As spring approaches and holidays like Mother’s and Father’s Day draw near, it’s essential to pay attention to your elderly loved ones for any signs of dementia or cognitive decline. Individuals over 65 are particularly vulnerable to developing dementia, with the risk increasing as they age. Among the various diseases that can lead to dementia, Alzheimer’s disease stands out as the most common culprit, affecting millions of people worldwide, with a higher prevalence among women.
Understanding Dementia: The Basics
Defining Dementia and its Causes
Dementia encompasses a range of symptoms that collectively result in a decline in cognitive abilities. While memory loss is a primary indicator, other common symptoms include communication difficulties, spatial awareness issues, and more. It’s important to note that dementia itself is not a disease but rather a set of symptoms resulting from different underlying conditions.
Various diseases can trigger dementia, some of which are reversible if treated promptly. However, many conditions leading to dementia, such as Parkinson’s disease, Lewy-body disease, and Alzheimer’s disease, are incurable and progressive.
Alzheimer’s Disease: A Closer Look
Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent form of dementia, affects over 6.5 million individuals in the United States alone. This degenerative brain condition leads to brain shrinkage, cell death, and a range of cognitive impairments. While Alzheimer’s typically manifests in individuals over 65, the risk escalates with age, with chances of developing the disease doubling every 9-10 years past the age of 65.
Recognizing Signs and Symptoms
When spending time with elderly family members, watch out for potential signs of dementia, including memory loss, cognitive decline, spatial disorientation, and behavioral changes. Early detection is crucial as the severity of symptoms often correlates with the progression of the disease.
Alzheimer’s Disease Stages
The progression of Alzheimer’s disease typically unfolds across five stages, ranging from preclinical Alzheimer’s to severe dementia. Early-onset Alzheimer’s can affect individuals under 65, albeit less commonly. Genetic testing may offer insights into one’s predisposition to the disease, especially for those with a family history of Alzheimer’s.
Gender Disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease
Women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease, with nearly two-thirds of patients in the U.S. being female. Factors contributing to this gender gap include longer lifespans, increased amyloid levels, and historical disparities in education and cognitive engagement.
Preventive Strategies for Alzheimer’s Disease
Several lifestyle modifications can help delay or mitigate the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Engaging in cognitive activities, pursuing education, maintaining social connections, managing hypertension, exercising regularly, following a Mediterranean diet, and prioritizing adequate sleep are all beneficial practices to safeguard brain health.
Should you notice any concerning symptoms in your loved ones, seeking medical advice promptly is crucial. While Alzheimer’s remains a complex and evolving field of study, staying informed about the latest research and clinical developments can provide hope for effective treatments in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a holistic medicine doctor do?
Holistic medicine is a holistic approach to treating patients. They might use traditional techniques such as herbs or acupuncture, but they also integrate them into western medicine.
They want to treat an actual illness, and not just the symptoms. The patient should feel better upon completion of treatment.
The doctor should not be limited to treating the disease. He or she must also work with patients to prevent future complications.
“Holistic” is a term that refers all aspects of a person’s life.
What’s the difference between holistic medicine, traditional medicine, and holistic?
Traditional medicine tends to treat symptoms while holistic medicine treats the entire person. Holistic medicine considers the patient as an entire person, rather than focusing on one aspect.
Traditional medicine treats individual organs or systems (such as the brain), whereas holistic medicine considers all aspects of the body from the inside out. It considers the impact of lifestyle choices on overall wellness.
Who uses holistic healing?
Holistic medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that treats the whole person, not just specific symptoms. It is concerned with both the physical and mental aspects of well-being.
Holistic medicine includes acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic treatment, nutritional counseling, yoga, and other complementary therapies.
People who use holistic medicine include those who have been diagnosed with cancer, heart problems, diabetes, arthritis, depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, migraines, infertility, menopause, asthma, autism, and many others.
Statistics
- category.[111]Edzard Ernst characterized the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative and in 2011, published his estimate that about 7.4% were based on “sound evidence.” However, he believes that may be an overestimate. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In the 17% in which they disagreed, a third reader agreed with one of the initial readers to set a rating. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The concept of regression toward the mean implies that an extreme result is more likely to be followed by a less extreme result. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In 83% of the cases, the readers agreed. (en.wikipedia.org)
- An assessment of conventional treatments found that 41.3% concluded positive or possibly positive effects, 20% concluded no effect, 8.1% concluded net harmful effects, and 21.3% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
webmd.com
doi.org
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- PubMed: The Rise and Rise of Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Sociological Perspective – PubMed
- PubMed – Holistic medicine
nccih.nih.gov
- Statistics on Complementary or Integrative Health Approaches – NCCIH
- Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What’s In a Name? NCCIH
How To
What are the advances and drawbacks of holistic medicine?
Holistic medicine is a form of holistic medicine that emphasizes the importance mind, body, spirit and environment in the healing process. It was first developed by Dr. Edward Bach (1886-1936), and his first book, The Doctor’s Book of Mind Cure in 1924. Simple techniques like meditation, visualization, hypnosis, and visualization were used by him. People with stress, anxiety, depression or pain experienced this treatment. Additionally, patients can use this therapy to help them cope with their problems. It also improves their quality of living.
Although holistic therapies are still practiced today, they have lost popularity because of the lack of evidence supporting their effectiveness. However, some studies show that these treatments can help reduce symptoms associated with chronic conditions such as asthma, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, migraine, obesity, osteoporosis, and others.
There are many positives and negatives to holistic medicine.
- Insufficient scientific evidence. A few carefully designed, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), have evaluated the effectiveness of holistic therapies. Positive results are the norm in most observational studies.
- Comparable to traditional medicine, alternative medicines are less expensive. Alternative medicines may be more affordable than traditional medicines, especially if the patient eats a healthy diet.
- Patients do not feel pressured to comply with the prescribed protocol.
- Many doctors recommend complementary treatments without prescribing them.
- Holistic treatments often combine with conventional medicine. For example, acupuncture may be combined with medication or surgery.
- Many people believe alternative therapies work better than traditional medicine.
- Alternative medicines are more natural than traditional drugs.
- Many patients also use complementary treatments to support their lifestyle changes. They want to be healthy but also want to enjoy their lives.
- Holistic treatments are more beneficial for patients.
- An increasing number of older adults are turning to holistic treatment.
- More research needs to be conducted on complementary treatments.
- Research shows that people are more inclined to try other treatments than going to the doctor.
- It is important for doctors to realize that not all patients will benefit equally from alternate treatments.
- Holistic treatments should be a part of our culture, education system and society.
- Holistic treatments are not always safe.
- To help patients make informed decisions about treatment options, it is essential that we learn how to do so.
- Holistic treatments aren’t only for hippies.
- Certain diseases cannot be treated by holistic methods.
- Sometimes holistic treatments can prove dangerous.
- Specific conditions may benefit from holistic treatment.
- Holistic therapies are highly effective.
- Holistic therapies are based upon ancient wisdom.
- Holistic treatments are easy and simple to understand.
- It is difficult to learn holistic treatments.
- It can be hard to learn holistic therapies.
- Holistic treatments are too expensive.
- Holistic therapies can be expensive.
- Holistic therapies can be more cost-effective than traditional medicine.
- Holistic treatments are more expensive than conventional medicine.
****
Holistic Medicine–A Brief History
Holistic medicine refers to a system that treats the whole person rather than just the symptoms. It includes physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual, occupational, environmental, cultural, and lifestyle influences. It is a way to prevent illness through diet, exercise or stress management.
The first holistic medical school was established at Bastyr University in Seattle in 1972. Holistic medicine began to grow after the publication of Dr. Andrew Weil’s book “Spontaneous Healing” in 1996. Dr. David Williams, and Dr. Michael Murray founded the American Holistic Medical Association in 1997. Today there are hundreds of holistic medical schools all around the globe, including Bastyr University. Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons. Maharishi Ayurveda Institute. Pacific School of Oriental Medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The World Health Organization designated holistic medicine as one the five top trends in healthcare in 2013. This trend is focused on integrating conventional care with complementary therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, herbalism, massage therapy, reiki, yoga, meditation, and tai chi. This integration will provide safe, effective and patient-centered care with minimal side effects.
Holistic medicine works because we have an interconnected body-mind-spirit. Instability can result in illness if any of these parts is not in balance. Take, for example:
Your mind can be anxious or stressed and you feel anxious. This causes you to become more tense. Cortisol is a hormone that causes inflammation in your body. This causes you to feel weak and tired.
When your emotions run high, you experience negative thoughts and feelings like anger, fear, grief, and sadness. These feelings cause stress in your brain. If this stress is not treated, your body will produce adrenaline or cortisol. Adrenaline can increase your heart rate and blood pressure as well as your breathing rate. Cortisol is a hormone that affects your immune, digestive, and nervous systems. Both hormones can cause muscle tension, fatigue, headaches (dizziness), insomnia, anxiety and depression, among other health problems.
Your spirit can become depressed and you may lose your faith in the world. A lack of self-esteem and confidence can also lead to low self-esteem. This can lead to poor eating habits, unhealthy relationship patterns, and low energy. Healthy spirits make you happy, positive, joyful, peaceful, and optimistic.
Difference between allopathic and alternative medicine
Allopathic medicine is founded on science. Doctors use x-rays (MRIs, CAT scanners), and other technologies to diagnose patients. When necessary, they prescribe medication and perform surgery. Allopathic doctors believe their knowledge of human anatomy and the best ways to treat diseases. Alternative medicine is based on herbs, vitamins and minerals, diet, exercise as well as emotional support and spiritual healing. There is no one standard definition for alternative medicine. It is sometimes called natural medicine, integrative medical, or complementary medicine. Others refer to it as traditional medicine, naturopathic medicine, and CAM.
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This blog is a source of general information and discussion on health and related topics. Information and materials on this blog, on the website, or in any of the connected materials are not intended to replace or used as a substitute for the advice of a medical professional, diagnosis, or treatment. This blog does not represent the application of any nursing, medical or other health professional advice or diagnosis. We are unable to diagnose health conditions, offer second opinions or provide specific treatment recommendations via this blog or on our website.
If you or another person is suffering from a medical issue and you are concerned, consult your doctor or seek out other medical professional treatment as soon as possible. Do not disregard medical advice from a professional or delay seeking it due to information you seen on the blog or website or in any of the linked materials. If you’re experiencing an emergency medical situation, dial 911 or seek emergency medical assistance on the closest phone immediately.
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By: Dick Benson
Title: Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease: What You Need to Know
Sourced From: alternativemedicine.com/conditions/brain-health/alzheimers/tips-for-detecting-early-signs-of-alzheimers-disease/
Published Date: Tue, 14 May 2024 14:37:11 +0000
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a holistic medicine doctor do?
Holistic medicine is a holistic approach to treating patients. They might use traditional techniques such as herbs or acupuncture, but they also integrate them into western medicine.
They want to treat an actual illness, and not just the symptoms. The patient should feel better upon completion of treatment.
The doctor should not be limited to treating the disease. He or she must also work with patients to prevent future complications.
“Holistic” is a term that refers all aspects of a person’s life.
What’s the difference between holistic medicine, traditional medicine, and holistic?
Traditional medicine tends to treat symptoms while holistic medicine treats the entire person. Holistic medicine considers the patient as an entire person, rather than focusing on one aspect.
Traditional medicine treats individual organs or systems (such as the brain), whereas holistic medicine considers all aspects of the body from the inside out. It considers the impact of lifestyle choices on overall wellness.
Who uses holistic healing?
Holistic medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that treats the whole person, not just specific symptoms. It is concerned with both the physical and mental aspects of well-being.
Holistic medicine includes acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic treatment, nutritional counseling, yoga, and other complementary therapies.
People who use holistic medicine include those who have been diagnosed with cancer, heart problems, diabetes, arthritis, depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, migraines, infertility, menopause, asthma, autism, and many others.
Statistics
- category.[111]Edzard Ernst characterized the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative and in 2011, published his estimate that about 7.4% were based on “sound evidence.” However, he believes that may be an overestimate. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In the 17% in which they disagreed, a third reader agreed with one of the initial readers to set a rating. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The concept of regression toward the mean implies that an extreme result is more likely to be followed by a less extreme result. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In 83% of the cases, the readers agreed. (en.wikipedia.org)
- An assessment of conventional treatments found that 41.3% concluded positive or possibly positive effects, 20% concluded no effect, 8.1% concluded net harmful effects, and 21.3% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
webmd.com
doi.org
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- PubMed: The Rise and Rise of Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Sociological Perspective – PubMed
- PubMed – Holistic medicine
nccih.nih.gov
- Statistics on Complementary or Integrative Health Approaches – NCCIH
- Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What’s In a Name? NCCIH
How To
What are the advances and drawbacks of holistic medicine?
Holistic medicine is a form of holistic medicine that emphasizes the importance mind, body, spirit and environment in the healing process. It was first developed by Dr. Edward Bach (1886-1936), and his first book, The Doctor’s Book of Mind Cure in 1924. Simple techniques like meditation, visualization, hypnosis, and visualization were used by him. People with stress, anxiety, depression or pain experienced this treatment. Additionally, patients can use this therapy to help them cope with their problems. It also improves their quality of living.
Although holistic therapies are still practiced today, they have lost popularity because of the lack of evidence supporting their effectiveness. However, some studies show that these treatments can help reduce symptoms associated with chronic conditions such as asthma, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, migraine, obesity, osteoporosis, and others.
There are many positives and negatives to holistic medicine.
- Insufficient scientific evidence. A few carefully designed, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), have evaluated the effectiveness of holistic therapies. Positive results are the norm in most observational studies.
- Comparable to traditional medicine, alternative medicines are less expensive. Alternative medicines may be more affordable than traditional medicines, especially if the patient eats a healthy diet.
- Patients do not feel pressured to comply with the prescribed protocol.
- Many doctors recommend complementary treatments without prescribing them.
- Holistic treatments often combine with conventional medicine. For example, acupuncture may be combined with medication or surgery.
- Many people believe alternative therapies work better than traditional medicine.
- Alternative medicines are more natural than traditional drugs.
- Many patients also use complementary treatments to support their lifestyle changes. They want to be healthy but also want to enjoy their lives.
- Holistic treatments are more beneficial for patients.
- An increasing number of older adults are turning to holistic treatment.
- More research needs to be conducted on complementary treatments.
- Research shows that people are more inclined to try other treatments than going to the doctor.
- It is important for doctors to realize that not all patients will benefit equally from alternate treatments.
- Holistic treatments should be a part of our culture, education system and society.
- Holistic treatments are not always safe.
- To help patients make informed decisions about treatment options, it is essential that we learn how to do so.
- Holistic treatments aren’t only for hippies.
- Certain diseases cannot be treated by holistic methods.
- Sometimes holistic treatments can prove dangerous.
- Specific conditions may benefit from holistic treatment.
- Holistic therapies are highly effective.
- Holistic therapies are based upon ancient wisdom.
- Holistic treatments are easy and simple to understand.
- It is difficult to learn holistic treatments.
- It can be hard to learn holistic therapies.
- Holistic treatments are too expensive.
- Holistic therapies can be expensive.
- Holistic therapies can be more cost-effective than traditional medicine.
- Holistic treatments are more expensive than conventional medicine.
****
Holistic Medicine–A Brief History
Holistic medicine refers to a system that treats the whole person rather than just the symptoms. It includes physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual, occupational, environmental, cultural, and lifestyle influences. It is a way to prevent illness through diet, exercise or stress management.
The first holistic medical school was established at Bastyr University in Seattle in 1972. Holistic medicine began to grow after the publication of Dr. Andrew Weil’s book “Spontaneous Healing” in 1996. Dr. David Williams, and Dr. Michael Murray founded the American Holistic Medical Association in 1997. Today there are hundreds of holistic medical schools all around the globe, including Bastyr University. Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons. Maharishi Ayurveda Institute. Pacific School of Oriental Medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The World Health Organization designated holistic medicine as one the five top trends in healthcare in 2013. This trend is focused on integrating conventional care with complementary therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, herbalism, massage therapy, reiki, yoga, meditation, and tai chi. This integration will provide safe, effective and patient-centered care with minimal side effects.
Holistic medicine works because we have an interconnected body-mind-spirit. Instability can result in illness if any of these parts is not in balance. Take, for example:
Your mind can be anxious or stressed and you feel anxious. This causes you to become more tense. Cortisol is a hormone that causes inflammation in your body. This causes you to feel weak and tired.
When your emotions run high, you experience negative thoughts and feelings like anger, fear, grief, and sadness. These feelings cause stress in your brain. If this stress is not treated, your body will produce adrenaline or cortisol. Adrenaline can increase your heart rate and blood pressure as well as your breathing rate. Cortisol is a hormone that affects your immune, digestive, and nervous systems. Both hormones can cause muscle tension, fatigue, headaches (dizziness), insomnia, anxiety and depression, among other health problems.
Your spirit can become depressed and you may lose your faith in the world. A lack of self-esteem and confidence can also lead to low self-esteem. This can lead to poor eating habits, unhealthy relationship patterns, and low energy. Healthy spirits make you happy, positive, joyful, peaceful, and optimistic.
Difference between allopathic and alternative medicine
Allopathic medicine is founded on science. Doctors use x-rays (MRIs, CAT scanners), and other technologies to diagnose patients. When necessary, they prescribe medication and perform surgery. Allopathic doctors believe their knowledge of human anatomy and the best ways to treat diseases. Alternative medicine is based on herbs, vitamins and minerals, diet, exercise as well as emotional support and spiritual healing. There is no one standard definition for alternative medicine. It is sometimes called natural medicine, integrative medical, or complementary medicine. Others refer to it as traditional medicine, naturopathic medicine, and CAM.
