Memory is an important factor to enable effective performance even in normal activities. If man’s memory is disrupted, this may also lead to a disruption of his ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that results to this. Named after Alois Alzheimer, the German physician who identified the condition in 1907, this condition is the most common type of dementia which lasts for three to 20 years. The areas of the brain that control memory and thinking skills are affected first but as the disease progresses, cells in the other regions of the brain are also affected. About four million people in the United States are affected with this condition. About 5% of this are people who are over 65 and 20% are over 80. Alzheimer’s disease is also considered the eight leading cause of death in the elderly population and is accountable for 23,000 deaths a year in the US.
The greatest known risk factor of the condition is increasing age. Most sufferers of Alzheimer’s are 65 and older, with the risk doubling after every five years. When an individual reaches 85 years of age, he/she has a 50 percent risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers believe that plaques and tangles, two abnormal microscopic structures, lead to the development of the condition. Plaques are clumps of protein that accumulate outside the brain’s nerve cells and tangles are twisted strands that form inside of the cells. Those who have a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s and those who have a low level of vitamin B12 are also at a high risk of developing the disease. Another risk factor of developing Alzheimer’s is having conditions that damage the heart and blood vessels. This includes heart diseases, diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure or cholesterol.
Like any types of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease exhibits symptoms such as memory loss and difficulty performing familiar tasks. Recently learned information may easily be forgotten and everyday tasks are often found difficult to plan or perform. Other symptoms are problems with language, forgetting simple words and substituting this with unusual words; disorientation to time and place, easily getting lost even in familiar places; poor or decreased judgment; problems with abstract thinking, finding it difficult to perform complex mental tasks and misplacing things putting them in unusual places. Changes in mood or behavior, changes in personality and loss of initiative are also experienced. The individual’s physical health will also deteriorate as the disease progresses because of the decline of activity levels and time spent more sitting around or lying in bed.
To diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, one has to undergo some or all of these procedures: an examination of the individual’s medical history, a mental status evaluation, series of evaluations that test memory, physical examination, an exam that tests sensation, brain scan, lab tests and psychiatric evaluation. If diagnosed with the disease, several treatment options are also available. Medication is one form of treatment. Cholinesterase inhibitors are prescribed to keep the levels of chemical messenger high as some of them may be damaged or die with the progression of the disease. Memantine, other form of medication, regulates the activity of glutamate, one form of messenger chemicals. Vitamin E supplements are also available to help treat the disease. Other medications provided are antidepressants and anxiolytics. The best way to treat Alzheimer’s disease is to understand the cause behind the condition and adapt the caregiving environment to remedy the situation. Good caregiver skills, love and friendship can provide one of the best treatments that results in a good quality of life for someone with Alzheimer's disease.
