1. Orientation to Early Memory Loss

2. Let’s look for some answers… What is happening? What should I do? Where should I go?

3. What we will discuss… First signs and changes First steps in treatment and planning Alzheimer’s Association Chapter Services

5. The Brain Frontal Lobe - helps carry out purposeful behaviors and complex reasoning. Parietal Lobe - helps us orient our bodies in space and decipher where and what things are. Occipital Lobe - is primarily responsible for visual interpretation.

6. The Brain - continued Temporal Lobe – memory, language, high-level sensory processing. Hippocampus – takes immediate thoughts and impressions and turns them into memories. Amygdala – regulates basic emotions such as fear, anger and craving.

7. What is Dementia? Dementia is a term used to describe a cluster of symptoms including: – Forgetfulness (progressive) – Difficulty doing familiar tasks – Confusion – Errors in judgment – Change in cognitive abilities – Problems with language *Dementia is not the name of an actual disease and *Dementia is not the name of an actual disease and is not a part of normal aging. is not a part of normal aging.

8. Other Causes and Types of Dementia Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s Disease Vascular Dementia Vascular Dementia Mixed Dementia Mixed Dementia Physical Injuries to the Brain Physical Injuries to the Brain Dementia with Lewy Bodies Dementia with Lewy Bodies Creutzfeldt-Jakob Creutzfeldt-Jakob Wernicke-Korsakoff Wernicke-Korsakoff Frontotemporal Frontotemporal Parkinson’s Parkinson’s Huntington’s Huntington’s Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

9. With Alzheimer’s, the changes that take place in the brain begin at the microscopic level long before the first signs of memory loss. Each person is impacted differently.

10. What goes wrong? Plaques – deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid build up in the spaces between nerve cells. Tangles – twisted fibers of another protein called tau build up inside cells. The brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s have an abundance of plaques and tangles.

11. Age Associated Memory Impairment Harder to filter through information Harder to filter through information Takes longer to pull up memories Takes longer to pull up memories (A memory delay rather than a memory loss) (A memory delay rather than a memory loss) Doesn’t get worse over time Doesn’t get worse over time Doesn’t interfere with everyday activities Doesn’t interfere with everyday activities

12. First Signs of More Serious Memory Loss Short term or recent memory loss Short term or recent memory loss Language difficulties Language difficulties Disorientation Disorientation Reasoning difficulties Reasoning difficulties Personality changes Personality changes

13. Diagnostic Criteria for Alzheimer’s Memory loss plus one or more of the following: Memory loss plus one or more of the following:  Aphasia (language disturbance)  Apraxia (problems carrying out movement)  Agnosia (not recognizing familiar objects)  Executive functioning (planning, organizing, sequencing, abstracting)

14. Importance Of Early Diagnosis 1. Rule out reversible causes of dementia 2. Begin medical treatment 3. Begin family education 4. Plan for the future

15. More on Alzheimer’s Disease Over 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s. By 2050, that number may reach 16 million.

16. Who gets Alzheimer’s? 1 in every 8 people over the age of 65 50% of people over the age of 85 10% of people with Alzheimer’s are under 65. Younger Onset Alzheimer’s Age increases chances

17. There is no cure, but there are medications that help slow the progression of the disease.

18. Medical Treatment Medications approved for Alzheimer’s Medications approved for Alzheimer’s Brand NamePharmaceutical Name Brand NamePharmaceutical Name Aricept 1996 donepezil Exelon 2000 rivastigimine Razadyne 2001 galantamine Namenda 2003 memantine Research drug studies Research drug studies Complimentary/Alternative Treatments Complimentary/Alternative Treatments

19. Practical Decisions to Consider Legal issues Legal issues Financial issues Financial issues Personal & safety concerns Personal & safety concerns

20. Stages Of Adjustment DenialSadness/depressionAngerAcceptance

21. PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PEOPLE WITH A MEMORY LOSS DIAGNOSIS Learn more Learn more Seek out a support group Seek out a support group Accept help from others Accept help from others Develop and use memory strategies Develop and use memory strategies Stick to a daily routine Stick to a daily routine Keep active Keep active Exercise Exercise Find ways to laugh Find ways to laugh

22. PRACTICAL TIPS FOR CONCERNED OTHERS Slow things down. Slow things down. Simplify your life. Simplify your life. Adjust your way of communicating Adjust your way of communicating Give and get assistance Give and get assistance Modify activities and tasks Modify activities and tasks

23. Some important questions… How do I lessen the fear of uncertainty? How do I explain to others what is happening? How will I understand the changes and how to deal with them? EDUCATION and SUPPORT

24. RESOURCES Community Community Chapter Chapter – Helpline/Contact Center  800-272-3900 – www.alz.org/co – Education – Support

25. NEXT Early Stage Strategy Class Support Groups Other Education Classes Savvy Caregiver Class Taking Action

26. Colorado Chapter Early Stage Services Contact: Ken Helander Contact: Ken Helander  Early Stage Services Manager  303-813-1669 Enroll to participate in AoA Research Study on effectiveness of Early Stage Service Programs

27. GRANT SUPPORT This training was funded by the Administration on Aging/Administration for Community Living through the Alzheimer’s Disease Supportive Services Program (ADSSP) - Grant 90AI0030.