Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1500333
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MAY 31 - JUNE 6, 2023 UCW 15 e National Institute on Aging defines Alzheimer's disease as a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and an individual's ability to think. e majority of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease are 60 and older, which can give the impression that the disorder is exclusive to the elderly. However, younger adults are not immune to the disease, and a small percentage of individuals under 60 could be diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. e prevalence of early-onset Alzheimer's (sometimes referred to as "young-onset Alzheimer's") is unknown. However, early-onset Alzheimer's can affect every aspect of a young person's life, including their relationships, finances and ability to live independently. Such consequences underscore the sig- nificance of greater recognition of the condition and what it entails. What is early-onset Alzheimer's disease? e experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine note that Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and it most often affects older individuals. But in rare cases individuals under 60 can develop Alzheimer's, and Johns Hopkins notes such instances generally affect people in their 40s and 50s. Most types of early-onset Alzheimer's dis- ease are the same, but cases may be categorized as common or genetic Alzheimer's. Common: Johns Hopkins notes that most people with early-onset Alzheimer's have the common form of the disease, which progresses in much the same way as it does in older individuals. Genetic: In rare cases, a young person may be diagnosed with genetic, or familial, Alzheimer's. e United Kingdom-based Alzheimer's Society notes that this is caused by genetic mutations that run in fami- lies. e risk that this mutation will be passed from parents to children is 50%. Individuals who develop genetic Alzheimer's typically have lengthy family histories of the disease and may know several relatives, in addi- tion to a parent, who were affected at a similar age. What are the risk factors for early- onset Alzheimer's? ough people who develop early-onset Alzheimer's disease are most likely to be diagnosed with the common form of the condi- tion, family history of the disease remains the only known risk factor. What are the symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer's? e Alzheimer's Associa- tion notes that health care providers do not generally look for Alzheimer's in young people, which can make the process of diagnosing the condition long and frustrat- ing. Symptoms are often attributed to other factors, such as stress. However, Johns Hopkins reports that the presence of these symptoms could indi- cate a person is in the early stages of early-onset Alzheimer's: •Forgetting important things, par- ticularly newly learned information or important dates •Asking for the same information again and again •Trouble solving basic problems, such as keeping track of bills or fol- lowing a favorite recipe •Losing track of the date or time of year •Losing track of where you are and how you got there •Trouble with depth perception or other vision problems •Trouble joining conversations or finding the right word for something •Misplacing things and not being able to retrace your steps to find it •Increasingly poor judgment •Withdrawal from work and social situations •Changes in mood or personality Symptoms such as memory loss and behaviorial changes, including severe mood swings, are some of the signs that present as early-onset Alzheimer's progresses. Early-onset Alzheimer's is a rare disorder. But its effects can be just as significant as forms of the disease that affect older individuals. The basics of early-onset Alzheimer's a STAFF REPORT HEALTH Early-onset Alzheimer's can affect every aspect of a person's life, including their relationships, finances and ability to live independently. Heart health: Understanding resting heart rate a STAFF REPORT Understanding how the heart works can help people become more attuned to their personal health and wellness. For example, recognition of the importance of heart rate may shed light on aspects of heart health that people may otherwise never think about. According to HealthDirect, heart rate, or pulse, is the number of times the heart beats per minute. A resting heart rate refers to the heart rate when one is relaxed, sitting down or lying down. For normal, healthy adults, a rest- ing heart rate ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute. e American Heart Association indicates that resting heart rate is the heart pumping the lowest amount of blood needed because the body is not exerting itself. A lower resting heart rate is com- mon among people who are very physically fit — sometimes as low as 40 bpm. is results from the heart muscle being very athletic and not having to work very hard to main- tain a steady beat. Resting heart rate differs accord- ing to age. Verywell Health says babies and children have higher resting heart rates because their hearts are smaller. Resting heart rate will gradu- ally decrease until about age 10, at which point it stabilizes through adulthood. Here's the expected rest- ing heart rates based on age. 0-1 month: 70-190 bpm 1-11 months: 80-160 bpm 1-2 years: 80-130 bpm 3-4 years: 80-120 bpm 5-6 years: 75-115 bpm 7-9 years: 70-110 bpm 10 years+: 60-100 bpm Athlete: 40-60 bpm Knowing one's typical resting heart rate can help people stay apprised of their personal health. A lower-than normal resting heart (bradycardia) could in- dicate a congenital heart defect, a heart block- age, heart damage, or abnormally high blood calcium. It also may in- dicate hypothyroidism, hypothermia or other conditions. A higher resting heart rate (tachycardia) may suggest other issues, such as anemia, obesity, dehydration, fever, heart failure, hyperthyroidism, or overconsumption of stimulants like caffeine or nicotine. Resting heart rate is not directly linked to blood pressure and is not an indication of blood pressure problems. Heart rate is measured on the inside of the wrist or on the artery in the neck at the base of the jaw. Pulse should be counted for 30 seconds and then multiplied by two to find beats per minute. Individuals should keep in mind that air temperature, body position, emotions, body size, and medica- tion use can affect heart rate. Checking heart rate several times can provide a more accurate per- ception of resting heart rate. Any concerns should be discussed with a doctor. A resting heart rate refers to the heart rate when one is relaxed, sitting down or lying down.