Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease Overview

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disease that worsens over time and slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. It is the most common cause of dementia among older people. While most people with Alzheimer’s are 65 or older, it is not a normal part of aging and occasionally occurs in younger people.

Although treatment can slow the progression of the disease and help manage symptoms in some patients, there is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

An estimated 6.7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s and that number is likely to increase. That’s because the likelihood of developing the disease doubles every five years after age 65, and the American population is aging.

Alzheimer’s is a slow-to-develop disease with three distinct phases:

• Stage 1 is an early, preclinical stage with no apparent symptoms but memory lapses may begin during this timeframe.
• Phase 2 is characterized by more pronounced cognitive impairment, causing the person to require some assistance and can last for many years.
• Phase 3 is the final stage characterized by severe impairment that requires extensive care.

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia, which refers to the loss of cognitive functioning (thinking, remembering and reasoning) and behavior abilities. Another common form of dementia is vascular dementia, which is caused by strokes.

Wellstar neurologists are experts in diagnosing Alzheimer’s and helping patients and families manage the symptoms and stress that can be part of a diagnosis. Our doctors work together to identify the best treatment options for each patient, including innovative approaches and medications.

Symptoms

Symptoms can vary considerably from person to person. According to The Alzheimer’s Association there are 10 primary warning signs:

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as asking for the same information repeatedly or forgetting recently learned information
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems, or changes in the ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers such as difficulty following a familiar recipe or managing monthly bills
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks such as driving to a known location or remembering the rules of a favorite game
4. Confusion with time and place, including losing track of dates, seasons and the passage of time, or forgetting where you are and how you got there
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships like trouble reading, judging distance, determining color or contrast, or not recognizing yourself
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing, like trouble following or joining a conversation or finding the right words
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps and accusing others of stealing as a result
8. Decreased or poor judgement, for example, when dealing with money or paying less attention to grooming
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities, like pulling away from hobbies, work projects, and social events
10. Changes in mood and personality such as confusion, suspicion, depression, fear, anxiety, or irritation, especially outside their comfort zone

Risk Factors

Though the exact causes of Alzheimer’s disease are not known, experts believe it is caused by complex interactions among genes and other risk factors. Age is the primary risk factor.

A small number of cases may be caused by inherited mutated genes. The only gene identified to date as a risk factor is one that makes a protein called apoliopoprotein E, known as the APOE gene. 

Family history can be a risk factor for early-onset Alzheimer’s (diagnosed before age 65). Additionally, there may be a link between serious head injury and future development of Alzheimer’s.