Are you concerned that you or someone you know may have Alzheimer's disease? Age is the most important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease; the number of people with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. Alzheimer's disease is NOT a normal part of aging.
Alzheimer's disease is characterized in the brain by abnormal clumps (amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (neurofibrillary tangles) composed of misplaced proteins. When these proteins grow larger, they trigger an inflammatory reaction in the brain's immune system that begins to kill surrounding brain cells. This causes deterioration in certain areas of the brain that control thinking, communication, and behavior.
Suspected causes of Alzheimer's disease are being investigated including factors in the environment, biochemical disturbances and immune processes. Low levels of the nutrients folic acid, pyridoxine (B6), and cobalamin (B12) are common for an individual with Alzheimer's disease. Altered taurine metabolism has been found in patients with Alzheimer's disease, and it is thought this abnormality might contribute to the characteristic memory loss.
Alzheimer's disease begins slowly. People may have trouble remembering recent events, activities, or the names of familiar people or things. They may not be able to solve simple math problems. Such difficulties may be a bother, but usually they are not serious enough to cause alarm.
People in the middle stages of Alzheimer's disease may forget how to do simple tasks like brushing their teeth or combing their hair. They begin to have problems speaking, understanding or writing. Later on, people with Alzheimer's disease may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, patients need total care.
Tests to diagnose Alzheimer's disease include questions about the person's general health, past medical problems, and ability to carry out daily activities. Other tests for Alzheimer's disease include memory tests, problem solving, attention, counting, and language skills. Medical tests are generally tests of blood, urine, or spinal fluid.
Some people in the early and middle stages of the disease, the drugs tacrine (Cognex®), donepezil (Aricept®), rivastigmine (Exelon®), or galantamine (RazAlzheimer's diseaseyne®, formerly known as Reminyl®) may help prevent some symptoms from becoming worse for a limited time. Another drug, memantine (Namenda®), has been approved to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, although it also is limited in its effects.
Possible treatment for Alzheimer's disease includes an antioxidant, vitamin E which doesn't require a prescription. Vitamin E can be purchased over-the-counter. It is best taken under a doctor's supervision to monitor for possible side effects. Another is a dietary supplement that appears to be similar in effectiveness to the Alzheimer's drugs that are currently on the market, huperzine A. However, because huperzine A is a dietary supplement, it isn't regulated in the same manner that Alzheimer's drugs are and quality and purity can't be assured.
Alzheimer's disease