The philosophy of “use it or lose it” strongly applies to Alzheimer’s patients. A person who is socially and physically active and engages in intellectual activities can forestall and help prevent the disease. Doing crossword puzzles, playing cards, reading and writing can all help keep the brain active.
Later in the disease, many patients will experience severe mental changes that can include paranoia, delusions and hallucinations. This, coupled with often severe insomnia, make it challenging to care for patients and may require consultation with a psychiatrist or moving to a care facility.
