ALZHEIMER
Alzheimer's disease takes its name from the psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer, who in 1906 was the first person to describe the disease.
It is the most common cause of dementia which includes problems with memory, judgment, and thinking.
Researchers believe that the brain changes of the disease may begin years or decades before symptoms appear.
SYMPTOMS
Short-term memory loss
• Repeat statements and questions.
• Forget conversations, appointments or events, and not remember them later.
• Put things in illogical locations.
• Forget the names of family members and everyday objects.
Difficulty performing familiar tasks
• Brushing teeth, washing hair, or making a telephone call.
Confusion with time or place
Disorientation
• Lose their sense of what day or season it is, may get lost in their own neighborhood.
Planning and managing
• Have difficulties making balances or preparing a shopping list.
Unpredictable mood swings
Trouble with language
Lack of motivation
Changes in sleep
TREATMENTS
Although current medications cannot cure Alzheimer’s or stop it from progressing, they may help lessen symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion, for a limited time.
Two types of drugs are currently used to treat cognitive symptoms: Cholinesterase inhibitors and Memantine (Namenda).
CAUSES
It is still not known what actually causes Alzheimer’s disease.
The connections between brain cells and the brain cells themselves degenerate and die, causing a steady decline in memory and mental function.
The brain of people with Alzheimer’s has a deficiency of an important chemical messenger called acetylcholine.
It has also been shown that small protein particles (for example plaques) build up in their brain and might cause the nerve cells to die.
Most people mainly associate Alzheimer’s disease with forgetfulness; but it can have many different symptoms and may develop differently in each individual person.
Is it Alzheimer's or just normal aging?
We all forget things as we age.
Mild forgetfulness is normal.
TYPICAL AGE-RELATED MEMORY LOSS
People sometimes get confused between age related factors and Alzheimer disease.
Here are some typical age-related changes not to worry about or relate to Alzheimer disease.
• Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
• Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.
• Needing help in managing electronical devices.
• Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
• Finding the right word.
• Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them.
• Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.
RISK FACTORS
After the age of 65 the risk of developing Alzheimer's doubles every five years.
HEREDITARY FACTORS
Alzheimer is not hereditary. Less than 5% of cases are "familial Alzheimer's." Though, having a parent or sibling with Alzheimer's means one has a higher risk of getting it.
STAGES
Memory loss and dementia will progress as the stages of Alzheimer's advance.
Although Alzheimer's is predominantly a disease that develops during old age, some younger people may also develop the condition.
According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal the risk of developing Alzheimer's is as follows:
• Ages 65-74, 1 in 100
• Ages 75-84, 1 in 14
• Age over 85, 1 in 4.
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