COMMON MYTHS ABOUT ALZHEIMERS DISEASE

Alzheimer’s is a commonly misunderstood disease. It affects many people and their families each year, but there are many misinterpretations and myths associated with the disease. There are five common myths associated with Alzheimer’s and dispelling the myths can help many individuals find better treatment for the disease. The first myth involves memory loss and the aging process. Many people believe that memory loss is a natural part of aging, and some believe Alzheimer’s is also a natural part of aging. However, Alzheimer’s is not a part of aging; it is a serious disease that does not affect every elderly person. Severe memory loss is recognized as a symptom of serious illness. It has never been proven that age causes memory loss, but many individuals will admit that their memories decline as they grow older. If an aging person experiences excessive memory loss, it should not be passed over as a normal part of aging.

clear signs of Alzheimer’s disease

If an elderly person forgets simple and common things, then they may be showing clear signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The second common myth about Alzheimer’s disease is that the disease is not fatal. However, many people should know that Alzheimer’s is a fatal disease. Victims of Alzheimer’s may live for 3 to 20 years, but the disease is fatal for all victims. The disease begins with the destruction of cells in regions of the brain that are important for memory and thinking functions. Eventually, the loss of cells in other regions of the brain will occur, and will lead to the failure of essential systems in the body. The disease will also eventually cause the complete loss of all brain functions. If a person with Alzheimer’s has no other serious diseases, then the disease will be the single factor in the death of an individual.

The third myth about Alzheimer’s is that drinking from aluminum cans or cooking with aluminum pots and pans can lead to the disease. Disposing of aluminum products will not protect anyone from getting the Alzheimer’s disease. Aluminum’s role in causing Alzheimer’s disease is currently being researched and debated. However, there isn’t any sufficient evidence to show that aluminum is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s or a cause for dementia. Another common myth is that aspartame causes memory loss. There is no scientific evidence that supports the theory that aspartame affects cognitive function and memory loss. The aspartame product is used in foods and beverages, such as NutraSweet® and Equal®. So, consumers are able to consume these sweeteners without worrying about the products causing the Alzheimer’s disease.

progression of Alzheimer’s disease

The final myth is that natural therapies are able to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but there are several treatments available. The treatments may be effective in slowing down the declination of cognitive functions, but they are not able to completely stop the process. The FDA-approved drugs are effective in temporarily improve or stabilize the memory and thinking skills in individuals. There are also alternative medicines to the FDA-approved drugs, but they have not been proven effective in treating the disease.

Copyright © MMX Mark E. Wilkins

DO YOU KNOW YOUR  IQ?

What exactly is an Intelligence Quotient? It’s a score derived from a set of standardized tests that scientists have developed to try and accurately measure a person’s cognitive abilities, in relation to others in their own age group. It’s usually used in addition to others related to academic success.

Click to Improve your IQ

In 1974, David Wechsler developed the WISC-III test. In 2003, a revised version was released called WISC-IV. Nowadays, you can even take online IQ tests. While they’re popular and fun, they are not expert certified, nor are they as long as the traditional tests, as well as lacking the usual time limit.

average IQ score is 100

The average IQ score is 100, so if your score happens to be 100, it means that half of the population scores higher than you, and half scores lower than you. According to studies, 50% of people have scores between 90 and 110, 2.5% of people are very superior in intelligence, that is, they have a score over 130. 2.5% of people are mentally deficient and possess a score of under 70, while .5% of people are near genius, possessing a score of over 140.

standard IQ test

The types of problems covered in the standard IQ test are:

Verbal

Mathematical

Spatial

Logic

Pattern Recognition

Visualization

Classification

Verbal: The verbal part of the test also encompasses reading, writing, and communicating with words and is mainly a test of your vocabulary, your ability to learn verbal material, as well as your reasoning and problem solving abilities.

Mathematical: The mathematical section of the IQ test measures your ability to reason and do basic mathematical computations. It also measures your understanding of geometric shapes and equations. Isn’t it amazing how often you are required to perform mathematical computations in your everyday life, whether it’s calculating your monthly budget, or making use of fractions in your cooking?

Spatial: Spatial skills are the ability to manipulate three-dimensional objects, flipping or rotating them to figure out the problem.

Logic: You don’t have to be a great detective to need good logic. It’s important to develop your ability to think things through, learn about cause and effect. In this test, your ability to understand and follow rules is measured.

Pattern Recognition: Can you see some kind of order in even your own chaotic environment? Then this part of the test will be easy for you. Even in the chaos, you’ll find patterns in words, pictures, symbols and ideas.

Visualization: This part of the test determines how well you understand visual patterns and use that information for future use. Learning how pieces of information fit together to produce the desired result, actually, helps improve your long-term memory.

Classification: In this part, you’ll be tested on how well you organize collections of items. You must find the similarities and differences between these items or groups of items. You’ll be shown pictures, words, ideas, etc. and questioned about the relationship between them. Good classification skills help you understand the world and how it works.

A score of 90-109 is considered normal or average, while a score of 110-119 is superior intelligence. 120-140 is measured as very superior intelligence, and scores over 140 are genius or near genius. Albert Einstein had an IQ of 160!

The difficulty in using standard IQ tests is that not everyone has been exposed to the same type of environment or experiences. Children who are given these tests and fail to do well are sometimes labeled as slow. This could be disastrous for their future. You must keep in mind that an IQ score does not reflect the value of a person, nor should it be linked to things like a person’s achievement in their career or whether or not they are happy.

So, while it might be fun to take one of these online IQ tests, keep things in perspective. Labels can be dangerous.

Copyright © MMX Mark E. Wilkins