Dementia is a condition of memory loss and thinking skills severe enough to disrupt daily life and activities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia among people age 65 or older. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and 50% to 80% of dementia cases are diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease.
Alzeheimer's Disease Information
There are some cases of early-onset that appear in people ranging in the 40 to 50 year age group. Regardless of age, the onset of Alzheimer's is a sad progression of the deteriorating of the brain tissues. The brain damage can begin 10 to 20 years before the symptoms are obvious. Alzheimer's causes tangles and plaques to develop in the brain and destroy the brain's neurons. The dementia will start out as a mild memory loss and as Alzheimer's progresses the condition gradually worsens. The average lifespan for an Alzheimer's patient is eight years. Depending on health conditions and age of the patient, survival rate can range from 4 to 20 years. There are temporary Alzheimer's treatments that can improve the quality of life for patients. At this time there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease and research continues for a cure.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Alzheimer's start out small and get worse over time, as the brain weakens. Although memory loss is a well-known symptom of Alzheimer's, there are more early-onset symptoms to be conscious of. An early-onset sign of dementia can be detected by an unusual change in personality. For example, a meek mannered loved one may suddenly start cursing or a happy personality turns into an angry personality. Another sign is not being able to do familiar tasks that have more than one step. For example, the family cook cannot make a memorable recipe anymore. Simple tasks like paying the bills are now impossible to accomplish. Often times a person in the early-onset stages of Alzheimer's will miss appointments or get lost easily. As Alzheimer's disease progresses, so do the symptoms. Coordination and depth perception are affected and the person may lose their balance easily or fall often. The person will have difficulty with speaking. They may forget what they are saying in the middle of a sentence or their words may not make sense. In the final stages of Alzheimer's disease, the person may not be able to communicate at all and be completely dependent for care.
Treatment
Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, there are treatments to possibly delay the symptoms or slow down the process of dementia. Person's that carry on a healthy lifestyle may have a better chance of reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease. It is important to have a nutritious diet and participate in some sort of physical activity to stay active. Keep your mind engaging with social activities and motivating pursuits. Do crossword puzzles, read books and anything else to keep your mind dynamic. There are prescription medications that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that work by regulating neurotransmitters in the brain. These drugs won't cure the disease and depending on the person, may work for a few months or a few years. These drugs may assist with behavioral problems and help with memory, speaking and thinking abilities. An additional way to treat Alzheimer's is by making the person's symptoms more manageable. People suffering from dementia often endure depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, anger, wandering and agitation. There are often drug and non-drug ways of managing these problems. Scientist continue clinical trials and possible interventions in a search to cure the masses suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
