Alzheimer's is a degenerative brain disease that destroys brain cells. It usually begins gradually, causing a person to forget recent events or familiar tasks. How rapidly it advances varies from person to person, but the disease eventually leads to confusion, personality and behavior changes and impaired judgment. Communication becomes more difficult as the disease progresses, leaving those affected struggling to find words, finish thoughts or follow directions. Eventually, most people with Alzheimer’s disease become unable to care for themselves.
The disease can occur in people in their 40s and 50s, but it most often affects those 65 and older. One in 10 people over 65 and nearly half of those over 85 suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Today, 4 million Americans have the condition. That number could jump to 14 million by the year 2050 unless prevention methods are developed.
Dementia, a general decline in mental ability, is the most common reason people are placed in nursing homes. Alzheimer's, the most common cause of dementia, affects more than 4 million people in this country.
Scientists still are not certain of the disease's cause. Advancing age and family history are risk factors. Researchers are exploring the role of genetics in the disease, but most agree it's caused by a variety of factors.
Between 5% and 10% of people with Alzheimer's have a family history of the disease and show signs of the disease earlier in life, before age 65. In a small number of these families, genes have been found that cause some of these so-called familial forms of the disease.
Memory loss, confusion and disorientation are not part of the normal aging process. They are symptoms of dementia. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.
To help family members and health care professionals recognize warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease early, the Alzheimer’s Association (U.S.A.) has developed a checklist of common symptoms of the disease.
It’s normal to occasionally forget assignments, colleagues’ names or a business associate’s telephone number and remember them later. Those with a dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, may forget things more often and not remember them later.
Busy people can be so distracted from time to time that they may leave the carrots on the stove and only remember to serve them at the end of the meal. People with Alzheimer’s disease could prepare a meal and not only forget to serve it but also forget they made it.
Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but a person with Alzheimer’s disease may forget simple words or substitute inappropriate words, making his or her sentence incomprehensible.
It’s normal to forget the day of the week or your destination for a moment. But people with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost on their own street, not knowing where they are, how they got there or how to get back home.
People can become so immersed in an activity that they temporarily forget the child they’re watching. People with Alzheimer’s disease could forget entirely the child under their care. They may also dress inappropriately, wearing several shirts or blouses on a warm day or very little clothing in cold weather.
Balancing a checkbook may be disconcerting when the task is more complicated than usual. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease could forget completely what the numbers are and what needs to be done with them.
Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or keys. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in inappropriate places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
Everyone becomes sad or moody from time to time. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease can exhibit rapid mood swings – from calm to tears to anger – for no apparent reason.
People’s personalities ordinarily change somewhat with age. But a person with Alzheimer’s disease can change drastically, becoming extremely confused, suspicious or fearful.
It’s normal to tire of housework, business activities or social obligations, but most people regain their initiative. The person with Alzheimer’s disease may become very passive and require cues and prompting to become involved.
If you recognize several of these symptoms in yourself or a loved one consult a physician. A physician can properly diagnose the person’s condition, and sometimes symptoms are reversible.
Remember almost all people begin to have some memory problems as they get older. For a person in the early stages of Alzheimer's, however, these problems are more obvious than in others of the same age. Forgetting people's names or the location of familiar items is common. The attention span becomes shorter. The person has a harder time concentrating. But at this stage of the disease, being forgetful still has little impact on lifestyle or work.
Over time the memory loss becomes more severe. Coworkers and friends notice the memory loss and that the person has problems dealing with written matter. He or she may misplace or lose important objects. As the disease gets worse the person can forget even major recent events and personal history. He or she cannot handle money. In general, recent memory is affected more than is long-term memory.
In later stages of Alzheimer's the person becomes disoriented and confused. The person can no longer recall major facts about him- or herself and others. Objects and people that once were familiar become unfamiliar. Changes in emotions and personality may occur. The person may have false beliefs (delusions) or see or hear things that aren't there (hallucinations). He or she may be anxious and often restless and active at night.
Someone with Alzheimer's may not see the need for care and may resist help. At first, he or she can go to the bathroom and eat without help. But in time, brain function declines and the ability to talk, move, or do any self-care is lost. The brain function of a person who has Alzheimer's disease continues to get worse until death.
It is difficult to prevent Alzheimer's until its causes are better understood. People with a family history of Alzheimer's should see their doctor regularly. Early diagnosis will allow them to take advantage of new treatments, as they become available.
There is no single, comprehensive diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s disease. Instead, doctors rule out other conditions through a process of elimination. They usually conduct physical, psychological and neurological exams and take a thorough medical history. Diagnosis is about 90 percent accurate, but the only way to confirm it is to examine brain tissue after death. Probable Alzheimer's disease can be diagnosed with a careful medical history and physical exam.
While there is no one test to diagnose Alzheimer's, memory testing can be helpful. Blood work and brain scans can help show if there is a treatable cause of the decline in brain function. It is especially important to rule out major depression, a treatable condition that can cause symptoms similar to Alzheimer's.
There is no medical treatment currently available to cure or stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The goal of treatment is to maintain and preserve mental and physical function as much and as long as possible. The best approach seems to include control of other illnesses, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and suitable activities.
There are currently four FDA-approved Alzheimer's drugs -- Cognex, Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl -- that may temporarily relieve some symptoms of the disease. Several other drugs are in development.
