What Is Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer's disease is a specific kind of dementia, which causes a decline in cognitive functioning. According to the National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer's is the leading cause of dementia among the elderly. In fact, it estimates that up to four million Americans alone suffer from Alzheimer's disease.
Causes
The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is not completely understood. However, because it generally affects people over the age of 60, it is clear that age plays a role. Another potential cause of Alzheimer's is genetics. In fact, the National Institutes of Health reports that, as of 2009, there are four genes being researched for their suspected link to the disease. Environmental factors and lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise, are also thought to play a role. Finally, other diseases may predispose certain people to Alzheimer's, including diabetes and high blood pressure.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Alzheimer's differ in each stage of the disease. Early on, the most common symptom is forgetfulness. People with mild Alzheimer's may forget what they are doing, have a harder time problem solving during routine tasks and may demonstrate poor judgment. Additionally, they may have behavioral changes such as irritability and mood swings. The symptoms of mild Alzheimer's may not be obvious to friends or family members, and can go unnoticed for some time.
In middle stage Alzheimer's, however, cognitive changes become much more apparent. Simple, routine tasks become more difficult as the person loses his ability to reason and process. Language might be affected, and people in the middle stages of the disease might have problems finding words or understanding complex sentences. Other possible symptoms at this stage include paranoia, visual or auditory hallucinations and difficulty learning new things.
At the end stage of Alzheimer's the person is no longer able to carry out most tasks without assistance. He often requires assistance to feed himself, to take care of personal hygiene needs and even to stand or walk. Communication is also a problem, as people in the late stages of the disease can no longer hold a conversation or even understand basic instructions.
Progression
Most people live with Alzheimer's for many years. While it is a progressive disease, it is generally not a fast-moving one. In fact, degenerative changes often begin taking place in the brain ten years or more before the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's become apparent. While there is currently no cure, many medications are now available that can slow the progression of early Alzheimer's by a few months or even years.
