pain and stiffness lasting for more than 1 hour in the morning or after a long rest.
Joint inflammation in the wrist and finger joints closest to the hand.
Fatigue, an occasional fever, and a general sense of not feeling well.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. It is a degenerative joint disease in which the cartilage that covers the ends of bones in the joint deteriorates, causing pain and loss of movement as bone begins to rub against bone. OA commonly affects the joints of the fingers, knees, hips, and spine. Osteoarthritis is more common in older people because they have been using their joints longer. Using the joints to do the same task over and over or simply using them over time can make osteoarthritis worse. Younger people can also get osteoarthritis. Athletes are at risk because they use their joints so much. People who have jobs that require the same movement over and over are also at risk. Injuries to a joint increase the risk of arthritis in the joint later on. Excess weight can accelerate arthritis in the knees, hips and spine. The most common symptom of Osteoarthritis is pain in the affected joint(s) after repetitive use. Joint pain is usually worse later in the day. There can be swelling, warmth, and creaking of the affected joints. Symptoms of OA may greatly vary. Some patients can be debilitated by their symptoms. On the other hand, others may have remarkably few symptoms in spite of dramatic degeneration of the joints apparent on x-rays. Symptoms also can be intermittent.

These 2 forms have very different causes, risk factors, and effects on the body, yet they often share a common symptom - persistent joint pain.

What are the causes of arthritis?

Primary OA is mostly related to aging. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. Repetitive use of the joints over the years irritates and inflames the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling. Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate new bone outgrowths (spurs) to form around the joints. Sometimes osteoarthritis follows an injury to a joint. For example, a young person might hurt his knee badly playing soccer. Then, years after the knee has apparently healed, he might get arthritis in his knee joint.

RA is an autoimmune disease. This means the body's natural immune system does not operate as it should; it attacks healthy joint tissue, initiating a process of inflammation and joint damage. RA is a type of chronic arthritis that occurs in joints on both sides of the body (such as hands, wrists or knees). This symmetry helps distinguish RA from other types of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs most frequently in the 30-50 age group, although can start at any age. It is strongly associated with the HLA marker DR4 - hence Family history is an important risk factor. The disease affects Females:Males in a 4:1 ratio.

Other conditions can also cause arthritis. Some include:

Gout, in which crystals build up in the joints. It usually affects the big toe.
Lupus , in which the body's defense system can harm the joints, the heart, the skin, the kidneys, and other organs.
Viral hepatitis ,in which an infection of the liver can cause arthritis.

What can you do about it?

Some people may worry that arthritis means they won't be able to work or take care of their children and their family. Others think that you just have to accept things like arthritis.
While there is not yet a cure for arthritis, much can be done today to reduce pain and boost joint function. Learning how to manage pain over the long term is essential to maintaining a good quality of life. There are things you can do to keep the damage from getting worse. They might also make you feel better.Here are some simple things to do:

Lose weight if you're overweight
Exercise regularly for short periods. Going for a walk every day will help, too.
Use canes and other special devices to protect your joints.
Avoid lifting heavy things.
Don't pull on objects to move them-push them instead
Use heat or cold to reduce pain or stiffness.

The pain and disability that accompany arthritis can be decreased through early diagnosis and appropriate management.So if you have persistent symptoms lasting more than several days - go see your doctor. The doctor will examine you and may take x rays (pictures) of your bones or joints to decide if you have arthritis and what kind you have.

After the doctor knows what kind of arthritis you have, he or she will talk with you about the best way to treat it. The doctor may give you a prescription for medicine that will help with the pain, stiffness, and inflammation.

The good news is that now there is a way to stop your pain with a medication. Celebrex is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), specifically a COX-2 inhibitor, which relieves pain and swelling (inflammation). It represents a huge breakthrough in the treatment of pain, inflammation, and stiffness of arthritis. Celebrex is believed to fight pain and inflammation by inhibiting the effect of a natural enzyme called COX-2. Unlike the older medications, however, it does not interfere with a similar substance, called COX-1, which exerts a protective effect on the lining of the stomach.Celebrex doesn't cause the stomach bleeding and ulcers that traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might.

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The Diabetic Fat Spiral

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So how can anyone be certain about anything? The answer is simple. You can't be certain. When you encounter someone that tells you they know the answer to life's questions, absolutely, for certain -- RUN! They're taking the lazy path. They're not certain -- they have just stopped asking questions and are now expecting you to do likewise.

Look at these responses, quoted from some of the world's great thinkers regarding the issue of certainty:

"Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." - Benjamin Franklin

"The quest for certainty blocks the search for meaning. Uncertainty is the very condition to impel man to unfold his powers." - Erich Fromm

"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." - Voltaire

"What men really want is not knowledge but certainty." - Bertrand Russell

"Fear comes from uncertainty. When we are absolutely certain, whether of our worth or worthlessness, we are almost impervious to fear." - William Congreve

One of the most unfortunate consequences of certainty is that it leads to the soft insulation of belief. Yes, for a spiritual person there are things in life which should not simply be taken by faith and be believed without question. God made us with inquisitive minds and intended for us to use them. When we do not question and we become certain about everything, I believe we in fact disappoint God. I believe faith and belief are for trusting in God, not for being lazy with our minds.

If we allow our minds to soften into pudding by allowing belief and faith to intrude into areas never intended to be handled by faith and belief, we become certain something is true and must therefore protect that conclusion from falsification. For example, articles of faith such as the exact method used by God to perform the Creation are viewed by us as something we must protect from falsification, and we therefore attempt to disprove well-grounded scientific theories such as Evolution. Starting with the conclusion, then proclaiming to be false anything that calls our conclusion into question is NOT how scientific discoveries are made.

I believe that faith and reason are not in conflict, and where the question of Creation and Evolution are involved, I believe God respects those who can say that we believe God created the earth, and that science proved life evolves over time. I believe in my heart both things can be true and there is no conflict. I do not need to see proof of the Creation to know it is true. For me, proof is for science, not for the realm of the divine. My proof of God is in my heart. I need no further proof of God.

I believe God wants us to explore, to study, to question the things we see around us. God is strong and powerful and he can take a few 'Why' questions from his questions just like we can handle them from our 3-year-old grandchildren. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Questions are the beginning of understanding. Certainty is the end of it.