| Alzheimer's disease is a group disorders involving the | | | | destroy free radicals. Another risk factor is heredity. |
| parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and | | | | People whose family members have had AD are |
| language. Alzheimer's disease is becoming tragically | | | | more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those |
| common. It is estimated that there are currently 18 | | | | whose families do not have this history. People who |
| million people worldwide with Alzheimer's disease. | | | | have hypothyroidism or have experienced head |
| Dementia is a disease of the nervous system | | | | injuries are also at relatively high risk for AD. |
| characterized by loss of certain mental abilities. This | | | | Environmental factors have sometimes been |
| loss is severe enough to interfere with normal | | | | proposed as possible causes for Alzheimers disease. |
| activities and lasts at least six months. Dementia is | | | | Symptoms of Alzheimers Disease |
| the term for the deterioration of brain function that | | | | The earliest symptom of Alzheimer's disease is |
| results in loss of memory, reduced language skills, | | | | memory loss. Memory loss by itself is not an |
| impaired reasoning and behavioural and emotional | | | | indication that a person has Alzheimer's disease. Some |
| problems. As the disease develops, a person loses | | | | memory loss is a natural part of growing old. People |
| the ability to carry out familiar tasks, to reason, and | | | | with Alzheimer's can lose their sense of time and |
| to exercise judgment. Moods, personality, and ability | | | | place - they may, for example, get dressed in the |
| to communicate may also be affected. People with | | | | middle of the night or walk off and get lost. In early |
| AD typically die within eight years of their diagnosis. | | | | stages of the disease, family or friends may notice |
| Some individuals may die within a year of diagnosis, | | | | changes in behaviour. As the disease progresses, |
| others may live as long as twenty years. | | | | memory loss gets worse and some people have |
| Alzheimer's disease is progressive, which means that | | | | difficulty in learning new skills. Changes in behaviour |
| symptoms worsen over time. Language difficulties | | | | may become more obvious, with people saying or |
| also are common in people with Alzheimer's disease. | | | | doing things that are out of character. Some people |
| People with Alzheimer's can lose their sense of time | | | | become depressed because they realise what is |
| and place - they may, for example, get dressed in | | | | happening to them. During the late stages of the |
| the middle of the night or walk off and get lost. New | | | | disease, people with Alzheimer's may become totally |
| surroundings and new people may be confusing. The | | | | dependent on others for their care. Walking can |
| disease typically progresses to the stage where it is | | | | become difficult and urinary incontinence may |
| difficult for the patient to be understood by others | | | | develop. |
| or to understand others, and in the final stages, the | | | | Treatment of Alzheimers Disease |
| patient is bedridden. Free radicals are another factor | | | | There is currently no cure and virtually no medical |
| in the formation of tangles and plaques. Free radicals | | | | treatment for Alzheimer's disease. However, drugs |
| are very active chemicals that form in the brain and | | | | can help to slow down the progression or relieve |
| damage brain cells. Chemicals known as antioxidants | | | | some symptoms and delay the need for residential |
| react with and destroy free radicals. Unfortunately | | | | care. A type of drug called cholinesterase inhibitors |
| there is no cure for Alzheimer's. However, drugs can | | | | are used for people with moderate Alzheimer's |
| help to slow down the progression or relieve some | | | | disease. They work by reducing the breakdown of |
| symptoms and delay the need for residential care. | | | | the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, levels of which are |
| Other therapies and support are available. | | | | low in Alzheimer's. There are three such drugs |
| Causes of Alzheimers Disease | | | | available: donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine and |
| The exect causes of alzheimers disease are currently | | | | galantamine. Another drug, memantine, was launched |
| not known. Alzheimer's is caused by a loss of brain | | | | for people in the late stages of Alzheimer's. |
| cells, as well as changes in the cerebral cortex. Free | | | | Sometimes anti-depressant medicines are prescribed |
| radicals are another factor in the formation of tangles | | | | to help treat the depression that can be associated |
| and plaques. Free radicals are very active chemicals | | | | with Alzheimer's disease. Some people may benefit |
| that form in the brain and damage brain cells. | | | | from anti-psychotic medicines. |
| Chemicals known as antioxidants react with and | | | | |