Part 7 – Dementia Stages – Guide by Applewood Our House Assisted Living Memory Care

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Dementia Stages In a nutshell, there are seven basic stages of Dementia that a person goes through.  Some stages might linger for years; while others may change very quickly. It is important for you to know about these stages of Dementia and what to expect during each plateau. STAGE ONE During this stage there are no memory loss issues that might affect daily living and no signs that the mental health capacity of the senior…

Part 6 – Causes of Dementia – Guide by Applewood Our House Assisted Living Memory Care

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Causes of Dementia The easiest definition of dementia is, the deterioration of cognitive functioning abilities and the loss to properly remember or process data in the mind. When cells in the cerebral cortex (The section of our brain that holds our memories and thoughts, our personality, and the ability to perform our daily tasks) are damaged, the common symptoms of dementia are visible. I did find the breakdown of the word dementia to be fascinating…

Part 5 – Diagnosing Dementia – Guide by Applewood Our House Assisted Living Memory Care

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There are specific mental exams and physical testing in diagnosing dementia, but you must remember that the early stages of dementia can be so subtle that it may be 3 to 5 years before anyone notices significant changes in behavior.  Once these behavioral changes are noticed, it is important to accompany your loved one to their regular medical doctor immediately.  It is impossible for a physician to make a clear and definitive diagnosis of the…

Part 4 – Types of Dementia, Explained – Guide by Applewood Our House Assisted Living Memory Care

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Vascular Dementia With Alzheimer’s being the number one cause of dementia, vascular dementia is a close second.  The word “vascular” refers to your body’s blood vessels and Vascular Dementia is caused by a low supply of blood traveling to your brain.  This limited blood supply is caused by the arteries being too narrow to carry a sufficient blood supply or there is a complete blockage of the artery. Due to several mini strokes (also known…

Part 3 – Alzheimer’s Disease – Guide by Applewood Our House Assisted Living Memory Care

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Alzheimer’s Disease In 1906, Dr. Alois Alzheimer first noticed and described the change that happens in the brain.  He found amyloid plaques (basically abnormal clumps) and bundles of fibers that were tangled in clusters (now referred to as Neurofibrillary Tangles).  This is now the mapped pattern in the brain that all Alzheimer patients go through. It is not known how Alzheimer’s disease begins; but it is known that damage in the brain can begin 10…

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Part 2 – Types of Dementia – Guide by Applewood Our House Assisted Living Memory Care

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A Family’s Guide to Alzheimer’s and Dementia Our Guide is intended for anyone who would like to learn more about this disease and related diseases. At Applewood Our House we understand that there are few conditions upon first diagnosis that strike such terror into loved ones and relatives as Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The diagnosis can provoke feelings of helplessness and despair, coupled with fear that your loved one will inevitably suffer from a loss…