Why Your Aging Parent Could be at Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease
Home Care in Indian Hill OH
Alzheimer’s disease is typically not a condition that develops out of the blue one day. There are a wide range of risk factors that contribute to the likelihood that your elderly parent will have the disease. Most of these factors are unavoidable, while a few can be prevented.
With these risk factors in mind, you may be able to have a better idea if this is something you should be concerned that your loved one will develop in the future.
- Being over the age of 65. The older your parent gets, the higher their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease is. For example, 1 out of 9 adults over the age of 65 are at risk for this disease, while 1 out of 3 adults over the age of 85 are at risk.
- Family history. If a brother, sister, parent, grandparent, cousin, or other family member has had this disease, that automatically puts you and your loved one at risk.
- Genes. There are two types of genes to be aware of: risk and deterministic genes. Risk genes means that there is an increased likelihood the senior will get the disease, but does not necessarily mean it will happen. Deterministic genes, on the other hand, guarantees that anyone who inherits the disease will get it.
- Trauma to the head. If your loved one has experienced trauma repeatedly to the head and has had a loss of consciousness as a result, they are at a high risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.
- Weak heart. If the heart is not healthy, then the brain probably is not either. This is because the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood to the brain. If an adequate amount of this blood is not reaching the brain, it could cause permanent damage to the brain cells.
- Poor lifestyle choices. Another reason some people are more inclined to getting Alzheimer’s disease than others could be because of the choices they are making. A poor diet, lack of challenging activities (like reading or doing puzzles), or failing to stay physically active could all take a toll on the health of the elder’s brain.
Even if your loved one does develop Alzheimer’s disease, it could be years before any serious symptoms arise. As the disease progresses, they may still be able to live in their home with the supervision and care of a home care provider. For more tips on keeping your loved one safe and healthy, talk to the elder’s doctor.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Indian Hill, OH, please contact the caring staff at Queen City Elder Care today. Serving Cincinnati and Surrounding Communities. Call Us Today (513) 510-4410.
Source:
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_causes_risk_factors.asp
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