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- What is Alzheimer's disease?
- Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
- Causes of Alzheimer's disease
- Prevention of Alzheimer's disease
- Risk factors for Alzheimer's disease
- Complications of Alzheimer's disease
- When to see a doctor about Alzheimer's disease
- Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease
- Conventional treatment of Alzheimer's disease
- Alternative/complementary treatment of Alzheimer's disease
- Living with Alzheimer's disease
- Caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease
Complications of Alzheimer's disease?
The ultimate complication of Alzheimer's disease is death, but most people with Alzheimer's disease normally pass away from other illness (such as pneumonia) before the ultimate end from Alzheimer's disease.
The most common complications of having advanced Alzheimer's disease are:
- Losing control of bodily functions - the most common complications in people with later stage Alzheimer's disease is the inability to control any of their bodily functions, from eating, to being incontinent and to soiling their undergarments due to inability to control the emptying of the bowels. Some people with Alzheimer's disease may be at such a late stage that they require a respirator to help them breath, because their lungs are not able to function properly
- Injuries from falls - people who have later stage Alzheimer's disease often fall as they are starting to lose control of their bodily function and/or become easily disorientated. Falls are a common cause of serious head injuries, hip fractures and arm or leg injuries. Falls can also cause bleeding in the brain (if serious enough)
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- Pneumonia - this is one of the most common infections in people with Alzheimer's disease. When this conditions is in the advanced stage, it may be difficult for the person to swallow properly, as the muscles in their throat are not able to function properly. Due to this disability, it means they may inhale a tiny portion of the food or drink they are being fed and this may cause a pneumonia infection. Very often people with Alzheimer's disease pass away from a pneumonia infection when they are in the late stage of the disease, as their body cannot cope with this type of infection
- Serious infections - many people with later stage Alzheimer's disease become incontinent, so require the insertion of a catheter which may become infected, causing a urinary tract infection. An untreated urinary tract infection could have really serious consequences. In addition to this, there are other infections that a person with late stage Alzheimer's disease could develop, that could easily become very serious and life threatening
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< 5: risk factors 7: when to see a doctor > Last reviewed: 7 October 2007 || Last updated: 12 March 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
