Alzheimer's is a serious condition involving progressive deterioration of the brain. While cause and cure are unknown, there is a growing amount of research focusing on this illness. The increased interest in this area is probably related to the world's aging population, as our expected lifespan increases.

This page can be read in entirety by anyone. However, certain sections are targeted toward specific audiences.

Targets: Grandchildren - Concerned Family - Caregivers - Students -

Grandchildren

Memory Loss and Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease is a very serious illness in which the brain starts wearing down. The main problem people with Alzheimer's have is memory loss. Even if they are concentrating hard, people with Alzheimer's have trouble with their memory. Some common things you may notice in a grandparent with Alzheimer's Disease: (S)he may ...

• Not be aware that they are having trouble with their memory.
• Feel confused.
• Repeat questions that they just asked a moment ago.
• Get lost walking around the block.
• Forget who you are.
• Have forgotten memories from when (s)hey was your age.
• Forget what certain words mean.
• Forget how to feed himself or herself or how to get dressed!

The disease gets worse as the person grows older. It is important to be thoughtful of your grandparent. Imagine how he or she might feel.

Concerned Family

Diagnosis Alzheimer's disease is very difficult to diagnose. Only by examining brain tissue after patient dies can reveal if an individual actually had Alzheimer's. ("Alzheimer's Disease," 2000) Once memory problems have been identified, Alzheimer's is diagnosis based on process of elimination. Other possibilities, such as stroke, depression, alcoholism, and the use of certain drugs are investigated. Many go through medical history questioning, physical examination, blood tests, and MRI brian scanning. ("Alzheimer's Disease," 2000) The gradual onset of the disease makes it even more difficult ot diagnose.("Alzheimer's Disease," 2000)

Images courtesy of the NIA Illustrator: Lydia Kibiuk

However, Alzheimer's patients usually follow a pattern of stages: ("Alzheimer's Disease," 2000; Kurland and Lupoff, 1999, p. 81-82)

Stage 1 (2-4 yrs):

Memory loss for: new informaiton, recent events, routine tasks (locking front door, turning off oven)
Other Symptoms: occasional disorientation and impaired decision making abilities
The sufferer might experience anxiety about his or her symptoms, and as a result might be more reluctant to deal with people or public situations.

Stage 2 (2-10 yrs):

Memory loss for: words, friends or relatives; past events, very routine tasks (bathing or dressing); words.
The sufferer can no longer think logically.

Stage 3 (untill death):

Memory loss for: day or month; familiar settings; spouse or children; how to feed or dress himself or herself.
Other symptoms: Wandering off.
The patient may no longer be able to speak logical sentences.

Treatment

There is still no cure for Alzheimer's Disease. Doctors can try to lessen symptoms or slow course of illness. ("Alzheimer's Disease," 2000)Various drugs (such as Tacrine - Cogrex and Donepezil - Aricept) and supplements (such as Fish oil, Giko Biloba, Vitamin E, herbal, and homeopathic treatments) which appear to slow the deterioration process are being investigated. (Kurland and Lupoff, 1999, p. 82)

Care-Givers

Care

Most people with Alzheimer's Disease need help caring for themselves, especially when the disease progresses into the later stages. They often become irritable or withdrawn, afraid, and frustrated as their surroundings become more and more unfamiliar and intimidating ("Alzheimer's Disease," 2000)

Sadly, the person with Alzheimer's Disease can become a burden on families. An Alzheimer's caregiver must devote his or her life to this stressfull and timeconsuming task ("Alzheimer's Disease," 2000). The patient's sleeping habits are not likely to be regular, and tasks they need help with could include feeding, walking, dressing, and more.

The Alzheimer's Association, a national. US organization, was formed in 1980 to support caregivers. ("Alzheimer's Disease," 2000)

Students

Scope of sufferers

Alzheimer's develops in older individuals. Even though it is the most common cause of dementia, most people do not develop Alzheimer's (Remembering Well). An estimated ten percent of the U.S. population over the age of 65 has Alzheimers. Somewhere between 25-50% of the U.S. population of 85 years and over suffer from the disease. However, other diseases, many of which are treatable, have similar symptoms, so it is important to find the cause of the dementia.

Cause

The cause for Alzheimer's is uncertain. The previous idea that exposure to aluminum could contribute to its development has been found untrue. It is thought to have a biological component, but this is uncertain.

Alzheimer's is thought to have a genetic component. Some scientists are researching chromosome abnormalaties in people with Alzheimer's disease. Some people with Alzheimer's have an abnormality on chromosome 21. Some patients with an early onset of Alzheimer's have an abnormal gene on chromosome 14.

History

In 1906, German neuropathologist Dr. Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915) performed an autopsy on former 51 year-old patient with presenile dementia. He found large masses of plaques and tangles in certain areas of the brain, and a reduced number of functioning neurons. It seems that these plaques and tangles hamper the ability for neurons to send signals and allow different parts of the brain to communicate with one another. Dr. Alzheimer became the first to fully describe the illness' symptoms clinically, and to give a pathological description for when autopsy was performed. The "presenile dementia" he treated and described is now called Alzheimer's Disease. (Kurland and Lupoff, 1999, p. 79; "Alzheimer's Disease," 2000)

Biological Basis: What's Happening? Even though we are far from a complete understanding of Alzheimer's, scientists have found many clues about what is happening to the brains of its victims. Those with Alzheimer's have a 60-90% reeduction in an enzyme involved in producing acetocholoine, a neurotransmitter integral to memory function. (Kurland and Lupoff, 1999, p. 81) Acetocholoine levels themselves are also usually low. Problems arise from an area close to the hippocampus, the portion of the brain closely related to short-term memory. Autopsies of Alzheimer's victims revealed that as much as 75% of the neurons in this area are dysfunctional.

Many brain abnormalities have been dectected in people with Alzheimer's. Two different structures are prevailent in the brain. Neurofibrillary tangles are long bundles of neural material found within the cell. ("Alzheimer's Disease," 2000) Neurons in Alzheimer's patients shrink & die, leaving senile plaques (neuronal debris). ("Alzheimer's Disease," 2000) Both of these forms are found in abundance in the brains of Alzheimer's victims, starting in the language areas of the brain and slowly permeating into the rest of the brain, blocking neural connections. Few, if any, of these neuronal debris forms are found in normal controls. Research on these forms is being done to look at possible treatment for the disease. Magnesium and Zinc have been used to treat Alzheimer's (see the food page)

Research

Researchers have identified a protein that helps kill brain cells which subsequently form neurofibrillary tangles and plaques, the abundant forms found in Alzheimer's brains. This protein, called amyloid, makes the cell membranes vulnerable to an influx of calcium. There may be a chemical that can block the protein's action. One such chemical is Aluminum, ironically, a former candidate for possible contributers to Alzheimer's.