If you are unable to work because of Altzheimers Dementia you may be able to make a TPD claim for a lump sum from the Total & Permanent Disablement insurance contained within your superannuation fund. There is no necessity for you to have been involved in an accident or to have suffered a work related injury to make a TPD claim. If you suffer from total and permanent disability you may be able to make a TPD claim in addition to receiving your super early as a result of your condition. Our TPD claim solicitors can advise you in detail as to the requirements of a successful submission and will prepare all relevant paperwork and will obtain full supporting documentation. Our lawyers will give you free advice on the likely success of your claim to a super fund without further obligation. It cost nothing to use our free advice service.

Our Altzheimers TPD claim solicitors use a risk free no win no fee arrangement.

We have offices situated in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Darwin.

Altzheimers Dementia - TPD Total and Permanent Disability Claims

Alzheimer's dementia (or disease) is the most common type of dementia known. It results in things like memory loss, behavioural changes, social changes and other mental problems. Alzheimer's dementia usually occurs in the elderly; however, cases as early as in the thirties have been noted.

Memory loss is perhaps the main symptom noted in Alzheimer's dementia but there is usually at least one other brain dysfunction along with it such as language difficulties or behavioural problems. The main symptoms of dementia include loss of memory, communication difficulties, difficulty planning or organizing one's life, inability to learn new information, motor function difficulty and coordination difficulty, personality changes, changes in ability to reason, inappropriate behaviour, agitation, hallucinations and paranoia.

Alzheimer's dementia is a progressive disease that usually starts with memory loss and progressed to include all of the above symptoms (or at least most of them). There is no known cause of Alzheimer's dementia but it is known that the brain develops plaques in brain tissue and neurofibrillary tangles within the brain. These kill off normal neural transmission and the process takes up to ten years for it to maximize. Symptoms usually begin after the age of sixty.

Risk factors for Alzheimer's dementia include age over sixty, family history, which seems to play a role in getting the disease, alcohol use, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and depression. Diabetes puts you at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia and high oestrogen levels. Excessive blood levels of homocysteine are related to Alzheimer's dementia and a smoking history will put you at higher risk.

Doctors can diagnose Alzheimer's dementia using a thorough history and physical examination, including a neurological examination. The physical examination can rule out reversible causes of dementia and can show if there is any evidence of stroke. Blood pressure and medications are looked into to make sure they aren't contributing to dementia.

There are cognitive tests, such as the mini-mental status exam, which can show early dementia. More complicated neuropsychological testing can be done by a specialist team. They can tell you whether the dementia is severe and sometimes what kind of dementia it is. As mentioned, it is usually Alzheimer's dementia. Further neurological testing reveals any problems with balance, sensation and reflexes.

A brain scan, in the form of a CT scan of the head or an MRI scan of the head can sometimes show suspicious changes for Alzheimer's dementia. The brain can show areas of shrinkage where the brain has lost mass. An EEG can show areas of electrical activity of the brain suspicious for Alzheimer's disease. Dementia-associated seizures can be picked up on using an EEG. A psychiatric evaluation can show reversible causes of dementia and exacerbating features, such as depression. Personality changes can be detected via a psychiatric evaluation.

The treatment of Alzheimer's dementia is possible through the use of cholinesterase inhibitors such as Aricept and Exelon. These medications boost the level of acetylcholine in the body and treat early dementia. Namenda is used for Alzheimer's dementia as well. It regulates glutamate activity in the brain, which is another chemical neurotransmitter in the brain that contributes to learning, thought and memory. Namenda can be used along with cholinesterase inhibitors for maximal effect. Medications to control diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol can have a secondary effect on the development and worsening of Alzheimer's dementia. Sedatives are used to calm patients with Alzheimer's dementia and to help them sleep.

Physical and occupational therapy can help Alzheimer's patients continue to remember the behaviour and movements they once had without the rapid decline seen in other patients. The role of physical and occupational therapy is questionable because it doesn't seem to slow the progression of the disease to a great degree.

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