Alzheimer's is a progressive brain disorder and the most common form of dementia. The disease affects a person's memory, judgment and decision-making abilities. Discovered nearly 100 years ago in Germany, the condition affects one in eight people over the age of 65. With the aging population increasing, more American's are expected to be diagnosed with the condition. More women are expected to get Alzheimer's than men; not because they are more vulnerable, but because women outlive men. While many people are not developing heart disease or suffering from stroke as they were in the past, the number of people who will die of Alzheimer's is increasing, states a recent CBS News report.
History
German doctor Alois Alzheimer's discovered the disease in 1906 when performing an autopsy. He exposed changes in the brain of a female brain patient who exhibited an unusual mental illness. The clumps and tangles found in the brain are now referred to as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Though Alzheimer's discovery was accepted in the medical community, it took several decades for the disease to gain additional attention. In the 1960s scientists formed a link between the number of tangles and plaques and the amount of cognitive decline. During the 1990s in-depth research involving the brain and nerve systems brought about development of drugs to slow down the progression of Alzheimer's; however, a cure is still not available. With the increase in medical technology and the aging population increasing, more interest in Alzheimer's is seen in the medical field.
Stages
The disease is divided into three main clinical stages---these stages are occasionally divided into seven more specific components. The early stages of the disease generally last two to four years, according to helpguide.org. Often symptoms are not immediately recognized during the early portions of this stage. Forgetting names of everyday objects, solving simple calculations and becoming lost when driving to frequently visited locations is common. The middle stage of the disease lasts between two and 10 years and varies greatly from person to person. A person will become more confused and judgment declines. A person forgets names and is easily confused. Agitation, depression and anxiety is common. Conversations are difficult to follow. The end stage of Alzheimer's lasts about between one and three years. Additional physical decline is noted; a person is often completely bed bound and totally depended on care staff for activities of daily living. Muscles contract and become rigid. A person is totally incontinent of bowel and bladder. Verbal communication no longer exists.
Time Frame
Alzheimer's commonly occurs in people over the age of 60, reports The National Institutes of Health. For every five year period over the age of 60 the number of Alzheimer's victims doubles. The time frame of the disease varies from person to person; however, the average length of the disease is from seven to 20 years. Damage to the brain begins 10 to 20 years before signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's are visible.
Statistics
A study by John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health reports 26 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's. These numbers are expected to rise dramatically---the study reports 106 million people will suffer from the condition by 2050. This is one in 85 persons worldwide. Currently 5.1 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Alzheimer's. These numbers will rise to 16 million by 2050, according to a CBS news report. Hispanics and African-Americans are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Association says African-Americans are twice more likely to be diagnosed than whites and Hispanics 1.5 times more likely.
Early-Onset Alzheimer's
Early-onset Alzheimer's differs from regular Alzheimer's as it occurs in people under the age of 65. Some people as young as 30 years old are diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, though this is rare. According to The Mayo Clinic, a significant portion of patients developing Alzheimer's at a younger age have a family member who developed the disease. Early-onset Alzheimer's is generally linked to three genes that are not associated to regular Alzheimer's disease. Symptoms are similar, except they occur when a person has a more active lifestyle including being involved in the workforce and having small children at home.
