Alzheimer's Disease attacks the brain, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It is the most common form of dementia and the seventh-leading cause of death in the U.S.
Number of people affected:4.5 million – Someone is diagnosed every 72 seconds
Who gets it: Elderly people, typically age 65+
Symptoms: Forgetfulness, inability to recognize familiar faces, confusion
Treatments: Early stages: Medication slows progression; Late stages: None
Doctors to see: Neurologist or Geriatric Psychiatrist
Our brains change as we age. Although most people notice some slowed thinking and occasional problems remembering certain things, serious memory loss, confusion and other major changes in the way our minds work are not a normal part of aging.
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a slow disease, starting with mild memory problems and ending with severe brain damage. The course the disease takes and how fast changes occur vary from person to person. On average, AD patients live from 8 to 10 years after they are diagnosed, though the disease can last for as many as 20 years.
The disease usually begins after age 60, and risk goes up with age. While younger people also may get AD, it is much less common. About 5 percent of men and women ages 65 to 74 have AD, and nearly half of those age 85 and older may have the disease.
Summarized from information from the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) include memory loss, language deterioration, impaired ability to mentally manipulate visual information, poor judgment, confusion, restlessness, and mood swings.
Eventually AD destroys cognition, personality, and the ability to function. The early symptoms of AD, which include forgetfulness and loss of concentration, are often missed because they resemble natural signs of aging.
AD begins slowly. At first, the only symptom may be mild forgetfulness, which can be confused with age-related memory change. Most people with mild forgetfulness do not have AD. In the early stage of AD, people may have trouble remembering recent events, activities, or the names of familiar people or things. They may not be able to solve simple math problems. Such difficulties may be a bother, but usually they are not serious enough to cause alarm.
However, as the disease goes on, symptoms are more easily noticed and become serious enough to cause people with AD or their family members to seek medical help. Forgetfulness begins to interfere with daily activities. People in the middle stages of AD may forget how to do simple tasks like brushing their teeth or combing their hair. They can no longer think clearly. They can fail to recognize familiar people and places. They begin to have problems speaking, understanding, reading, or writing. Later on, people with AD may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, patients need total care.
Today, the only definite way to diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is to find out whether there are “plaques” and “tangles” in brain tissue, two abnormal structures that are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells.
Plaques build up between nerve cells, and contain a protein fragment called beta-amyloid. Tangles are twisted fibers of another protein called tau. Tangles form inside dying cells. The plaques and tangles form in a predictable pattern, beginning in areas important in learning and memory and then spreading to other parts of the brain.
To look at brain tissue, however, doctors usually must wait until they do an autopsy. Therefore, doctors can only make a diagnosis of “possible” or “probable” AD while the person is still alive. At specialized centers, doctors can diagnose AD correctly up to 90 percent of the time.
Doctors use several tools to diagnose “probable” AD, including:
Sometimes these test results help the doctor find other possible causes of the person’s symptoms. For example, thyroid problems, drug reactions, depression, brain tumors, and blood vessel disease in the brain can cause AD-like symptoms.
No treatment can stop AD. However, for some people in the early and middle stages of the disease, the drugs tacrine, donepezil, rivastigmine, or galantamine may help prevent some symptoms from becoming worse for a limited time.
About 5 percent of men and women ages 65 to 74 have Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and nearly half of those age 85 and older may have the disease. While younger people also may get AD, it is much less common.
Family history is another risk factor. Research has shown that those who have a parent, brother, sister, or child with Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
Scientists believe that genetics may play a role in many AD cases. Three genes have been discovered that cause early onset (familial) AD. Other genetic mutations that cause excessive accumulation of amyloid protein are associated with age-related (sporadic) AD.
Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease (AD) at home is a difficult task and can become overwhelming at times. These tips may help overcome some of those challenges:
Communication. Choose simple words and short sentences and use a gentle, calm tone of voice. Minimize distractions and noise—such as the television or radio. Call the person by name, making sure you have his or her attention before speaking.
Bathing. Plan the bath or shower for the time of day when the person is most calm and agreeable. Be consistent. Try to develop a routine. Respect the fact that bathing is scary and uncomfortable for some people with AD. Be gentle and respectful. Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step, and allow him or her to do as much as possible.
Dressing. Try to have the person get dressed at the same time each day so he or she will come to expect it as part of the daily routine. Encourage the person to dress himself or herself to whatever degree possible. Plan to allow extra time so there is no pressure or rush. Arrange the clothes in the order they are to be put on to help the person move through the process.
Eating. Aim for a quiet, calm, reassuring mealtime atmosphere by limiting noise and other distractions. Serve small portions or several small meals throughout the day. Make healthy snacks, finger foods, and shakes available. Choose dishes and eating tools that promote independence. If the person has trouble using utensils, use a bowl instead of a plate, or offer utensils with large or built-up handles. Use straws or cups with lids to make drinking easier.
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