Diabetes and Alzheimer's. How people with diabetes can reduce their risk of Alzheimer's.
Public health officials were already concerned about the projected increase in the number of Alzheimer's cases that will occur simply because the aging baby boom generation is so large. Now they worry there may be even more Alzheimer's cases than expected.
That's because diabetes — a strong risk factor for dementias like Alzheimer's — also becomes more common with age. Type 2 diabetes, which is by far the most common form of the disease, often occurs in people who weigh too much and exercise too little — a group that includes a large proportion of baby boomers.
Luckily, type 2 diabetes can often be prevented if you maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly. And if you already have diabetes, controlling your blood sugar with diet and medication, if needed, appears to decrease your risk of Alzheimer's.
Interview your loved one
You may want to start by interviewing your relative or friend about his or her family history, nationality, heritage, traditions and celebrations. Ask about favorite sports, books, music and hobbies. You may want to ask about cultural and historical events. Go all the way back to childhood. Childhood games, homes and pets are good starting topics. As Alzheimer's progresses, your loved one will be less able to remember more recent events.
This is a great opportunity to reminisce, an activity that most people with Alzheimer's enjoy tremendously. Depending on the status of your relative's or friend's memory, you may also want to interview neighbors, co-workers, old friends and other family members and record their memories of your loved one.
Documents also help
Other sources of information can include old documents, important papers or personal correspondence. You may want to make copies of precious photos and documents so that they won't get lost or ruined. These types of scrapbooks typically get a lot of use.
"By creating a life story, you affirm for your loved one all the positive things he or she has done in life and can still do," says Dr. Smith. "Even after your relative's memories start to fade, creating a life story shows that you value and respect his or her legacy. It also reminds you who your loved one was before Alzheimer's disease."
A terminal disease
Alzheimer's is inevitably terminal. Medications can ease symptoms and delay the progress of the disease, but there is no cure.
Worse yet, Alzheimer's eventually robs people of the intellectual capacity to make decisions about their own medical care. That's one of the reasons why it's so important to talk about these types of choices early in the course of the disease and prepare a legally binding advance directive.
Comfort, not life extension
The Alzheimer's Association's Ethics Advisory Panel suggests that efforts to prolong life in the advanced stage of Alzheimer's result in unnecessary suffering for people who could otherwise reach the end of life in relative comfort and peace.
In the panel's view, antibiotics given to treat bacterial infections are considered life-extension efforts. So are invasive technologies — cardiopulmonary resuscitation, dialysis and tube feeding, for example.
At the other extreme, people with end-stage Alzheimer's often receive too little pain medication because they can no longer communicate the fact that they are in pain. A sudden increase in disruptive behavior, such as shouting and striking out at caregivers, may be a sign of inadequate pain control.
Connect through the senses
Even if your loved one doesn't recognize you or can't communicate verbally, there are many ways to show reassurance and love. People with late-stage Alzheimer's experience the world through their senses, so use their senses to maintain a connection.
- Touch. Hold your loved one's hand. Brush his or her hair. Give a gentle massage to the hands, legs or feet.
- Smell. The person may enjoy the smell of a favorite perfume, flower or food.
- Sight. Videos can be relaxing for people with Alzheimer's disease, especially ones with scenes of nature and soft, calming sounds. Many nursing homes have a giant bird cage inside so that the residents can watch and listen to songbirds.
- Hearing. Reading to the person also can be comforting, even if he or she can't understand the words. The tone and rhythm of your voice are soothing.
Last Updated: 11/06/2006
