Facts About Alzheimer’s Disease
Facts About Alzheimer’s Disease
About 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. Unless a cure or prevention for the disease is found, this number is expected to increase as the population ages. While the disease can occur in individuals in their 30s and 40s, it is most prevalent among older individuals: about one in 10 persons 65 years of age and older and almost half of those 85 years of age and older develop Alzheimer’s Disease. More than 70% of those suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease live at home, where the majority of their care (75%) is provided by family and friends. The direct and indirect financial toll of Alzheimer’s disease in the U.S. is estimated to be least $100 billion a year.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is an incurable, progressive degenerative disease of the brain. It is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer’s Disease, though, is not just memory loss. It is also a decline in the ability to think and understand. Consequent changes in personality are accompanied by an inability to function. The type, severity, sequence and progression of the mental changes vary widely among individuals. While it most frequently affects older individuals, Alzheimer’s disease is not a part of normal aging.
What are the symptoms/warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease?
Symptoms/warning signs of Alzheimer’s Disease can include the following:
- memory loss or unexplained confusion that interferes with daily activities
- difficulty in performing familiar tasks and chores
- problems speaking, understanding, reading or writing
- forgetting words or substituting inappropriate words
- disorientation to time and place (e.g., getting lost in familiar surroundings)
- poor or decreased judgment (e.g., wearing a winter coat on a hot summer day)
- problems with abstract thinking (e.g., difficulty balancing a checkbook)
- misplacing things in inappropriate places (e.g., putting the iron in the freezer)
- changes in mood or behavior (e.g., rapid mood swings for no apparent reason or cursing)
- drastic changes in personality (e.g., suspiciousness)
- lack of interest and involvement in usual activities
If several of these symptoms/warning signs are present, the person should be evaluated by a physician. Frequently, the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease, which include forgetfulness and loss of concentration, are mistakenly dismissed as normal signs of aging.
Do women have a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease?
Age is the most important known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. This means the longer individuals live, the more likely they are to develop the disease. Since women have longer life spans than men, they have a higher lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Why is an early diagnosis important?
It is important to determine the actual cause of the cognitive (mental process including memory and judgment) symptoms. The symptoms can not be caused by Alzheimer’s Disease. Many causes, like depression, drug interaction, thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies, are reversible if detected early and treated appropriately.
An early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease can increase the chance of potential benefits from approved medications. It also allows the person with Alzheimer’s Disease to participate in healthcare, financial and legal decisions.
Is there any treatment for Alzheimer’s disease?
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease. For some individuals in the early to middle stages of the disease, new medications can provide limited cognitive symptom relief. However, behavioral symptom management without the use of medications is recommended because there is an increased risk of worsening the dementia and other adverse effects. Interventions include family education and counseling, modification of the environment and planned activities.
A person with Alzheimer’s should be under a physician’s care and can see a neurologist, psychiatrist, family physician, internist, or geriatrician (a specialist who treats older adults). The physician can treat the person’s physical and behavioral problems and answer the many questions that the person or the family can have.
What is the prognosis for someone with Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive disease. A person with Alzheimer’s disease lives an average of eight years and as many as 20 years or more from the onset of symptoms. The most common cause of death for persons with Alzheimer’s Disease is infection.
Is research on Alzheimer’s disease being done?
Current research is investigating the cause, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the disease as well as looking for ways to improve care. Unless a cure or prevention is found, an estimated 14 million Americans will be stricken with Alzheimer’s Disease by 2050. Since 1985, the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund has supported 136 research projects.
