There are many myths associated with Alzheimer’s disease, some quite believable ones and some not so believable ones, here we debunk the myths of Alzheimer’s disease.

1 – Alzheimer’s is not a fatal disease

Myth! Alzheimer’s is a fatal disease in that it can contribute to death, or the cause of death. Sufferers will live an average of 8 years or 20 years from the first point of showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s – half as long as those not suffering from the disease. Alzheimer’s isn’t immediately life threatening, it is a slow and gradual disease that affects other parts of the body too. Because many sufferers who do die can also have suffered with other illnesses and diseases, it can be quite difficult to determine whether or not Alzheimer’s actually played a greater role in the death.

Alzheimer’s disease is a horrible, awful condition that is just as stressful for family members, loved ones and caregivers as it is for the actual sufferer themselves, and therefore Alzheimer’s support and help is a vital component in coping with the disease for all involved.

For the actual Alzheimer’s sufferer the support and help of loved ones and friends is essential. As the disease advances the individual becomes more and more dependent on others to live as normal a life as Alzheimer’s permits them to do so, which gradually decreases with progression.

During the first stages of the disease most sufferers can cope with everyday tasks such as dressing themselves, going to the toilet and even going off to work for example, but as Alzheimer’s progresses life can become very uncomfortable for the individual where everyday tasks are a tough obstacle to negotiate at the best of times.

We are looking for real life Alzheimer’s stories so if you have a story to tell or an experience to share, use the form below to write in and we’ll publish your story. Alternatively you can read real life stories already sent in to us, from below…

Your real life stories

Mom’s Alzheimer’s Story

“My mom was diagnosed with AD just over 4 years ago now. At first myself and my family didn’t know what Alzheimer’s was really, other than it impaired memory. Pretty soon we learned all about this horrible disease, we had to!

“Mom has progressively gotten worse and the bad times are very bad but every now and again, hope remains with some positive moments where dear mom is her normal self. But we all recognize this is the exception to the rule.

“We have made sure she lives a good standard of life still and despite her illness, she’s a fighter, we all are now, so to everyone affected by AD – keep fighting.” – Mark B