What Is Alzheimer's Disease?

But just what is Alzheimer's disease? What happens to someone with the disease, and is it curable? What can be done?

Alzheimer's and Dementia

Dementia is a serious progressive brain dysfunction that gradually leads to an increasing restriction of daily activities. It usually begins with mild forgetfulness and ends with serious brain damage. There are many diseases that cause dementia, but Alzheimer's is one of the best known forms of the disease and it is responsible for more dementia than all other causes. In fact Alzheimer's causes 56% of the dementia in people over 65.

It must be remembered that it not only affects the individual, but also those loved ones who surround them.

The disease itself was named after a 19th century doctor called Alois Alzheimer. He noticed strange changes in brain tissue of a woman who had died from a curious cerebral illness which led her to become mentally deficient and to have an unusual form of amnesia. (More history of Alzheimer's)

Her brain had abnormal clumps over the entire cortex (known as amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibres (neurofibrillary tangles). These plaques and tangles in the brain are today considered classic signs of Alzheimer's disease.

What are Alzheimer's Symptoms?

Alzheimer's disease is usually associated with detrimental, progressive memory loss. The symptoms usually begin with periodic forgetfulness which usually worsens and is eventually noticed by the family. Forgetfulness begins to interfere with daily activities and those in the middle stages of the illness may forget how to do simple task such as brushing their teeth or combing their hair, even how to use a knife and fork.

The ability to think clearly deteriorates and the individual often experiences language difficulties, deterioration of coordination, and loss of facial recognition. It is often difficult to diagnose the disease early but if you recognize any of the above signs, you should discuss it with the person’s doctor. As the disease progresses the sufferer may become anxious or aggressive and begin to wonder away from the home. Sadly, patients begin to require full time care.

Is There A Cure?

Research has been extensive, but scientists have not discovered a cure. Some sufferers of Alzheimer's say that they have cured themselves though. Louis Blank has written a book about his experiences from before he was diagnosed with the disease, his deterioration and his fight back. He made immense improvements over his darkest days and became symptom free

Causes of Alzheimer's

The cause of Alzheimer's disease is still not known although it is thought there are probably several factors affecting its development and the people who develop it.
There is a relationship between aging and developing Alzheimer's disease. The disease usually develops after the age of 60, and the risk goes up with age progression. The number of people with Alzheimer's disease doubles every 5 years after they reach the age of 65. One in ten people over 65 will get the disease, and for people over 85 there is a 50% chance of developing it.

However, it should be remembered that Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. Younger people can also get Alzheimer's disease, although this is much less common.

Other brain changes in people with Alzheimer's disease have also been found such as the destruction of nerve cells in areas of the brain vital to memory and other mental abilities the connections between nerve cells are also disrupted. Lower levels of chemicals that carry messages back and forth from the brain and nerve cells have also been discovered.

Scientist are also conducting research into a possible link to family history. It is thought genetics may also play a big role in the development of Alzheimer's in many cases.

Several risk-factor genes may interact with both each other and non-genetic factors to cause the disease. A gene creating one form of a protein called apolipoprotein E (ApoE) has been identified so far for late-onset Alzheimer's disease. ApoE assists in carrying cholesterol in the blood and it has been found only about 15 percent of people have the form that increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Some scientists are studying how our environment and diet could possibly be playing a role. Another theory is that toxic levels of aluminum levels are the culprit, but this is very controversial.

Alzheimer's Treatment

Treatment of Alzheimer's is a multi-pronged attack. There are some drugs available that might slow down the disease somewhat. Some doctors decide to treat the symptoms of the disease like sleep aids for insomnia or anti-depressants for depression and restlessness.

Various vitamin and herbal remedies can help as well. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E have been shown to slow down the disease's progress in some patients. The same applies to ginkgo biloba, long touted as a cognitive enhancer. Estrogen supplements used for menopausal symptoms have also shown some effectiveness in reducing some risk of acquiring the disease as well as slowing it down.

With the right treatment it's possible to gain years of Alzheimer's free life. The best book that I have found about treating and preventing Alzheimer's disease is Frank Mangano's excellent e-book "The Mind Killer Defence