- Is Alzheimer's disease the same as dementia?
- What
are the early signs of Alzheimer's disease?
- What
causes Alzheimer's disease?
- How
many people are affected by Alzheimer's disease in
Canada?
- Is
there a cure? Are any treatments available?
- How
can the Alzheimer Society help me?

Dementia
is a set of symptoms that includes loss of memory, judgment
and reasoning, and changes in mood and behaviour.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting
for 64 per cent of all dementias. Over time, Alzheimer's disease destroys vital nerve cells in the brain, causing
irreversible damage and eventually death.
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Other
health problems can cause memory loss and/or dementia.
Some of these problems can be treated, so it's important
that the person experiencing these problems be properly
assessed by a doctor.
Symptoms
may develop gradually and go unnoticed for a long time.
If you do notice several symptoms in the list below,
the person with the symptoms should see a doctor for
a complete examination.
1.
memory loss that affects day-to-day function
2. difficulty performing familiar tasks
3. problems with language
4. disorientation of time and place
5. poor or decreased judgment
6. problems with abstract thinking
7. misplacing things
8. changes in mood or behaviour
9. changes in personality
10. loss of initiative
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We
do not yet know what causes Alzheimer's disease or if there
is more than one cause, but researchers around the world
are looking for the cause(s) of this disease. We do know
that certain factors, such as increasing age and family
history, increase the risk that a person will develop
Alzheimer's disease.
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It
is estimated that 420,600 Canadians over 65 have Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and 280,000 have Alzheimer's disease. The number of people in Canada with dementia
is expected to grow by the year 2031 to over 3/4 million
people due to the aging population.
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At
this time, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. However,
medication is available to treat some of the symptoms.
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Support
services, programs and learning more about the disease
can help enhance the quality of life of both the person
with the disease and the family.
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The
Alzheimer Society provides support and information through
provincial and local offices across Canada. Contact your
local Alzheimer Society to find out more about support
services, local resources and programs in your area.
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Safely
Home -- Alzheimer Wandering Registry, a nationwide
program developed by the Alzheimer Society of Canada
and the RCMP, helps people with Alzheimer's disease return
home safely after an episode of wandering.
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The
Alzheimer Society Research Program provides hope for
the future by funding research into improved caregiving
methods and into the cause and cure of Alzheimer's disease.
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