Alzheimer's Disease
Easing the Pain

Is It Really Alzheimer's Disease?

IF AN elderly person experiences acute confusion, do not jump to the conclusion that it is due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Many things, such as a bereavement, a sudden move to a new home, or an infection, can cause an elderly person to become disoriented. In many cases acute confusion in older people is reversible.

Even with AD patients, a sudden decline in the person's condition, such as the onset of incontinence, is not necessarily caused by AD dementia. AD progresses slowly. "A sudden deterioration," explains the book Alzheimer's Disease and Other Confusional States, "usually means that an acute condition (such as a chest or urine infection) has occurred. A small group of [AD] sufferers do seem to have a more rapid downwards course . . . For most, however, the decline is quite slow, especially if the person is well cared for and any other medical problems are tackled early and effectively." Incontinence in an AD patient may be due to some other treatable health problem. "The first step is always to consult the [doctor]," explains the advice sheet Incontinence, produced by the Alzheimer's Disease Society of London.

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