Signs And Symptoms Of Alzheimer’s Disease
Published on Mar 17 2010, in the categories: Alzheimer's
What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease is the most common pathologic condition among dementias. Usually presents in the elderly (65 years and over) and causes a progressive deterioration of memory, reasoning that would adversely affect the ability to perform normal daily activities of the patient. It is estimated that one in ten people after 85 years of age is affected by this disease.
Unlike the typical benign forgetfulness of the elderly, Alzheimer's disease is a true disease status, that a doctor can diagnose various tests that explore the area of cognitive and behavioral function, integrating the results of diagnostic imaging examinations of the brain.
This disease is characterized by the death of cells in areas of the brain that control memory, thought and language. With the increase in the number of affected cells, increase the number and severity of symptoms appearing. For this reason the Alzheimer disease is defined as a degenerative disease and progressive.
Who is affected by Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease mainly affects people around 65 years of age and older. Since the entire world population is aging, the number of people affected by it is set to increase.
A small percentage of individuals with Alzheimer developed the disease early, i.e. between 35 and 60 years of age. It is believed that this form is inherited early-onset, since the cases tend to occur within a few families.
However, the majority of people with Alzheimer (95 percent) develop the disease later; this form is not strictly hereditary. Alzheimer's disease is widespread in all ethnic groups and social classes, affecting both men and women, although it is somewhat more common among women.
What are the causes of Alzheimer's disease?
The medicine is still investigating to identify the causes of Alzheimer. Current knowledge indicates that the progressive loss of brain cells is associated with abnormal formation of plaques (plaques of beta amyloid) around them. These plaques are accumulations of fragments of a protein insoluble. Another hallmark of the Alzheimer disease and the presence of "tangles" in brain cells made of an abnormal form of tau protein, a protein that has important functions in healthy cells. These structures are the ultimate result of degenerative processes involving different brain systems. It is likely that the Alzheimer disease is not caused by a single cause but several factors that may affect in varying degrees in each individual.
What are the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?
In general, the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease affect the ability to store, thinking and reasoning, and behavior and the ability to perform normal daily activities.
Alzheimer begins slowly and gradually and can be difficult to suspect the early stages and is easily confused with depression or with normal signs of aging. Early symptoms include small memory loss, confusion and poor concentration, but can also include disorientation, problems of communication, personality change, lack of motivation.
The person who gets sick of Alzheimer can manifest strange and unusual behavior - a fairly common sign is to wander without a reason and a goal - or imagine seeing things or hearing nonexistent voices (hallucinations). With the worsening of these symptoms, the person becomes obviously more and more dependent on others.
In later stages the physical symptoms become more evident. The person becomes inappropriate behavior, presents problems of understanding, can become aggressive or show signs of depression, because some areas of the brain were damaged.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common pathologic condition among dementias. Usually presents in the elderly (65 years and over) and causes a progressive deterioration of memory, reasoning that would adversely affect the ability to perform normal daily activities of the patient. It is estimated that one in ten people after 85 years of age is affected by this disease.
Unlike the typical benign forgetfulness of the elderly, Alzheimer's disease is a true disease status, that a doctor can diagnose various tests that explore the area of cognitive and behavioral function, integrating the results of diagnostic imaging examinations of the brain.
This disease is characterized by the death of cells in areas of the brain that control memory, thought and language. With the increase in the number of affected cells, increase the number and severity of symptoms appearing. For this reason the Alzheimer disease is defined as a degenerative disease and progressive.
Who is affected by Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease mainly affects people around 65 years of age and older. Since the entire world population is aging, the number of people affected by it is set to increase.
A small percentage of individuals with Alzheimer developed the disease early, i.e. between 35 and 60 years of age. It is believed that this form is inherited early-onset, since the cases tend to occur within a few families.
However, the majority of people with Alzheimer (95 percent) develop the disease later; this form is not strictly hereditary. Alzheimer's disease is widespread in all ethnic groups and social classes, affecting both men and women, although it is somewhat more common among women.
What are the causes of Alzheimer's disease?
The medicine is still investigating to identify the causes of Alzheimer. Current knowledge indicates that the progressive loss of brain cells is associated with abnormal formation of plaques (plaques of beta amyloid) around them. These plaques are accumulations of fragments of a protein insoluble. Another hallmark of the Alzheimer disease and the presence of "tangles" in brain cells made of an abnormal form of tau protein, a protein that has important functions in healthy cells. These structures are the ultimate result of degenerative processes involving different brain systems. It is likely that the Alzheimer disease is not caused by a single cause but several factors that may affect in varying degrees in each individual.
What are the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?
In general, the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease affect the ability to store, thinking and reasoning, and behavior and the ability to perform normal daily activities.
Alzheimer begins slowly and gradually and can be difficult to suspect the early stages and is easily confused with depression or with normal signs of aging. Early symptoms include small memory loss, confusion and poor concentration, but can also include disorientation, problems of communication, personality change, lack of motivation.
The person who gets sick of Alzheimer can manifest strange and unusual behavior - a fairly common sign is to wander without a reason and a goal - or imagine seeing things or hearing nonexistent voices (hallucinations). With the worsening of these symptoms, the person becomes obviously more and more dependent on others.
In later stages the physical symptoms become more evident. The person becomes inappropriate behavior, presents problems of understanding, can become aggressive or show signs of depression, because some areas of the brain were damaged.
Symptoms Of Alzheimer’s Disease
Published on Feb 15 2010, in the categories: Alzheimer's
The Alzheimer disease is a degenerative illness which affects certain areas of the brain that control memory, intelligence, and capacity of judgment, language and behavior. This disease represents the most common type of mental decline or dementia for elders.
The Alzheimer disease is a much serious affection than temporary memory loss which is characteristic to most elders. This disease is also associated with behavior disorders, personality disorders, loss of the ability to think correctly and loss of the capacity to perform daily tasks.
Family and friends notice in the beginning these changes, but these changes can be noticed by the patient in cause. The cause of Alzheimer disease remains unknown, but there could be several factors which could lead to this disease. Some of the deteriorations which occur in some areas of the brain are connected to the loss of chemical messengers of the neurons. The cause of these modifications is unknown, but scientists are still researching in order to determine these causes. Even though most of the patients do not have this disease in their family medical background, the risk of developing the Alzheimer disease is increased at patients who have a relative suffering of this disease.
Some studies suggested the fact that zinc and aluminum might have a role in starting this disease, but these theories have not been supported by proof. Memory loss is most of the times one of the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Many elders are worried when they have short term memory loss. Some of episodes occur at people older than 60- 70 years old, but only a small part of them can develop the Alzheimer disease. If you notice you or someone close having short memory loss episode you should consult a specialist doctor.
Normal short term memory loss episodes include: forgetting a certain experience, forgetting where you parked your car, forgetting events from your past, the name of a person which you will recall later or forgetting where you left an object, like your car keys. Some of the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are: forgetting you ever had an experience, forgetting how to read the clock or drive your car, forgetting about current experiences or the fact that you left the gas on or even forgetting you know a person.
There is little evidence of the fact that maintaining a special intellectual activity might diminish the risk of developing the Alzheimer disease. Some activities like reading the newspaper, books, magazines, playing society games, solving puzzles, visits to the museum or even listening to the radio can help in preventing the development of Alzheimer disease.
The more scientists are uncovering the causes of Alzheimer’s disease, the more they will be able to find a cure as well as a way to prevent it. The medication used for preventing some disease will be available for preventing the Alzheimer’s disease or for people who have an increased risk of developing this disease. The scientists are trying now to develop a vaccine for Alzheimer.
The Alzheimer disease is a much serious affection than temporary memory loss which is characteristic to most elders. This disease is also associated with behavior disorders, personality disorders, loss of the ability to think correctly and loss of the capacity to perform daily tasks.
Family and friends notice in the beginning these changes, but these changes can be noticed by the patient in cause. The cause of Alzheimer disease remains unknown, but there could be several factors which could lead to this disease. Some of the deteriorations which occur in some areas of the brain are connected to the loss of chemical messengers of the neurons. The cause of these modifications is unknown, but scientists are still researching in order to determine these causes. Even though most of the patients do not have this disease in their family medical background, the risk of developing the Alzheimer disease is increased at patients who have a relative suffering of this disease.
Some studies suggested the fact that zinc and aluminum might have a role in starting this disease, but these theories have not been supported by proof. Memory loss is most of the times one of the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Many elders are worried when they have short term memory loss. Some of episodes occur at people older than 60- 70 years old, but only a small part of them can develop the Alzheimer disease. If you notice you or someone close having short memory loss episode you should consult a specialist doctor.
Normal short term memory loss episodes include: forgetting a certain experience, forgetting where you parked your car, forgetting events from your past, the name of a person which you will recall later or forgetting where you left an object, like your car keys. Some of the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are: forgetting you ever had an experience, forgetting how to read the clock or drive your car, forgetting about current experiences or the fact that you left the gas on or even forgetting you know a person.
There is little evidence of the fact that maintaining a special intellectual activity might diminish the risk of developing the Alzheimer disease. Some activities like reading the newspaper, books, magazines, playing society games, solving puzzles, visits to the museum or even listening to the radio can help in preventing the development of Alzheimer disease.
The more scientists are uncovering the causes of Alzheimer’s disease, the more they will be able to find a cure as well as a way to prevent it. The medication used for preventing some disease will be available for preventing the Alzheimer’s disease or for people who have an increased risk of developing this disease. The scientists are trying now to develop a vaccine for Alzheimer.
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