How MMJ Health can help Alzheimer Patients
What is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s disease, also referred to as senile dementia is a progressive brain disease that affects one’s memory, ability to think clearly and their behavior. This is the most common form of dementia, and with time, brain cell connections begin to weaken, degenerate, and die, causing individuals to lose all cognitive abilities over time.
Symptoms of Alzheimer's
There are multiple warning signs and symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease including:
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Inability to plan or solve problems
- Trouble completing familiar tasks
- Losing track of dates, time, and/or seasons
- Finding difficulties speaking, writing, or holding a conversation
- Misplacing items and inability to retrace steps
- Experiencing drastic changes in mood and personality changes
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Different Types of Alzheimer's
Though the effects of the disease are similar, there are two main types of Alzheimer’s disease: Early-onset Alzheimer’s and Late-onset Alzheimer’s.
Early-onset Alzheimer's
Early-onset Alzheimer’s occurs to those who are younger than age 65. Often, people begin noticing symptoms of mental decline. Your healthcare provider can then diagnose Early-onset Alzheimer disease with a few cognitive tests of memory, problem solving, and other mental skills.
Late-onset Alzheimer's
Late-onset Alzheimer’s is the most common form of the disease, and affects people generally over the age of 65. Senile dementia symptoms in this stage are more advanced and severe as memory and cognitive skills have drastically worsened over time. At this stage, individuals may require around-the-clock care, lose awareness of recent events and experiences, and even become more vulnerable to infections.
Diagnosing Alzheimer's
To diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, your doctor will conduct several tests to assess your memory and critical thinking skills, and identify behavioral changes. Upon evaluation your doctor will also review your medical history, and any medication you may be taking. Your doctor will then perform a routine physical evaluation to check your health conditions.
Your physician may also order additional laboratory tests in order to rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms such as a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or depression. The most common lab tests ordered to determine Alzheimer’s disease include:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses radio waves to produce advanced imagery of your brain.
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan, which uses X-rays to see cross-sectional images of the brain.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan, which uses a radioactive substance that detects clusters of plaques often associated with Alzheimer's dementia.
Diagnosing Alzheimer's
To diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, your doctor will conduct several tests to assess your memory and critical thinking skills, and identify behavioral changes. Upon evaluation your doctor will also review your medical history, and any medication you may be taking. Your doctor will then perform a routine physical evaluation to check your health conditions.
Your physician may also order additional laboratory tests in order to rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms such as a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or depression. The most common lab tests ordered to determine Alzheimer’s disease include:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses radio waves to produce advanced imagery of your brain.
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan, which uses X-rays to see cross-sectional images of the brain.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan, which uses a radioactive substance that detects clusters of plaques often associated with Alzheimer's dementia.
Please see a licensed doctor to get properly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. All MMJ doctors are Board Certified Members of the Society of Clinicians, the American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine, the ASA International MMJ Research Society, and the Palm Beach County Medical Society. Our health professionals are highly knowledgeable Medical Marijuana Specialists that can create a treatment plan that works for your lifestyle.
What can a Florida Medical Marijuana clinic do for Alzheimer’s?
While there is ongoing research on the effects of cannabis and treatment of dementia, there is currently no evidence that cannabis is useful for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
Cannabis does however contain a variety of chemical compounds known as cannabinoids, which are known to have an effect on the brain. These cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system in your body, which regulates numerous bodily functions when the cells are exposed. When these cannabinoid receptors are activated, it affects neurochemicals in the brain, which can have an impact on the various mental processes including one’s mood, anxiety, memory and learning abilities, and appetite.
Although there is no evidence that medical cannabis is useful for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer’s, you may have questions or concerns about cannabis. If you are living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia and would like to talk to our certified Florida Marijuana doctors, you can book an appointment and come to any of our 10 convenient MMJ Health locations.
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