What is Alzheimer’s Disease and who does it affect?
Alzheimer’s Disease (pronounced Alts’-hi-merz) was first described by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1906 as a degenerative brain disease which usually begins gradually and causes a person to forget every day tasks and recent events. Alzheimer’s Disease eventually causes impaired judgment, confusion, and changes in personality and behavior. As the disease progresses it becomes difficult for the affected person to follow directions and communicate. Affected people often fight to remember words or complete thoughts. Most people with Alzheimer’s Disease become unable to care for themselves and require some type of long term care.
Around four million Americans have Alzheimer’s Disease and the numbers are expected to jump to approximately 14 million people by the year 2050, unless a cure or prevention is found. About one in 10 persons over 65 and nearly half of those over 85 have Alzheimer’s Disease. Most people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s are older than 65. However, the disease can occur in people as young as their 30s. The form of the disease that strikes younger people accounts for less than 10 percent of all reported cases and is considered rare. Scientists believe this variation of the disease may be genetically transmitted across multiple generations within the family.
What are some signs of Alzheimer’s?
The following are some common symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease. Individuals who exhibit several of these symptoms should see a physician for a complete examination.
- Loss of memory that affects work. Frequent forgetfulness or confusion at home or in the workplace may be a sign that something’s wrong.
- Difficulty performing familiar tasks. For example, one might leave something on the stove too long or let a sink overflow because they forget they turned on the water.
- Disorientation to time and place. People with Alzheimer’s Disease can become lost in their own home, not knowing where they are or how they got there.
- Problems with language. Everyone has trouble thinking of the right word sometimes, but people with Alzheimer’s Disease may forget simple words or substitute inappropriate words, making his or her sentences difficult to understand.
- Poor judgment. Not wearing a coat on a cold night is a common mistake. Affected people may dress inappropriately in noticeable ways, wearing underwear on the outside of clothing or more than one shirt.
- Problems with abstract thinking. For example, paying bills would be very difficult for someone with Alzheimer’s. Recognizing numbers or performing basic calculations may even be impossible.
- Misplacing things. Everyone misplaces something from time to time, for example wallet or keys. However, a person with Alzheimer’s Disease may put things in inappropriate places. For example, put plates in the oven instead of the cabinets or place mail in the refrigerator and then not recall how it got there.
- Mood swings or changes in behavior. People with Alzheimer’s tend to exhibit rapid mood swings for no apparent reason.
- Changes in personality. Different from mood swings, the personality of someone with Alzheimer’s can change dramatically, either suddenly or over a period of time. Someone who was always easygoing may start to become angry and suspicious.
- Loss of initiative. A person with Alzheimer’s Disease may become uninterested and uninvolved in many or all of their usual pursuits.
Is memory loss the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease?
Memory Lapse is one indication of Alzheimer’s Disease but lapse of memory is normal. Many healthy people have simple lapses of memory concerning certain types of information as they get older. Alzheimer’s Disease is more than simple lapses in memory however. People with Alzheimer’s experience difficulties communicating, learning, thinking and reasoning. Alzheimer’s Disease can have an impact on the affected’s work, social and family life. Alzheimer’s Disease destroys brain cells and is not a normal part of the natural aging process.
What causes Alzheimer’s Disease and how can it be diagnosed?
Scientists are not exactly sure what causes Alzheimer’s Disease. Potential risk factors such as age and family history have been identified. Most scientists agree the disease is probably caused by a variety of factors. Researchers are presently looking at the role of genetics in the development of the disease and every year scientists find important clues to the potential causes of Alzheimer’s Disease. This research is helping to generate more accurate diagnostic tests and better treatment options for affected individuals.
There is not a simple way to test for Alzheimer’s Disease. Physicians must conduct physical, psychological and neurological exams to rule out other conditions through a process of elimination. With thorough evaluation a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease can be approximately 90 percent accurate . The only way to confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease is through autopsy.
How does Alzheimer’s Disease progress?
Abnormal structures called plaques and tangles form in the brain of an Alzheimer’s patient. As they accumulate, the nerve cell connections are reduced. The sections of the brain that control short-term memory are affected first in most cases. As the disease advances, it works its way into sections of the brain that control intellectual and physical functions and eventually causes death.
What is Dementia?
Many conditions can cause dementia. Dementia is a basic term used to identify the loss of intellectual or cognitive function. Dementia can be related to depression, drug interaction, and thyroid problems just to name a few, and if detected early, may be reversible. Proper care must be provided and that’s why it’s important to obtain a professional assessment so that the actual cause can be identified. In addition to Alzheimer’s, several other diseases also cause dementia, such as Parkinson’s, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Huntington’s and multi-infarct or vascular disease, caused by multiple strokes in the brain.
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For more information about this and other health topics, call UT Medical Group at 901-448-6610.
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