Pointing out that Alzheimer's disease, the most basic symptom of which is forgetfulness, is challenging for the patient as well as for the patient's relatives, Expert Psychologist Tara Çapar said, “Mental disorders such as increased stress level, strain, anxiety and depression have been observed in caregivers. Psychological support is offered to these people in case of need.”
Acıbadem Adana Hospital Specialist Psychologist Tara Çapar gave information about the psychological dimension of Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia in which memory and cognitive abilities are impaired. Stating that Alzheimer's disease is seen in 10 percent of the population after the age of 65 and in 50 percent over the age of 85, Psychologist Çapar emphasized that the most common symptom seen throughout the course of the disease is forgetfulness.
Stating that Alzheimer's usually starts and progresses insidiously, Psychologist Çapar said, “As a result of research, it is known that Alzheimer's is a degenerative brain disease that damages brain neurons and causes impairments in mental functions, memory, judgment, perception, behavior and abstract thinking. Early-onset Alzheimer's progresses more rapidly, with destruction occurring in a short period of time. Recent memory is the first to deteriorate. For example, when the patient is asked to repeat the words spoken during a memory examination, the patient can repeat them immediately without error, but when asked to say the words again after three to four minutes, he cannot repeat them.”
Psychologist Çapar stated that in the early stages of the disease, problems such as impaired language function, difficulty in understanding and expression, inability to name, write, read, apraxia, that is, mispronunciation of sounds, inability to recognize, inability to recognize people, inability to remember, inability to take care of oneself with impairments in the frontal lobe of the brain, which carries out functions such as abstraction, planning, sequencing and termination.
“Psychological symptoms such as anxiety and restlessness are also seen”
Stating that psychotic symptoms are seen in one third of the patients in researches, Psychologist Çapar said, “Patients may say that their belongings have been stolen or moved. They may believe that strangers are disguised as their relatives. They may be anxious, joyless, restless and nervous. Although it is stated that it is not specific to the disease, depression, paranoid psychosis, severe depression, panic and agitation may be common in the later stages. Again, in advanced stages, patients may not be able to take care of themselves, may wet themselves, may have no appetite, may lose weight, may feel weak, and may not be able to get out of bed.”
Pointing out that relatives of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's also face various problems, Psychologist Çapar explained that these problems negatively affect the quality of life and well-being of both the patient and the caregiver. She stated that the most important of these problems are organizing daily life activities and living conditions; planning the care of the patient and communicating.
“The caregiver may also need psychosocial support”
Emphasizing that the communication capacity and skills of the person decrease after the early stage of the disease, Psychologist Çapar said: “Patients may have difficulties in communicating their feelings, thoughts and needs. Therefore, there may be difficulties in communicating with caregivers such as family members, friends, relatives and other people around them. Decreased ability to speak negatively affects many aspects, including psychological, behavioral and emotional. Knowing how to care for the patient and learning how to organize living conditions are among the most important factors that relatives should pay attention to. Moreover, in studies conducted with caregivers, mental disorders such as increased stress levels, strain, anxiety, depression and social isolation have been observed when the caregiver spends most of his/her time with the patient. With the increase in the burden of care, mental symptoms such as disturbances in sleep patterns, family problems, anxiety, anxiety of being alone can also wear out caregivers.”
Psychologist Çapar, who emphasized the importance of psychosocial support to be offered to the relatives of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, said: “Supports such as empowerment, well-being, providing information about patient care, important situations to be considered, financial assistance are offered. Caregivers should be supported by directing them to psychological support such as individual, group psychotherapies and family therapy as needed.”
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