Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, as well as one of the most commonly diagnosed degenerative diseases in the United States. Alzheimer's affects nearly 4 million families in the United States, and it is estimated that roughly twenty-five percent to fifty percent of all individuals over 85 years of age will be stricken with Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's is one of the most wrenching diseases that any individual and their family can face. When Alzheimer's strikes, family members are forced to stand by and watch as the memories of a beloved family member slowly begin to fade. Alzheimer's patients may become irritable, display feelings of paranoia, and even act aggressively toward family members. On average, death occurs roughly ten years after diagnosis.

One of the aspects of Alzheimer's that makes it so difficult for doctors and their patients to deal with is that we know very little about Alzheimer's disease. It appears that Alzheimer's is caused by a combination of factors. Most researchers believe the disease is caused by a combination of genetic factors and environmental factors. Researchers estimate that about half of all diagnosed cases of Alzheimer's were caused by genetic factors. Some researchers believe that a virus causes Alzheimer's disease. If we can find the cause of the virus, it follows that we can create a vaccine against it.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease rests on definitions provided by two professional classifications. There are currently two professional diagnostic tools to determine if an individual is suffering from Alzheimer's, or some other form of dementia. The first and most widely used diagnostic tool is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The other professional diagnostic criteria are derived from the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke-Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorder Association (NINDS-ADRDA).

The criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer's include:

- Memory Loss. Alzheimer's patients will begin to lose short-term memory. As the illness progresses, patients begin to lose memory of familiar friends, family members, objects, and places.

- Loss of mobility, or impaired ability to perform everyday tasks.

- Disorientation and wandering. Alzheimer's patients may become disoriented in familiar places. Alzheimer's patients may also roam and wander away from their home.

- Impaired language ability. Many Alzheimer's patients lose the ability to converse with ease. They may grasp for words, or find themselves incapable of telling a coherent story.

- Aggression, paranoia

- Chronic insomnia and depression

Many tests are also used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. Blood and urine tests are used to rule out other problems. Imaging tests are also used, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. These scans may reveal if brain tissue has measurably shrunk, if protein deposits have appeared, and if cavities in the brain have enlarged. These tests can give physicians a good sense of whether a patient is suffering from Alzheimer's. However, the only definitive tests involve the autopsy and examination of the patient's brain cells.

Alzheimer's disease manifests itself in three distinct stages.

1. In the first stage, the patient begins to demonstrate signs of memory loss. They may forget where objects are located, and may forget common words throughout the course of normal conversation.
2. The second stage, the patient begins to demonstrate significant impairment in cognitive ability. They may be incapable of carrying on a coherent conversation, and may begin to forget familiar faces.
3. In the third and final stage, the patient becomes incapable of taking care of him or herself. They may become physically impaired, increasingly irritable, and forget their closest acquaintances.

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease. If diagnosed early, the patient can be prescribed certain medications that may delay the onset of symptoms. These medications include aricept, exelon, and reminyl. Medications can also be used to treat symptoms of Alzheimer's, such as the insomnia, anxiety, depression, and aggression that can accompany the disease. Many Alzheimer's patients suffer from other health problems that may exacerbate the symptoms of Alzheimer's. Anemia, nutritional deficiencies, and thyroid disease are often co morbid with Alzheimer's. These may also be treated with medications to put the patient at ease.   There is also evidence to suggest that walking may help to prevent the onset of both Alzheimer's and dementia. 

For further information on Alzheimer's visit the Alzheimer's Association.