Potential Health Complications Associated With Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to come in the way of day to day tasks. Aside from the symptoms, a person with Alzheimer’s may have other health complications over time, as all older adults do, which can lead to more confusion and behavior changes. Due to the effects Alzheimer’s has on the body, it also increases an individual’s risk for other health complications, especially as the disease progresses. It becomes more difficult to treat other health conditions in a person with Alzheimer’s due to cognitive changes, impaired judgment and memory loss brought on by the condition. For example, people afflicted with the condition may fail to follow a prescribed treatment plan for another illness and may fail as well to notice any other medication’s side effects, which might lead to a minor health issue turning into a severe problem.

If you need assistance with taking care of your loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or another dementia, at Senior Sanctuary of Anthem- an award-winning North Phoenix assisted living facility, your loved one can continue to lead an active lifestyle and receive just the right amount of care they need, when they need it. We cater to every individual’s unique set of needs and preferences. Our compassionate memory care enables our residents to enjoy their best life—even as life changes.

As Alzheimer’s progresses, a person’s ability to balance as well as control their bladder and bowels significantly gets impacted, which makes senior loved ones vulnerable to several serious health complications, including

Dehydration- Alzheimer’s can make it challenging to sense thirst or to swallow. The more difficult it becomes to ingest food or water, the more likely a senior with Alzheimer’s may suffer dehydration or malnutrition, and not drinking enough fluids or eating adequately can cause fatigue, dizziness, confusion and headaches.

Falls- As we’ve already mentioned your balance and coordination gets hugely affected by Alzheimer’s, and poor balance can lead to falls and related injuries, such as fractures, serious head injuries, etc. In fact, senior people with Alzheimer’s disease are thrice as likely to have a hip fracture as adults without the disease.

Incontinence- Incontinence is loss of control over the bladder or bowels, which can be a result of medication side effects, loss of bodily control, etc. It is common as Alzheimer’s advances to later stages.

Malnutrition- In the later stages of Alzheimer’s, people may lose their appetite or forget to eat, consequently leading to malnutrition occurring due to inadequate consumption of vitamins and minerals. Talk to your doctor who can recommend foods and supplements that can help prevent malnutrition. Make sure to talk to your doctor to learn if malnutrition is a risk for a senior loved one who doesn’t eat very much.

Depression- Up to 40 percent of people with Alzheimer’s also have depression mainly occurring as a result of cognitive decline and a lack of social interaction, which also gives rise to aggressive or violent behavior, delusions, mood swings and personality changes.

Other Health Problems- People with Alzheimer’s find it difficult to communicate that they don’t feel well or are going through pain. The onus is on caregivers to recognize hidden pain gestures and other visual cues. Notify your doctor if you are caring for someone who you think might be in pain. The doctor after evaluating your loved one will prescribe medication to help ease the pain.

An individual loses his/her ability to move around well in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, which puts them at an increased risk of infections, such as the flu and pneumonia. Loss of bladder control may necessitate insertion of a urinary catheter, which increases the risk for urinary tract infections.

While the complications can be serious, thankfully, many complications are treatable, and you can also prevent some of them by incorporating certain lifestyle habits into the routine, such as eating a low-fat diet comprising cold-water fish (tuna, salmon and mackerel) that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, keeping the blood pressure in check, increasing intake of antioxidants by eating a variety of dark-colored fruits and vegetables, and lastly, by staying mentally and  socially active throughout life.