As medicine has evolved and technology has improved, so has the diagnosis and treatment of several diseases. Alzheimer’s disease, a type of dementia, was once nearly always the diagnosis for patients with severe memory loss. However, today we know that there are many different reasons that could be the root cause of severe memory loss and we also know more about Alzheimer’s disease, and treatment options, than ever before.
While memory problems are usually the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease, not all memory problems are caused by Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s, like most medical conditions, professes differently in each patient, though it typically takes many years to develop and becomes more severe over time. Some early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease include:
- Finding it hard to remember things
- Asking the same questions repeatedly
- Getting lost or losing things
- Taking longer than normal to finish daily tasks
In addition, some thinking problems other than memory loss such as having trouble finding the right words, experiencing vision problems and finding that reasoning is impaired may also signal the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
However, these symptoms do not automatically signal the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and today neurologists are more equipped to tell the difference between Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. While there are not existing treatments that can stop the progression of the disease, doctors no longer see Alzheimer’s as merely a byproduct of aging, but realize that the onset may actually start years, or even decades, before the disease emerges. This important distinction allows doctors to take notice of early warning signs and focus on subtle changes in order to prevent or slow the disease, an opportunity that has never occurred before.
Just as the awareness of the disease and it’s differentiation from other forms of dementia has changed over the past few decades, so has treatment options. Once solely dependent on drug and other invasive therapies, today there are non-drug and other alternative therapies that patients are finding to be fast and effective.
One of the most effective treatment plans comes in the form of Chiropractic Neurology. Because Alzheimer’s is due to reduction in the neurons of the brain, mental stimulation has been shown to slow down the profession of Alzheimer’s. Chiropractic neurology is rooted in the brain-nervous system connection and seeks to harness the power of the brain to generate new connections in the brain and restore lost function. In some cases, improvements to Alzheimer’s patients have been evident after one to two weeks.
While each patient is unique, Chiropractic Neurologists have shown measurable improvements in patients suffering from the harsh effects of Alzheimer’s disease through innovative and non-invasive techniques. If you would like to know more about how Chiropractic Neurology can help you or a loved one, please contact us today at the Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center.