1. Is Alzheimer's disease the same as dementia?
2. What are the early signs of Alzheimer's disease?
3. What causes Alzheimer's disease?
4. How many people are affected by Alzheimer's disease in Canada?
5. Is there a cure? Are any treatments available?
6. How can the Alzheimer Society help me?
1. Is Alzheimer's disease the same as dementia?
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.
Read more about dementia.
2. What are the early signs of Alzheimer's disease?
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.
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memory loss that affects day-to-day function
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difficulty performing familiar tasks
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problems with language
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disorientation of time and place
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poor or decreased judgment
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problems with abstract thinking
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misplacing things
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changes in mood or behaviour
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changes in personality
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loss of initiative
Read more about warning signs.
3. What causes Alzheimer's disease?
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.
Read more about risk factors.
4. How many people are affected by Alzheimer's disease in Canada?
It is estimated that 500,000 Canadians over 65 have Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The number of people in Canada with dementia is expected to grow by the year 2031 to over 3/4 million people.
5. Is there a cure? Are any treatments available?
At this time, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, medication is available to treat some of the symptoms. The Alzheimer Society of Calgary offers support services, family education programs and staff training to enhance the quality of life of both the person with the disease and the family.
Read more about treatment options.
6. How can the Alzheimer Society help me?
The Alzheimer Society provides support and information through provincial and local offices across Canada. The Alzheimer Society of Calgary offers support services, local resources and programs.
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. 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.
See the other support and services offered by the Alzheimer Society of Calgary.
The information offered in this section is taken from the Alzheimer Society of Canada website.