One of my dearest friends has dementia. I believe it to be Alzheimer’s disease, although he refuses to seek help for a diagnosis. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and causes memory problems that begin slowly and then become so overwhelming that one cannot perform the simplest of tasks.

Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. Aging is merely a risk factor. Most of the people with Alzheimer’s are 65 years and older, but about 5 percent of the cases are younger onset Alzheimer’s affecting people in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

I’ve noticed my friend forgetting things more and more often, and today, he couldn’t understand a conversation that progressed from one thought to the next. He was lost and frustrated. He refuses to admit anything is wrong, preferring to seek solitude and getting angry when his friends suggest he seek professional help. He’s adamant that all of us, his friends, are the problem.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments for symptoms. The treatments can often slow the symptoms and at least improve the quality of life for the affected person, not to mention their caretakers and family members. But these treatments work for only about 50 percent of the people who take them, and the minimal help they may provide might last only 6 months to a year.

There is great hope that someday there will be a cure. It would be helpful to diagnose the disease before onset, then be able to delay the onset or stop it altogether. Currently, people cannot survive Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. After diagnosis, life span is usually 4 to 20 years, depending upon other health considerations and the age of the patient. The worst thing is, it destroys brain cells, destroys memory, and destroys a person’s identity. Eventually the patient can’t think, talk, eat, walk or even breathe.

Memory loss is not a normal part of aging. Some occasional loss is normal, but Alzheimer’s actually causes the brain to malfunction and die. When this happens, there are big gaps in memory. This is when friends and family should become concerned and seek medical advice.

There are other clinical diagnoses that could bring on the same symptoms, such as vitamin deficiencies or a reaction to a medication. Similar symptoms could also be the result of a stroke, tumors, Parkinson’s disease or even sleep disturbances. This is why seeing a doctor is imperative.

Many substances such as aluminum, Aspartame and even flu shots have been thought to cause Alzheimer’s. There is no scientific research to support this. In fact, one study has shown that individuals who were vaccinated against the flu, polio, tetanus and diptheria could possibly have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

If you suspect a family member has Alzheimer’s, there are some little tests that you can conduct at home. Simple memory tests, such as having them recall something you just said a few sentences previously, or solving a simple problem, and counting, are examples.

If the patient will willingly go to the doctor, tests that might be taken would first be standard tests such as blood and urine tests. Following this, the patient would most probably have a CT or MRI. This would identify other underlying causes such as tumors or a stroke. Although an absolute diagnosis of Alzheimer’s cannot be made until after death in autopsy, doctors can be fairly accurate with their diagnosis.

Urge the patient to seek professional help if at all possible. An early diagnosis will give you time to take care of legal and financial matters. And if it is not Alzheimer’s, perhaps the condition is treatable or even reversible.

Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel is executive director of the Community Hiking Club and president of the Santa Clara River Watershed Conservancy. Contact Dianne through communityhikingclub.org or at zuliebear@aol.com.