Alzheimers Disease | Gloriajean.org

IF MEMORY IS WHAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE -
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LOSE IT?

WHEN OUR MUSCLES AND ORGANS STOP RESPONDING
TO THE COMMANDS OF OUR BRAIN AND
THOSE CLOSEST TO US BECOME UNRECOGNIZABLE.
SUDDENLY WE ARE UTTERLY HELPLESS AND ALONE…

TRAPPED IN A WORLD OF STRANGERS.

ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Alzheimer's Disease is the 4th leading cause of death in the United States and affects over four million older Americans. It is the most common brain illness of the adult population. It is a progressive disease that affects intellectual functioning, memory, judgment, personality and motor skills. The life span of a person diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease can range anywhere from 3-20 years depending on the type of care received.

"Alzheimer's disease is a brain disease in which there's progressive loss of brain cells," explains Dr. Jeffrey Cummings. "Eventually, as the disease progresses, it manifests itself in more physical changes to where it impairs ability to walk, ability to stand and even ability to eat," says Dr. Piero Antuono, Medical College of Wisconsin.

CAUSES:

Doctors aren't sure what causes it, but most believe it's brought on by a naturally occurring protein in the brain called amyloid. In Alzheimer's patients this amyloid protein accumulates faster causing plaques to form and nerves to tangle eventually killing brain cells. "The loss of those nerve cells in the different regions of the brain accounts for the symptoms of the disease. This brain death goes on and on until the patient themselves finally die of the disease," explains Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, UCLA Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

Photo credit: Jorge Barrio and UCLA, Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology

EARLY ONSET ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

There are actually two forms of Alzheimer's Disease: one that's commonly diagnosed in the elderly, and the other rarer form, described by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in the late 1800's, affects people much younger. This rarer form is most commonly referred to today as Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease.

Dr. Alois Alzheimer

Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease accounts for up to 10% of the cases or approximately 400,000 Americans who exhibit symptoms in their early 50s, 40s and 30s.

"It's as if they have the more malignant form of Alzheimer's disease. It comes on earlier, and it lasts a shorter period of time, and leads to death sooner," Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, UCLA Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

STATISTICS:

In the United States there are 4 million sufferers of Alzheimer's Disease, In the next two decades, that number is going to double.

19 million American families are affected by Alzheimer's
By 2050 14 million baby boomers will have Alzheimer's
7 out of 10 people with Alzheimer's are cared for at home
Over half of nursing home residents have Alzheimer's
One in ten over 65 years-of-age have the disease.
Half of those 85 and older have the disease .

STAGES OF ALZHEIMER'S

In early stages of Alzheimer's disease, there is a steady decline. Symptoms include: loss of recent memory, language skills and motor skills. The person may become hostile and agitated due to the losses that are occurring. Visual-spatial skills are impaired. There is an inability to orient in an unfamiliar environment. Depression may also be present.

In the intermediate stages a person will experience more memory loss, language problems are more severe, and the person may become more physically aggressive. Motor skills are affected with pacing and restlessness. Assistance is needed with activities of daily living (bathing, eating, dressing and toileting). The person even gets lost in their own environment.

In later stages there is severe deterioration of intellectual functioning with complete loss of language, loss of bladder and bowel control, inability to walk or perform activity of daily living. The person may be unable to eat or swallow and is at risk of malnutrition and pneumonia. Eventually, the person may be placed in a skilled nursing facility, because they are totally dependent on caregivers and skilled nursing care.

The end stage is typically coma. Death is usually caused by an infection.

CARING FOR SOMEONE WITH ALZHEIMER'S

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease is extremely difficult, but there is help. There are home health agencies that provide caregivers for an hourly fee. Adult Day Centers are open five to six days a week to provide activities and socialization for those with Alzheimer's Disease and provide respite for the caregiver.

Social service coordinators will provide in-home assessment for individuals on limited income and assist in coordinating needed funds to care for someone with the Disease. The Alzheimer's Association Helpline is a wealth of information: (see below).

RESEARCH FOR A CURE

Whether you get Alzheimer's in your fifties, or in your nineties, the progression of the disease is the same. However, there are new developments that have doctors and researchers feeling cautiously optimistic.

"Prophecy is very dangerous, but I would say in general, because we can really see where we're going, that a reasonable time horizon is eight or ten years."

Dr Jeffrey Cummings
Neurologist
UCLA, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

"It may be not be a cure, it may be a significant way to stop it's progression. And that's my hope. So that by the time I'll get it, there'll be something I can do about it."

Dr. Piero Antuono
Professor of Neurology
Medical College of Wisconsin

FOR MORE INFORMATION

If you are interested in gaining greater insight into the Causes, Warning Signs, Diagnosis, Treatment, Research and Caregiving, we encourage you to visit the Alzheimer's Association website at www.alz.org and support the efforts to find a cure.

For more on Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease go to:
http://www.alz.org/people/living/earlyonset.htm