All City Caregivers, a trusted provider of home care services in Simi Valley, California, debunks some of the most common myths surrounding Alzheimer’s disease.
- Myth: It’s a normal part of aging.
Fact: Some memory loss is a normal part of aging. For instance, it’s normal to forget where you placed your keys from time to time. However, Alzheimer’s is more than just simple memory loss – it is a degenerative brain disease that causes physical changes to a person’s brain. The disease is unfortunately irreversible and progressive – but it is not an inevitable part of aging. - Myth: It only affects the elderly.
Fact: Yes, our risk of Alzheimer’s increases as we age, and the majority of people with this disease are age 65 and older. However, statistics show that roughly 5% of people develop symptoms before age 65. Most people with early-onset Alzheimer’s develop symptoms in their 40s and 50s. - Myth: There are treatments that can stop the disease from progressing.
Fact: Certain medications can help alleviate some of their symptoms. Some FDA-approved medications that can treat Alzheimer’s symptoms include donepezil, tacrine, and rivastigmine. Unfortunately, there is currently no way to slow or stop the disease itself. Experts warn patients against medication regimens or supplements that claim to cure Alzheimer’s. - Myth: Alzheimer’s can be caused by aluminum and silver fillings.
Fact: You may have heard that using aluminum kitchenware (i.e. using aluminum pans for cooking) and silver dental fillings (also known as amalgam fillings) can cause Alzheimer’s disease. However, there is no scientific evidence to back these claims.
Conclusion
As your trusted home health aide in California, we want you to have the right information. We hope that this has been able to help you separate fact from fiction when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease.
