Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions.
At first, someone with Alzheimer’s disease may notice mild confusion and difficulty remembering.
Eventually, people with the disease may even forget important people in their lives and undergo dramatic personality changes.
Current Alzheimer’s disease medications and management strategies may temporarily improve symptoms.
This can sometimes help people with Alzheimer’s disease maximize function and maintain independence for a little while longer.
But over time, the disease robs you of more of your memory, especially recent memories.
The rate at which symptoms worsen varies from person to person.
Brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease lead to growing trouble with:
Everyone has occasional memory lapses.
It’s normal to lose track of where you put your keys or forget the name of an acquaintance.
These difficulties may progress to inability to recognize and deal with numbers.
Eventually, people with advanced Alzheimer’s may forget how to perform basic tasks such as dressing and bathing.
Brain changes that occur in Alzheimer’s disease can affect the way you act and how you feel.
People with Alzheimer’s may experience:
Many important skills are not lost until very late in the disease.
Although the causes of Alzheimer’s aren’t yet fully understood, its effect on the brain is clear.
Alzheimer’s disease damages and kills brain cells.
As more and more brain cells die, Alzheimer’s leads to significant brain shrinkage.
This system requires the normal structure and functioning of a protein called tau.
This failure is also strongly implicated in the decline and death of brain cells.
Increasing age is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s.
The rate of dementia doubles every decade after age 60.
People with rare genetic changes linked to early-onset Alzheimer’s begin experiencing symptoms as early as their 30s.
But these mutations account for less than 5 percent of Alzheimer’s disease.
Most genetic mechanisms of Alzheimer’s among families remain largely unexplained.
Other risk genes have been identified but not conclusively confirmed.
Many people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s disease.
A gene contained in the extra chromosome that causes Down syndrome significantly increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Those with MCI have an increased riskbut not a certaintyof later developing dementia.
People who’ve had a severe head trauma seem to have a greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
There’s no lifestyle factor that’s been definitively shown to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Low education levelsless than a high school educationappear to be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Your doctor may conduct a brief mental status test to assess your memory and other thinking skills.
In addition, your doctor may suggest a more extensive assessment of your thinking and memory.
MRIs are used to rule out other conditions that may account for or be adding to cognitive symptoms.
Computerized tomography (CT).A CT scan produces cross-sectional images (slices) of your brain.
It’s currently used chiefly to rule out tumors, strokes, and head injuries.
This can show which parts of your brain aren’t functioning well.
However, these new PET techniques are generally found in research parameters or in clinical trials.
The spinal fluid can be tested for biomarkers that indicate the likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers are working with doctors to develop new diagnostic tools to help definitively diagnose Alzheimer’s.
Another important goal is to detect the disease before it causes the symptoms.
New tools under investigation include:
Genetic testing generally isn’t recommended for a routine Alzheimer’s disease evaluation.
The exception is people who have a history of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Current Alzheimer’s medications can help for a time with memory symptoms and other cognitive changes.
The improvement is modest.
Cholinesterase inhibitors can improve neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as agitation or depression, as well.
The main side effects of these drugs include diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbances.
In people with cardiac conduction disorders, serious side effects may include a slow heart rate and heart block.
It’s sometimes used in combination with a cholinesterase inhibitor.
Side effects may include constipation, dizziness, and headache.
Sometimes other medications such as antidepressants are used to help control the behavioral symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
But some medications should only be used with great caution.
Always check with your doctor before taking any new medications.
Exercise can also promote restful sleep and prevent constipation.
You may be able to find exercise programs geared to older adults on TV or on DVDs.
They may also forget to drink enough, leading to dehydration and constipation.
Offer:
Certain nutritional supplements are marketed as “medical foods” specifically to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve products marketed as medical foods.
Despite marketing claims, there’s no definitive data showing that any of these supplements is beneficial or safe.
Currently, there’s no strong evidence that any of these therapies slow the progression of cognitive decline.
Work closely with your health care team to create a treatment plan that’s right for you.
verify you understand the risks and benefits of everything it includes.
Make notes about some of the most important examples of forgetfulness or other lapses you want to mention.
Do you have trouble finding your keys, or have you found your keys in the freezer?
venture to remember when you first started to suspect that something might be wrong.
If you think your difficulties are getting worse, be ready to explain why.
Having someone along can also help you recall the information provided during your appointment.
Writing down a list of questions can help you make the most of your appointment.
Being ready to respond may free up time to focus on any points you want to talk about in-depth.
A calm and stable home environment can help reduce behavior problems.
As a person with Alzheimer’s becomes upset, the ability to think clearly declines even more.
Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease is physically and emotionally demanding.
Feelings of anger and guilt, stress and discouragement, worry and grief, and social isolation are common.
Caregiving can even take a toll on the caregiver’s physical health.
Right now, there’s no proven way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Research into prevention strategies is ongoing.
This diet has also been associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Updated: 2017-08-11
Publication Date: 2000-10-06
