失智症互動指南

這是一份互動資源，旨在為受失智症影響的個人、家庭和照顧者提供清晰的資訊和支持。一同探索此症狀的複雜性，從根本原因到有效的照護與預防策略。

認識失智症

本節提供關於失智症的基礎知識，區分其與正常老化的不同，並解釋其生物學基礎。您可以使用下方的頁籤來探索核心概念，釐清常見的誤解。

什麼是失智症？

失智症並非單一疾病，而是一個總稱，涵蓋一系列影響大腦的進行性病症。它會導致認知功能（如記憶、思考和解決問題的能力）嚴重下降，足以干擾日常生活。除了認知症狀外，它還可能導致情緒、個性和行為的改變。將失智症視為一種醫學症候群，而非正常老化的一部分，是邁向診斷和有效管理的第一步。

失智症 vs. 正常老化

失智症的類型

失智症有多種成因。了解具體類型至關重要，因為它會影響症狀、病程和治療方法。點擊下方的卡片，了解最常見的失智症類型及其比較。

主要症狀

    大腦變化

    失智症的病程階段

    失智症會隨著時間進展，其病程通常分為三個階段。雖然每個人的經歷都是獨一無二的，但這個框架有助於家屬和照顧者了解預期情況，並隨著需求變化調整照護方式。

    1

    早期（輕度）

    症狀輕微。患者大多能獨立生活，但可能在處理複雜事務（如財務）時需要幫助。常見跡象包括輕微的記憶失誤、找詞困難和社交退縮。

    2

    中期（中度）

    這通常是病程最長的階段。記憶力衰退加劇，對時間和地點的混淆很常見。日常生活需要協助，並可能出現顯著的行為改變。安全成為主要考量。

    3

    晚期（重度）

    患者完全依賴他人照護。溝通能力降到最低，身體機能顯著下降。照護重點在於提供舒適、維護尊嚴和提升生活品質。

    風險與預防

    雖然年齡和基因等風險因素無法改變，但研究顯示，有相當一部分的失智症病例可以透過調整生活方式來預防或延緩。採納有益大腦健康的生活方式是每個人的有力策略。

    預防的力量

    《刺胳針》委員會的研究指出了12個可改變的風險因素。透過在生命各階段應對這些因素，估計高達40%的失智症病例可以被預防或延緩。下圖顯示了這種潛力，突顯了積極健康管理的重要性。

    大腦健康的四大支柱

    ❤️ 管理心血管健康

    控制血壓、管理糖尿病和膽固醇，並維持健康體重。對心臟有益的，對大腦也有益。

    🏃 保持身體活躍

    每週至少進行150分鐘的中等強度運動。運動能保護腦細胞並改善血液循環。

    🥗 採納健康飲食

    遵循富含水果、蔬菜和全穀物的飲食，如地中海飲食。限制加工食品和糖分。

    🧠 挑戰心智並保持社交

    參與終身學習、培養愛好和社交活動。這些能建立「認知儲備」，使大腦更具韌性。

    診斷與治療

    準確的診斷是管理失智症的關鍵。雖然大多數類型的失智症尚無治癒方法，但有多種策略可以幫助管理症狀並改善生活品質。本節概述了診斷過程和目前的治療方法。

    診斷流程

    失智症沒有單一的檢測方法。診斷是一個綜合過程，旨在識別認知衰退的模式並排除其他原因。它涉及多個步驟：

    1. 臨床評估
    病史、身體檢查和實驗室檢測。
    2. 認知評估
    測量記憶、思考和解決問題能力的測試。
    3. 腦部影像
    CT或MRI掃描以尋找結構變化或排除其他問題。
    4. 生物標記 (選擇性)
    進階檢測（PET掃描、腦脊液/血液測試）以檢測疾病蛋白。

    管理與治療策略

    藥物旨在管理症狀，或在某些情況下減緩疾病進展。它們通常與非藥物方法結合使用。

    • 認知增強劑： 如 Donepezil 和 Memantine 等藥物，可以暫時幫助改善某些人的記憶和思考症狀。
    • 疾病調節療法： 一類新藥物（如 Lecanemab）針對早期阿茲海默症的潛在類澱粉蛋白斑塊，以適度減緩其進展。
    • 行為症狀管理： 當其他方法無效時，可謹慎使用抗憂鬱藥或其他藥物來管理嚴重的激動、焦慮或憂鬱。

    支援系統與照護

    失智症不僅影響被診斷的個人，也影響他們的整個支持網絡。為照顧者提供強大的支持和建立包容的社區，對於應對疾病挑戰和確保最佳生活品質至關重要。

    照顧者的旅程

    家庭照顧者是失智症照護的中堅力量。他們的角色要求很高，可能導致高度壓力。照顧者尋求支持至關重要，可以透過教育、諮詢、支持團體和喘息服務來維持自身福祉，這直接影響他們提供的照護品質。

    失智友善社區

    這些倡議旨在提高公眾意識，為失智症患者創造更安全、更包容的環境。透過培訓社區成員和改造公共空間，有助於減少污名，使個人能夠更長時間地保持活躍和參與社會。

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