Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects
a person’s ability to function. Physical changes occur in the brain, including
loss of functioning and death of nerve cells. It affects memory, thinking and
the ability to communicate. Two abnormal structures are found in the brain of
people with Alzheimer’s disease:
Neurofibrillary tangles
Amyloid plaques
Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. Its causes are not yet known
nor fully understood.
What is it?
Alzheimer's disease affects the brain, resulting in rapid and severe
deterioration of mental capacities. Memory, thinking and behavior are impaired.
It was first recorded by German scientist Alois Alzheimer in 1906.
The disease has been referred to as pre-senile dementia, a forerunner of
senility. But doctors have found that Alzheimer's afflicts older people as often
as the middle-aged.
Prevalence
Some Alzheimer's patients are in their 30s, but the likelihood of a person
developing the disease begins to increase dramatically in later years. One in 10
persons over 65 and nearly half of those over 85 have the affliction.
About 4 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's today. More than 14 million
Americans are expected to develop the disease by 2050.
Symptoms
Doctors diagnosis the disease by making physical, psychiatric and neurological
evaluations. Typically, they don't make an immediate diagnosis after one patient
visit. They go through a process of elimination to rule out other conditions.
Stages of Progression
Stage 1: Increased forgetfulness, which may cause the patient to be anxious or
depressed. Simple chores begin to take longer and become more difficult. Stage
2: Severe memory loss (especially regarding recent events), disorientation,
reduced concentration, inability to calculate numbers and recall correct words.
Increased anxiety creates personality changes. Stage 3: Severe disorientation
and confusion (may include psychosis, delusions). Nervous system deteriorates,
patients lose awareness of social norms, become bedridden. Weakened immune
systems make patients more susceptible to diseases, shortening life expectancy.
10 Warning Signs
The Alzheimer's Association says these warning signs may indicate the onset of
Alzheimer's:
Memory loss affects job skills
Difficulty performing familiar tasks
Problems with language
Disorientation to time and place
Poor or decreased judgment
Problems with abstract thinking
Misplacing things
Changes in mood or behavior
Changes in personality
Loss of initiative
Possible Causes
Although exact causes have not been determined, researchers have made
significant strides in understanding how Alzheimer's destroys the brain. In the
past 15 years, scientists have explored a variety of biological, environmental
and viral factors that may contribute to Alzheimer's.
Biological Factors
Plaque buildup: Many scientists believe Alzheimer's may be caused by a buildup
of protein plaque in the brain. Researchers think faulty genes that govern
protein and enzyme production may play a key role in plaque accumulation.
Brain cell deterioration: Some researchers think tangled protein strands may
hold another key. When protein links inside a brain cell break free, they can
become entangled and cause the cell to disintegrate. This process, if left
unchecked by normal brain repair functions, could lead to serious cell loss and
brain damage.
Environmental Issues
The presence of aluminum, zinc and other metals in the brain tissue of
Alzheimer's patients has prompted some scientists to explore a possible
connection between metals and the disease. Researchers have also studied whether
a virus can cause brain tissue changes that lead to Alzheimer's.
Treatment
No medical treatment exists to cure or stop the progression of Alzheimer's
disease.
Some drugs may temporarily relieve some Alzheimer's symptoms. The drugs
donepezil and tacrine, for instance, can alleviate some memory-loss problems.
Other drugs can effectively treat other behavioral symptoms, such as
sleeplessness, anxiety and depression. Consult a physician to see which
medications can best serve an Alzheimer's sufferer.
Further Research
A number of research centers have undertaken studies to see if vitamin E,
estrogen supplements, the herb ginkgo biloba or anti-inflammatory drugs can help
keep the brain's mental functions intact for those who have or may develop
Alzheimer's.
Other research efforts have focused on vaccines that would block the enzymes
responsible for plaque buildup in the brain. In one positive development, a San
Francisco biotechnology firm recently announced that it had come up with a
vaccine that actually cleared plaque deposits in the brains of laboratory mice.
MORE READING ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S
DISEASE:
Helpful Links:
Alzheimer's Disease Education & Referral Center
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