Table 3 Knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease
From: Public awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward Alzheimer’s disease in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia
Answer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Wrong | Right | Do not know | |
Risk factors | |||
It has been scientifically proven that mental exercise can prevent a person from getting Alzheimer’s disease. | 64.5% | 3.5% | 32% |
People in their 30s can have Alzheimer’s disease. | 28.3% | 19.5% | 52.2% |
Having high cholesterol may increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. | 10% | 14.9% | 75% |
Prescription drugs that help delay progression of Alzheimer’s disease are available. | 17.2% | 23.5% | 59.2% |
Having high blood pressure may increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. | 13.5% | 15.7% | 70.7% |
Genes can only partially account for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. | 14.5% | 38% | 47.5% |
Life impact | |||
People with Alzheimer’s disease are particularly prone to depression. | 7.4% | 44.4% | 48.3% |
Most people with Alzheimer’s disease live in nursing homes. | 12.7% | 46.5% | 4.8% |
It is safe for people with Alzheimer’s disease to drive, as long as they have a companion in the car at all times. | 27.7% | 49.9% | 22.3% |
Assessment and diagnosis | |||
When a person with Alzheimer’s disease becomes agitated, a medical assessment might reveal other health problems that caused the agitation. | 3.4% | 41% | 55.6 |
If trouble with memory and confusion started suddenly, it is likely due to Alzheimer’s disease. | 20.2% | 37% | 42.9% |
Symptoms of severe depression can be mistaken for symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. | 17.8% | 25.4% | 56.8% |
Alzheimer’s disease is one type of dementia. | 9.4% | 71% | 19.7% |
Course | |||
After symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear, the average life expectancy is 6 to 12 years. | 10.7% | 14.3% | 75% |
In rare cases, people have recovered from Alzheimer’s disease. | 24.7% | 16.6% | 58.7% |
A person with Alzheimer’s disease becomes increasingly likely to fall down as the disease gets worse. | 5.9% | 55.4% | 38.7% |
Eventually, a person with Alzheimer’s disease will need 24-h supervision. | 4.7% | 80.2% | 15.1% |
Caregiving | |||
People with Alzheimer’s disease do best with simple instructions given one step at a time. | 10.4% | 40.2% | 49.4% |
When people with Alzheimer’s disease begin to have difficulty taking care of themselves, caregivers should take over right away. | 86.5% | 5.3% | 8.2% |
If a person with Alzheimer’s disease becomes alert and agitated at night, a good strategy is to try to make sure that the person gets plenty of physical activity during the day. | 12.3% | 42.8% | 44.9% |
When people with Alzheimer’s disease repeat the same question or story several times, it is helpful to remind them that they are repeating themselves. | 25% | 49% | 26.1% |
Once people have Alzheimer’s disease, they are no longer capable of making informed decisions about their own care. | 68.3% | 5.4% | 26.3% |
Treatment | |||
People whose Alzheimer’s disease is not yet severe can benefit from psychotherapy for depression and anxiety. | 4.4% | 47.9% | 47.7% |
Poor nutrition can make the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease worse. | 6.6% | 63.6% | 29.8% |
When a person has Alzheimer’s disease, using reminder notes can contribute to decline. | 12.5% | 43.7% | 43.7% |
Alzheimer’s disease cannot be cured. | 27.6% | 27.5% | 44.9% |
Symptoms | |||
Tremor or shaking of the hands or arms is a common symptom in people with Alzheimer’s disease. | 20.9% | 25.9% | 53.2% |
Trouble handling money or paying bills is a common early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. | 17.7% | 33.3% | 49.1% |
One symptom that can occur with Alzheimer’s disease is believing that other people are stealing one’s things. | 10.6% | 41.6% | 47.8% |
Most people with Alzheimer’s disease remember recent events better than things that happened in the past. | 16.5% | 50.7% | 32.8% |