Alzheimer's

ALZHIEMER OVERVIEW

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. It is a progressive disease that starts with mild memory loss leading to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment. Alzheimer's disease involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. Over time, it progresses to serious memory problems and loss of the ability to perform everyday tasks.

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that gets worse over time. It's characterized by changes in the brain that lead to deposits of certain proteins. Alzheimer's disease causes the brain to shrink and brain cells to eventually die. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia — a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behavior and social skills. These changes affect a person's ability to function.

CAUSES

An abnormal build-up of proteins in your brain causes Alzheimer’s disease. The build-up of these proteins — amyloid protein and tau protein — causes brain cells to die.

The human brain contains over 100 billion nerve cells and other cells. The nerve cells work together to fulfill all the communications needed to perform functions such as thinking, learning, remembering and planning.

Scientists believe that amyloid protein builds up in your brain cells, forming larger masses called plaques. Twisted fibers of another protein called tau form into tangles. These plaques and tangles block the communication between nerve cells, which prevents them from carrying out their processes.

The slow and ongoing death of the nerve cells results in the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Nerve cell death starts in one area of your brain (usually in the area of your brain that controls memory — the hippocampus) and then spreads to other areas.

Despite ongoing research, scientists still don’t know what exactly causes these proteins to build up. So far, they believe that a genetic mutation may cause early-onset Alzheimer’s. They think that late-onset Alzheimer’s happens due to a complex series of brain changes that may occur over decades. A combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors likely contribute to the cause.

SYMPTOMS

Memory loss is the key symptom of Alzheimer's disease.
Early signs include difficulty remembering recent events or conversations.

Brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease lead to growing trouble with:

Memory
Memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease persists and gets worse affects the ability to function at work or at home.

People with Alzheimer's disease may:

• Repeat statements and questions over and over.
• Forget conversations, appointments or events.
• Misplace items, often putting them in places that don't make sense.
• Get lost in places they used to know well.
• Eventually forget the names of family members and everyday objects.
• Have trouble finding the right words for objects, expressing thoughts or taking part in conversations.

Thinking and reasoning

Doing more than one task at once is especially difficult.

Person with Alzheimer's disease may be unable to recognize and deal with numbers.

Making judgments and decisions

Alzheimer's disease causes a decline in the ability to make sensible decisions in everyday situations.

Planning and performing familiar tasks
Routine activities that require completing steps in order become a struggle. This may include planning and cooking a meal or playing a favorite game. Eventually, people with advanced Alzheimer's disease forget how to do basic tasks such as dressing and bathing.

Changes in personality and behavior
Brain changes that occur in Alzheimer's disease can affect moods and behaviors. Problems may include the following:

• Depression.
• Loss of interest in activities.
• Social withdrawal.
• Mood swings.
• Distrust in others.
• Anger or aggression.
• Changes in sleeping habits.
• Wandering.
• Loss of inhibitions.
• Delusions, such as believing something has been stolen.
• Preserved skills

Preserved skills may include reading or listening to books, telling stories, sharing memories, singing, listening to music, dancing, drawing, or doing crafts.

These skills may be preserved longer because they're controlled by parts of the brain affected later in the course of the disease.

ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS

FACTORS

TREATMENTS

Dementia Vs Alzheimer's

STATISTICS

Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to 60–70% of cases.

About 6.5 million people in the United States age 65 and older live with Alzheimer's disease. Among them, more than 70% are 75 years old and older. Of the about 55 million people worldwide with dementia, 60% to 70% are estimated to have Alzheimer's disease.