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Alzheimer's Disease Introduction |
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Alzheimer's disease is
characterized by progressive
cognitive decline and memory loss. Individuals who suffer from
Alzheimer's Disease will have
difficulties with activities of
daily living and need full time
assistance in the later stages of the
disease.[1]
It
accounts for 50-60% of all dementia
cases in the elderly.[2]
Alzheimer's
is a unique condition that is not
the result of common aging and
natural senility.
The brain tissue in Alzheimer's
patients has a specific pattern of
degeneration marked by senile
plaques and neurofibullary tangles.
There is also a loss of neurons in the
cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and subcortical structures, such as the
locus caeruleus and nucleus raphe
dorsalis. |
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An increase in beta-amyloid proteins
is thought to contribute to the
disease as well. This increase is pararlleled with a marked decrease in brain
neurotransmitters, with
acetylcholine being affected the greatest.[3]
The distinct cause of Alzheimer's
Disease is not completely known.
There is a familiar pattern in
15-20% of the cases. For the other
80-85% of cases there are several
causal relationships. A genetic
etiology is suspected in some
individuals, due to findings of
an increase in certain proteins in
the brain that are coded for on
specific chromosomes (1, 14, 19,
and21).[4]
The most significant findings are
with the protein apolipoprotein E.
Certain forms of the protein
(e4-type) are linked with greater
incidence, while one form (e2-type)
is associated with a more protective
effect.[5] Environmental factors are also
suspected to play a role in the
development of Alzheimer's
disease with specific
attention to heavy metal toxicity,
oxidative damage, and abnormal
hormone metabolism.[6]
Alzheimer's disease
has been called the "disease of the
20th century,"
with four million Americans
currently affected. The disease
affects women twice as much as men,
and it is not yet known if female
sex is a risk factor. The disease
usually strikes individuals over the
age of 60, yet 2-7% of cases is
early onset and is related to a
genetic mutation (Downs Syndrome).
The incidence of developing the disease
also increases
with age.[7]
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Alzheimer's Signs & Symptoms |
Because the disease progression is
gradual there are 4 distinct
clinical stages to the disease.
Because of the differences in
physiology of each individual, a
patient may not fit entirely into
one single stage.
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Early stages of Alzheimer's
disease- Characterized by a
loss of recent memory, inability
to learn and retain new
information. Patient may have
language problems, mood swings,
and personality changes. Difficulties with the activities
of daily living develop, judgment
is affected, and family members
may begin to report strange
behaviors.
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Intermediate stages of
Alzheimer's- At this stage
patients are unable to learn and
recall new information. They may
require assistance with their
activities of daily living. Their
behavior becomes disorganized;
they may begin to wander around,
become uncooperative, hostile, and
be physically aggressive. They
loose sense of time and place.
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Severe stage of Alzheimer's-
They are completely unable to
perform activities of daily
living, they may or may not be
completely incompetent, and there
is complete loss of recent and
remote memory. Patients may have
loss of some motor skills, be
unable to eat or swallow, and are
usually placed in a long-term care
facility.
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Final stages of Alzheimer's-
More complete motor and
neurological deficits, seizures,
coma and death.[8]
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Learn More About Alzheimer's
Disease |
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