What is Alzheimer's Disease

Many of us are vaguely aware of the existence of a number of diseases of the brain. Of the many diseases that can afflict us, one is Alzheimer’s disease. What is Alzheimer’s disease? The term Alzheimer's disease refers to a condition discovered by a doctor called Alois Alzheimer. In 1907, he wrote in medical textbooks about a woman of 51 who had died of dementia, whose brain he had examined under the microscope.

This examination showed changes he had never seen before. In certain parts of the brain, portions were tangled together, and in other areas there was clumping of brain matter. As time went on, he discovered more "younger" people who had died of dementia had the same brain abnormalities. This condition came to be known as Alzheimer's disease.

It was subsequently noted that the same type of dementia (with the same symptoms) occurred much more frequently in older people, i.e. when their brains were examined under a microscope, they showed the same abnormalities.

At this time, only younger people were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease as this was what Lois Alzheimer had concentrated on. Older people were diagnosed with pre-senile dementia or Senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT).

This differentiation made things complicated however and nowadays because dementia in younger people is comparatively rare; it is now common to refer to the whole group as Alzheimer's disease.

Click here to reserve Alzheimer's Tips eBook. Learn a program that teaches people how to provide quality care to individuals with Alzheimer's disease and memory loss

The term "Alzheimer's disease" can't possibly convey the complicated set of symptoms that make up this condition unless you personally know someone who suffers from it. One of the best descriptions I've heard of is "A living death" Another more medical term describes it as "the slow onset of memory loss with a gradual progression to a loss of judgement and changes in behaviour and temperament.

A more complicated and definitive definition from the Royal College of Physicians describes Alzheimer’s disease as:

"Dementia is the global impairment of higher functions, including memory, the capacity to solve the problems of day to day living, the performance of learned perceptuo-motor skills, the correct use of social skills, and the control of emotional reactions in the absence of gross clouding of consciousness”.

Performance of learned perceptuo-motor skills = our learned responses such as washing, dressing and eating.

These definitions are only guides to the whole complicated medical condition known as Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists are not very sure about what causes Alzheimer’s disease. It does not seem likely that a single condition is to blame for Alzheimer’s disease. However, age is certainly a determinant, it has been found that the numbers of sufferers increase dramatically after the age of 55.

Alzheimer’s disease is also genetically caused. An early onset version of Alzheimer’s disease is definitely genetic in nature. There is also evidence to state that conditions favourable to heart attack and stroke may also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. There is also some evidence that stress and environmental factors have a role in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

At present there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease . However, with early detection and management, patients can expect to live 8 to 10 years. There have been recorded cases where patients have lived to up to 20 years after diagnosis.

While medication is far from perfect or effective, the drugs tacrine, donepzil and memantine have been found effective in slowing the development of the disease. It is also helpful to treat the symptoms of the disease – sleeplessness, agitation, wandering and depression etc are examples. This treatment helps in making both the patient and the caregiver comfortable.