Alzheimer’s disease.
• The most common type of dementia.
• A progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss possibly leading to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment.
• Involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language.
• Can seriously affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
Although scientists are learning more every day, right now, they still do not know what causes Alzheimer’s disease.
More Information on Alzheimer’s Disease
Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes Alzheimer’s disease. There probably is not one single cause, but several factors that affect each person differently.
• Age is the best known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
• Family history—researchers believe that genetics may play a role in developing Alzheimer’s disease.
• Changes in the brain can begin years before the first symptoms appear.
• Researchers are studying whether education, diet, and environment play a role in developing Alzheimer’s disease.
• Scientists are finding more evidence that some of the risk factors for heart disease and stroke, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol may also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
• There is growing evidence that physical, mental, and social activities may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Determining Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging.
Memory problems are typically one of the first warning signs of cognitive loss.
According to the National Institute on Aging, in addition to memory problems, someone with Alzheimer’s disease may experience one or more of the following signs:
• Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as getting lost in a familiar place or repeating questions.
• Trouble handling money and paying bills.
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.
• Decreased or poor judgment.
• Misplaces things and being unable to retrace steps to find them.
• Changes in mood, personality, or behavioral.
If you or someone you know has several or even most of the signs listed above, it does not mean that you or they have Alzheimer’s disease. It is important to consult a health care provider when
you or someone you know has concerns about memory loss, thinking skills, or behavioral changes.
• Some causes for symptoms, such as depression and drug interactions, are reversible. However, they can be serious and should be identified and treated by a health care provider as soon as possible.
• Early and accurate diagnosis provides opportunities for you and your family to consider or review financial planning, develop advance directives, enroll in clinical trials, and anticipate care needs.
• A new study found that a simple blood test can detect beta-amyloid protein buildup in a person’s brain years before Alzheimer’s disease symptoms appear. The results were published online Aug. 1, 2019, by the journal Neurology.
• High amounts of beta-amyloid can clump together and form plaques on the brain, which is strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Other research has found that amyloid plaques can appear as early as 20 years before the first sign of Alzheimer’s symptoms, such as cognitive decline and memory loss.
• In the study, 158 adults in their 60s and 70s — most of whom had normal cognitive function — underwent a PET scan to spot amyloid plaque in the brain, and a blood test to measure beta-amyloid in the body. The blood test looked for two forms of beta-amyloid protein: beta-amyloid 42 and beta-amyloid 40. When beta-amyloid begins to build up, the ratio between the two proteins changes, and the blood test detects this.
• The researchers labeled each blood test result as either amyloid positive or negative. They then compared them with the PET scans. They found that the PET scans confirmed the blood test results 88% of the time. When other risk factors were included, such as age and the appearance of the gene variant ApoE4 (which also is linked to a higher risk for Alzheimer’s), the test’s accuracy rose to 94%.
• While there is some debate as to whether amyloid plaque actually causes Alzheimer’s, a simple blood test that indicates you may be at a higher risk of the disease would be one more reason to adopt lifestyle changes. The researchers added that they expect the blood test to be available within a few years.
Alzheimer’s disease treatments
Medical management can improve the quality of life for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. There is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
Treatment addresses several different areas:
• Helping people maintain mental function.
• Managing behavioral symptoms.
• Slowing or delaying the symptoms of the disease.
Support for family and friends
Currently, many people living with Alzheimer’s disease are cared for at home by family members.
Care giving can have positive aspects for the caregiver as well as the person being cared for. It may bring personal fulfillment to the caregiver, such as satisfaction from helping a family member or friend, and lead to the development of new skills and improved family relationships.
Although most people willingly provide care to their loved ones and friends, caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease at home can be a difficult task and might become overwhelming at times. Each day brings new challenges as the caregiver copes with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior. As the disease gets worse, people living with Alzheimer’s disease often need more intensive care.
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