What You Should Know About Alzheimer's Disease

What Exactly Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Despite the fact it is the most prevalent form of dementia, there is currently has no cure for Alzheimer’s. It was named for German physician, Alois Alzheimer, who first described the disease in 1906. This brain disorder is becoming more common rapidly.

Alzheimer’s demolishes brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. This disease isn't just about losing your memory, however. It's also a killer, being a progressive and fatal disease.

The sad fact is that Alzheimer’s disease has surpassed diabetes to become the sixth-leading cause of death in the United State.

Even more chilling facts about Alzheimer’s:

• As many as 5.2 million people are already living with Alzheimer’s in the US.
• In their lifetime, 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's.
• About every 71 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s.
• The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer's and other dementias to Medicare, Medicaid and businesses amount to more than $148 billion each year.

Perhaps the most surprising of these facts is that people are getting diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at much earlier ages now. Last year over 500,000 people under 65 years of age were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Even more shocking, some of those were in their 20’s and 30’s.

Alzheimer’s Disease Facts

Of course our brains age as we get older, just like the rest of our body does. However, the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s shows far greater changes than normal.

To begin with, consider that the brain has 100 billion neurons (nerve cells). Networks are formed by many nerve cells communicating with each other. These networks have special jobs to do. There are networks for thinking. Some are used for remembering and learning. Some networks work to help us hear, see and smell, while still other networks control our muscle movement.

Each of these nerve cell networks can be compared to a tiny factory in the sense they need to take in supplies, generate energy, construct something, get rid of waste plus process and store information.

In people with Alzheimer’s the nerve networks cell factories quit working correctly for some reason. One part of the system breaking down creates a domino effect that soon has other parts in trouble as well. The cells can no longer do their job eventually and die.

Scientists don't completely understand the process yet, but they have two prime suspects for this sabotage.

1. Plaques build up between nerve cells. They contain deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid (BAY-tuh AM-uh-loyd).
2. Tangles are made of another protein called tau (rhymes with "pow", and are twisted fibers. The tangles form within cells that are dying.

Most people develop some plaques and tangles as they age, but those with Alzheimer’s tend to develop far more than usual. Starting with areas important in learning and memory and then spreading to other regions, the plaques and tangles tend to form in a predictable pattern.These plaques and tangles are believed to somehow block communication among the nerve cells. They also disrupt activities that cells need to do to survive.

Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

A list of warning signs for Alzheimer’s Disease has been developed by The Alzheimer’s Association. They include the following:

1. Memory loss.
2. Having difficulty performing familiar tasks.
3. Language problems.
4. Disorientation to place and time.
5. Poor or decreased judgment.
6. Abstract thinking is sometimes a problem.
7. Misplacing things.
8. Mood and behavior changes.
9. Changes in personality.
10. Loss of initiative.

For a more complete explanation of the warning signs, visit The Alzheimer’s Association’s website.

Understanding Alzheimer’s, how it works and what to signs to look for, and keeping up with the latest health news, is an important part of caring for your health. When you take into account that younger people are now getting this disease, it’s never too early to learn about Alzheimer’s!