Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 9 : Summer 2011 | Page 64

ADVANCED ALZHEIMER’S and OTHER DEMENTIA GUIDE FOR CAREGIVERS Presented by Professional Home Nursing Darlene Foster, RN Alzheimer’s is a form of Dementia. Dementia is not a disease itself, but rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions. Dementia is the loss of mental functions such as thinking, memory and reasoning. Alzheimer’s Dementia symptoms include changes in personality, mood, and behavior. Alzheimer’s when more advanced interferes with a person’s daily functioning. Alzheimer’s can be treated but not cured. Diseases that can lead to dementia are: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diseases of the blood vessels such as stroke, excessive drug or alcohol use, nutritional deficiencies such as B12 and folate deficiency, AIDS dementia, head injuries, brain tumors, kidney, liver and lung diseases. WHAT BEHAVIORS SHOULD I EXPECT AND WHAT CAUSES THEM? lzheimer’s disease [