What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Recursos educativos
Alzheimer’s disease is a disease of the brain. It causes large numbers of nerve cells (“neurons”) in the brain to die. This affects a person’s ability to remember and think clearly. Doctors don’t know what causes the disease. They do know that it usually begins after age 65, and nearly half of people age 85 and older may have Alzheimer’s disease. However, it is not a normal part of aging.
The disease often starts slowly. In fact, some people don’t know they have Alzheimer’s disease, blaming their forgetfulness on old age. Over time, memory problems get much worse as the disease progresses.
People with Alzheimer’s disease lose the ability to drive a car, cook a meal, or even read a newspaper. They may get lost easily and find even simple things confusing. Some people become worried, angry, or violent. At some point, people with Alzheimer’s disease may need assistance for all daily activities, at home with a caregiver, or in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility.
Warning Signs
Although every case of Alzheimer’s disease is different, experts have identified common warning signs of this disease. It is important to look for signs that might indicate Alzheimer’s disease versus basic forgetfulness. With Alzheimer’s disease, these symptoms gradually increase and become more persistent.
Typical warning signs include:
- Memory loss, especially of recent events, names, placement of objects, and other new information
- Confusion about time and place
- Struggling to complete familiar actions, such as brushing teeth or getting dressed
- Trouble finding the appropriate words, completing sentences, and following directions and conversations
- Poor judgment when making decisions
- Changes in mood and personality, such as increased suspicion, rapid and persistent mood swings, withdrawal, and disinterest in usual activities
- Difficulty with complex mental assignments, such as balancing a checkbook or other tasks involving numbers
- Susceptibility to scams
Diagnosis
Experienced clinicians can identify the cause for symptoms of dementia.
Accurate diagnosis is critical. Some conditions that cause symptoms of dementia, such as hormone imbalance, vitamin deficiency and infections, can be reversed. For irreversible dementias, treatment options vary depending on the disease and the person’s health status.
Obtaining a quality diagnosis is based on consulting with a neurologist that specializes in Alzheimer’s disease and the related disorders.
Diagnostic tools: include a complete medical history; blood, urine or other medical tests; neuropsychological tests that measure memory, problem solving, attention, and language; and brain scans.
Individuals diagnosed with an irreversible, progressive disorder have impaired cognition in two or more domains, such as memory loss, aphasia (inability to understand and/or express themselves), and inability to accomplish typical activities of daily living. Almost all with Alzheimer’s disease demonstrate short-term memory impairment.
Other irreversible, progressive diseases that produce symptoms of dementia may begin with loss of memory functions. A comprehensive clinical evaluation will facilitate identifying the specific cause.
Treatment
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers are continually testing the effectiveness of various drug therapies that will control symptoms; slow, reduce and/or reverse mental and behavioral symptoms; and prevent or halt the disease.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved medications known as cholinesterase inhibitors: donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept), approved for all stages of Alzheimer’s disease; rivastigmine (Exelon), approved in pill and patch form for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease; and galantamine hydrobromide (Razadyne), approved for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. These drugs inhibit the enzyme that breaks down the brain chemical acetylcholine, and thereby may help slow the worsening of symptoms.
The FDA has approved memantine HCI (Namenda) for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease, which may help slow the worsening of symptoms.
In recent years, two monoclonal antibodies, Leqembi and Kisunla, have been approved to treat patients in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. These medications are said to slow decline by about 30% over 18 months. They neither stop nor cure the disease. Patients with certain health conditions or bleeding disorders may not be eligible to take these medications.
The National Institute on Aging, in concert with the FDA, tracks private and government sponsored clinical trials; contact the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center or call 800-438-4380.
If your loved one has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia disorder, we can help. Please call Alzheimer’s Community Care at (561) 683-2700 or send us an email.
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