Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks
Alzheimer's and dementia basics
Alzheimer's
is the most common form of dementia, a general term for
memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with
daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia
cases.
Alzheimer's is
not a normal part of aging, although the greatest known risk factor is
increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer's are 65 and older.
But Alzheimer's is not just a disease of old age. Up to 5 percent of people
with the disease have early onset Alzheimer's (also known as younger-onset),
which often appears when someone is in their 40sor 50s.
Alzheimer's
worsens over time. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms
gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is
mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on
a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimer's is the sixth
leading cause of death in the United States. Those with Alzheimer's live an
average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but
survival can range from four to 20 years, depending on age and other health
conditions.
Alzheimer's has
no current cure, but treatments for symptoms are available and research
continues. Although current Alzheimer's treatments cannot stop
Alzheimer's from progressing, they can temporarily slow the worsening of
dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer's and
their caregivers. Today, there is a worldwide effort under way to find better
ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, and prevent it from developing.
The
most common early symptom of Alzheimer's is difficulty remembering newly
learned information.
Just like the rest of our bodies, our brains
change as we age . Most of us eventually notice some slowed thinking and
occasional problems with remembering certain things. However, serious memory
loss, confusion and other major changes in the way our minds work may be a sign
that brain cells are failing.
The most common early symptom of Alzheimer's
is difficulty remembering newly learned information because Alzheimer's changes
typically begin in the part of the brain that affects learning. As Alzheimer's
advances through the brain it leads to increasingly severe symptoms, including
disorientation, mood and behavior changes; deepening confusion about events,
time and place; unfounded suspicions about family, friends and professional
caregivers; more serious memory loss and behavior changes; and difficulty
speaking, swallowing and walking.
People with memory loss or other possible
signs of Alzheimer’s may find it hard to recognize they have a problem. Signs
of dementia may be more obvious to family members or friends. Anyone
experiencing dementia-like symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Microscopic changes in the brain begin long before the first signs of memory loss.
The brain has 100 billion
nerve cells (neurons). Each nerve cell connects with many others to form
communication networks. Groups of nerve cells have special jobs. Some are
involved in thinking, learning and remembering. Others help us see, hear and
smell.
To do their work, brain cells
operate like tiny factories. They receive supplies, generate energy, construct
equipment and get rid of waste. Cells also process and store information and
communicate with other cells. Keeping everything running requires coordination
as well as large amounts of fuel and oxygen.
Scientists believe
Alzheimer's disease prevents parts of a cell's factory from running well. They
are not sure where the trouble starts. But just like a real factory, backups
and breakdowns in one system cause problems in other areas. As damage spreads,
cells lose their ability to do their jobs and, eventually die, causing
irreversible changes in the brain.
Two abnormal structures called plaques and
tangles are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells.
Plaques are deposits of a protein fragment called
beta-amyloid (BAY-tuh AM-uh-loyd) that build up in the spaces between nerve
cells.
Tangles are twisted fibers of another protein
called tau (rhymes with “wow”) that build up inside cells.
Though most people develop
some plaques and tangles as they age, those with Alzheimer's tend to develop
far more. They also tend to develop them in a predictable pattern, beginning in
areas important for memory before spreading to other regions.
Scientists do not know
exactly what role plaques and tangles play in Alzheimer's disease. Most experts
believe they somehow play a critical role in blocking communication among nerve
cells and disrupting processes that cells need to survive.
It's the destruction and
death of nerve cells that causes memory failure, personality changes, problems
carrying out daily activities and other symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Signs
of Alzheimer's
|
Typical age-related
changes
|
Poor judgment and decision making
|
Making a bad decision once in a while
|
Inability to manage a budget
|
Missing a monthly payment
|
Losing track of the date or the season
|
Forgetting which day it is and remembering later
|
Difficulty having a conversation
|
Sometimes forgetting which word to use
|
Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find
them
|
Losing things from time to time
|
Early Symptoms of Alzheimer's
Comments
Post a Comment