Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer's Disease

by Ronald Peterson (Editor)

Alzheimer's disease robs us of our ability to think, reason, and remember. The condition affects primarily people over the age of sixty-five, and has a tremendous social, economic, and emotional impact on many lives. So far, the disease has stymied all attempts to prevent or cure it, but there are promising signs that this situation can change.In the last decade, researchers have made tremendous advances in our understanding of Alzheimer's disease. Physicians are now able to diagnose the condition at earlier stages and treat symptoms that had previously complicated or hastened mental decline. Effective care-giving strategies are able to ease many behavioral problems. Ongoing research offers hope that prevention and delay, if not a cure, are possible.

Knowledge remains one of the best tools for coping, whether dealing with one's own recently diagnosed Alzheimer's or caring for someone with the disease. "Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer's Disease" provides clear explanations in everyday language of what we know about the risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. It can guide readers in their preparations for long-term care. The Quick Guide is a resource with immediate answers for caregivers facing difficult situations and decisions.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

Reviews

[一般 · Rating 4 out of 5]

阿茲海默症。梅約醫學中心、隆納德‧彼得森著。
本書特點在阿茲海默症的看護工作
這本書的架構像教科書一樣完整。包括四個部分：老化與失智、了解阿茲海默症、治療阿茲海默症、看護工作。可以把它理解為問題的界定、了解問題、解決問題、損害控制。由於阿茲海默症在現階段只能治療，無法治癒，所以，作者花了很大的篇幅在損害控制，也就是看護工作的敘述上(近二分之一)，非常具實務性。從中，我們可以想像阿茲海默症可能衍生的問題，以及對家人重大影響。四種〈看護速簡指南〉，對種種生活細節提出系統的指引與建議。例如：“沐浴與梳理”、“如廁與失禁”、“憤怒或易怒”、“妄想、疑心或被害妄想”、“固執或不合作”、“當一個人無法再開車”、“當一個人無法再獨自生活”、“當一個人無法再處理財務”、“當一個人無法再工作”、“脫水”、“褥瘡”、“噎嗆”等等。美國人的阿茲海默症罹患率較高，社會福利救助工作或許也比較好，這些經驗都值得參考。
“阿茲海默症侵襲腦部的方式是破壞它的基本組成元素：神經元。神經元的減損最初發生在海馬回，這個部位是記憶系統的中央控制板，由此可知為什麼記憶喪失的情況經常與阿茲海默症的早期階段連結在一起。......最後，阿茲海默症會侵襲腦中的許多部分。隨著愈來愈多的神經元變質退化，......病人開始失去某些功能，包括溝通的能力、辨識熟悉面孔與物品的能力，以及控制行動與基本生理衝動──如飲食或排尿──的能力。”就像小孩認識父母是可預期的，阿茲海默症患者忘記家人也是可預期的，這便是阿茲海默症的無奈。
阿茲海默症的顯著病徵是類澱粉蛋白塊斑與神經纖維纏結。至於它們是疾病的成因還是結果，則尚未確定。在我看來，它們是結果而非病因。由於阿茲海默症首先侵襲的是記憶系統。我想，如果我們能更全面的理解記憶機制，或許，解開阿茲海默症成因之謎就有望了。
在治療上，有一點是以前我沒注意到的，那就是乙醯膽鹼。這種神經傳導物質據說與記憶和思考功能有關。而認知治療藥物“乙醯膽鹼脂酶抑制劑”就是用來防止乙醯膽鹼脂酶(酵素)分解乙醯膽鹼，以維持腦中乙醯膽鹼濃度的藥劑。據說對輕、中度的阿茲海默症患者有穩定病情之效。

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource

This book is easy to understand and provides needed information for those dealing with Alzheimer's. It provides information on the phases of the disease as well as guidance in planning for future needs and coping with various situations. An excellent resource I highly recommend.

[Linda Shreve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good resource. Not too technical for the medical novice

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough but simple enough to get through.

[B Shelton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent tips on caretaking and/or finding a facility, but the info on the disease and research is dated in the version I was able to ascertain.

[JoAnn R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an invaluable resource for me as I painfully lived through the stages of Alzheimer's Disease with my father!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE MAYO CLINIC ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE will help all caregivers to cope with the loss of their loved ones as cognitively sound individuals. Dementia is a disease that knows no boundaries. It is blind to the categories in which we usually place our fellow human beings. It can occur at the age of 55 or 85. It can happen to Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Asians, Jews, Christians, Muslims, males and females, rich and poor. It has not spared ex-presidents. Tears are shed by husbands and wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters-in fact anyone responsible for the care of a loved one with dementia. I speak from personal experience. Dementia did not spare my mother whose 15 year journey into the opaque fog of this disease is told in my own recently published memoir. I recommend the Mayo Clinic book to anyone needing current professional information about this terrible disease.
this book is very helpful in having a central section specifically for caretakers, written in clear simple language, that addresses all of the main problems that caring for a memory-impaired, confused, demented person entails. Common sense ideas, down to earth and realistic are provided ("shut off the circuit breaker to stove; remove stove knobs.") Some other points to keep in mind: no one who is aging or aged AUTOMATICALLY becomes senile or confused. It is not a part of aging. If it is happening, the person should be checked out thoroughly-- medically,including screens for depression and nutrition as well.
There are tests to determine cognitive loss, including brain MRI's for brain atrophy, which can be a cause of any type of dementia, not just Alhemer's Disease. Psychologic and neuropyschologic testing in the earliest stages of concern are important to differentiate between dementia and depression for example, also the earlier this is diagnosed the better, as the medications available, though not perfect, are more useful when started early. And, family can step in early while the affected member can participate and make plans for Living Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney, and all of the other highly important legal documents that are ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL or soon will be. Another point made in this book is that 5% of all people feared to have Alzheimer's or some other similar syndrome, when checked out thoroughly by medical professionals are found to have low thyroid, depression, vitamin deficiencies, low grade malnutrition, metabolic problems, or drug intoxication (the elderly are often on multiple prescription medications and over the counter medicines,and often their aging kidneys and livers do not deal with these as a younger person's would and they can build up in their system to an unsafe level.) Therefore all of these need to be ruled out first.

[Mary Reece Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comprehensive text

I was grateful for the abundance of information presented and the ease of reading and understanding. I am sure I will return to the text many times in coming months.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, easy to read reference for caregivers and patients. Has a large "Quick Reference" section to specific behaviors and problems that may come up with Alzheimer's patients.

[kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredibly informative, brain disease is really, really horrifying.

[Rose]

616.83 May

[Sharon Ader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I will refer to often. I didn't read it cover to cover and won't until I need to. This is more of a reminder to me that is is a good reference book to be used in the future.

[Connie Ferrell]

Really quite excellent Has given me good support for both my father and my husband.

[Robert Bublitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book on Alzheimer's Disease and should be one of the first resources you read regarding the care of a loved one.