Which ones do you think are true?
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Many people don’t know much about Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia. Here are the myths and facts of the disease.
Physician Sharon Brangman, faculty at SUNY Upstate Medical University, distinguished service professor, chairwoman of geriatric medicine and director of the Upstate Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease:
Myth: Forgetfulness means you have Alzheimer’s.
Fact: “There are characteristics of normal aging that are not like Alzheimer’s. With aging, we have slow retrieval. It’s like a big hard drive where you have lots of things on it. Those are examples of slow retrieval where you can’t pull up the information right away. It’s part of the normal aging process. You can retrace your steps and find them. Someone with dementia can’t retrace their steps and their keys will be in a not very normal place, like in the freezer. Most of us are on overload where there’s too much information coming into our brains. You’re putting down your keys but thinking of 10 different things. Our brains were meant to do one thing at a time. We put our brains on overload by trying to multitask. It’s not good for our brains.”
Myth: My parent had Alzheimer’s, so I’m going to get it.
Fact: “If there’s a certain genetic trait that runs in families, that’s a possibility but it’s rare. It usually happens in families who have early onset where they get it in their 50s or earlier. This disease is very complex and we don’t know all the factors that can trigger Alzheimer’s. It seems as if there are other components that can turn this on, like lifestyle. There is increasing research about air pollution and how it affects cognition. Those who regularly consume highly processed foods and those who smoke have higher risk. In addition, those who have very low amount of exercise in their lifestyle or those who don’t get enough sleep are at higher risk. Especially in the deep phases of sleep, our brains clean up bad chemical reactions in our brain. People who drink alcohol on the regular increase their risk. There are things in our lifestyle and environment that may play a bigger role as to whether we’ll get Alzheimer’s than our genes.”
From Mary M. Koenig, administrator of Loretto Heritage Memory Life Community:
Myth: Once you get diagnosed, it’s ‘over’ for you.
Fact: “There’s a lot of people who live very full lives with a dementia diagnosis. All of these treatments they’re working on will focus on early detection. That’s where the treatments are most effective. A lot of people are afraid to even get into clinical trials to see if it’s likely they’re get dementia. But a diagnosis doesn’t mean your life is over. There are lifestyle changes you can make.”
Myth: If you have Alzheimer’s, you didn’t take good care of yourself.
Fact: “There are a lot of studies out that talk about things you can do to improve your brain health like eating right. If it’s good for the heart, it’s good for the brain. Making social connections. There’s no doubt that can have an effect. But by saying if you make certain choices you can avoid dementia, is unfair. It’s a dangerous myth.
Myth: Once you have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, you have to live in a nursing home.
Fact: “I’m constantly amazed at the number of people who come here and they have gotten to this point and haven’t tried any of the other resources available. They don’t have a support group, use adult daycare or have brought anyone into their home. Thirty years ago, there weren’t many options available. You stayed at home unsafely or you went to a nursing home and many people didn’t need that level. Assisted living and memory care aren’t the answer for everyone. People like to be cared for at home and with support that is an option available.”
From Desta Anthony, nurse practitioner certified in adult health and palliative and hospice care, specializing in dementia care at Loretto Heritage and The Nottingham, and in the community in private practice:
Myth: You should not tell a person their diagnosis if they have Alzheimer’s disease.
Facts: “This myth can prevent patients and families from getting the information they need to understand the disease or help those affected. Just as a patient has the right to be told that they have cancer, patients should be told that they have Alzheimer’s disease so they can take part in making decisions for themselves early in the disease, plan appropriately for the future, and have the opportunity to take part in research or build a care team that will support their quality of life. Sometimes fear of the unknown — not having a diagnosis — is worse than the known.”
Myth: Later in Alzheimer’s disease, there is no point in visiting loved ones because they will not recognize you.
Facts: “The relationship you have with your family member will change and sometimes in later stages, but not always, patients may forget a name or mix up relatives. The individual’s need for love and affection does not go away, and you need to balance that with your need to be recognized. Patients find joy and comfort with the time you take to share a moment and engage with them where they are.”