It’s been dubbed “the disease of the century” and it is equally as devastating to both victims and their families.
Alzheimer’s [altz-hi-merz] disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior.
It hasn’t been until the last few decades that Alzheimer’s disease was considered to be a fairly common disorder among the elderly. It is now recognized as the leading cause of age-related dementia with an estimated 4 million Americans currently suffering from it.
More than 100,000 victims die from the disease annually, which makes it the fourth leading cause of death in adults, after heart disease, cancer and stroke.
Symptoms include a gradual loss of memory, a decline in ability to perform routine tasks, disorientation in time and space, impairment of judgment, personality change, difficulty in learning and loss of language and communication skills.
This debilitating disease does not discriminate. It knows no social or economic boundaries and affects men and women almost equally. Some of the victims who have fallen prey to it are British statesman Winston Churchill, actress Rita Hayworth and former president Ronald Reagan.
Most victims are over 65; however, Alzheimer’s disease can strike in the 40s and 50s. In rare cases it begins to develop before age 50, but the vast majority of people with Alzheimer’s develop the disease after the age of 60.
Until recently, most Alzheimer’s victims were cared for at home, but a growing number of sufferers are now being cared for in facilities that are catering to the unique needs of Alzheimer’s patients.
According to an article printed in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 3 percent of people ages 65–74 are diagnosed with the disease; 19 percent of the population in the 75–84 age range are affected and 47 percent of the population 85 years and older are affected.
The U.S. population is aging, with people older than 85 becoming the nation’s fastest-growing age group. Because this is the segment of the population that is most affected by Alzheimer’s disease, experts warn that unless researchers discover how to prevent the disease, by the year 2050, as many as 15 percent of those over 65 might be diagnosed with the disease.
The causes of Alzheimer’s disease aren’t well understood, and the condition is currently receiving intensive scientific investigation. Today there is no cure, but there are treatments available to help improve the quality of life for people with the disease. The National Institute on Aging heads the federal government efforts. Their experts suspect causes of the disease may include a genetic predisposition, a slow virus or other infectious agents, environmental toxins and immunological changes. Other factors are also under investigation. Scientists are applying the newest knowledge and research techniques in molecular genetics, pathology, virology, immunology, toxicology, neurology, psychiatry, pharmacology, biochemistry and epidemiology to find the cause, treatment and cure for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
As with all dementia, the rate of disease progression in Alzheimer’s patients varies from case to case. From the onset of symptoms, the life span of an Alzheimer’s victim can range anywhere from three to 20 or more years. The disease eventually leaves its victims unable to care for themselves. While a definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is possible only through the examination of brain tissue, which is usually done at autopsy, it is important for a person suffering from any symptoms of dementia to undergo a thorough clinical examination.
There is no single clinical test to identify Alzheimer’s disease. Before diagnosis of the disease is made, other conditions must be excluded. These include potentially reversible conditions such as depression, adverse drug reactions, metabolic changes, nutritional deficiencies, head injuries and stroke. In fact, after a proper medical evaluation, approximately 20 percent of suspected Alzheimer’s cases prove to be a medical condition other than Alzheimer’s, sometimes treatable.
The National Institute on Aging recommends that each person with possible Alzheimer’s disease symptoms have a thorough evaluation. The evaluation should include a complete health history, thorough physical examination, neurological and mental status assessments and diagnostic tests including blood studies, urinalysis, electrocardiogram and chest X-rays. Other studies often recommended are computerized tomography (CT Scan), electroencephalography (EEG), removal from medication, formal psychiatric assessment, neuropsychological testing and occasionally the examination of cerebrospinal fluid by spinal tap.
Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease at present, medical experts advise that through good planning of the medical and social management of Alzheimer patients there can be some ease of the burdens on the patient and family. These experts believe that appropriate medication can lessen agitation, anxiety and unpredictable behavior, improve sleeping patterns and treat other symptoms.
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