what is it? what is it caused by, This Alzheimer's disease?
2006-12-07 06:49:59 · 5 answers · asked by looking for knowledge 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Alzheimer's is the most common dementia. The symptoms come gradually and increases with age. There is no cure for this illness but there are medications that lessen the symptoms. There is no specific cause for this illness but studies reveal that it's genetic. Nowadays, you can find genetic test to find out if it runs in your family.
Symptoms include: depression, memory loss, aggression, paranoia, loss of speech and a lot more.
2006-12-07 06:57:29 · answer #1 · answered by lanisoderberg69 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many websites that provide information about it. www.Alzheimers.org is one. There have been many improvements in treatment and development of medications & therapies to alleviate symptoms. It's caused by something called plaque in the brain. Some patients develop it as early as their late 40's. There is no cure but there are many ways to treat the various symptoms. If there is a nursing home in your area, go ask questions of the staff there. There are also many books available on the subject. One thing that needs to be done is a medical evaluation where the cognitve abilities are tested. This involves asking the patient to remember three or four simple words (cat, house, dog) and after a few minutes of other simple exercises, the patient is asked to repeat the three words. Check with a hospital in your area to arrange for an evaluation if you haven't already done so. Hope this helps.
2006-12-07 07:24:10 · answer #2 · answered by Tellin' U Da Truth! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As you prbly know, it is a form of dementia that may develop in people as young as 40 years old.
1- The diagnosis is confirmed at death, when samples of the brain are taken and show what is called "amyloid plaque".
2- It has been linked for a time with intake of aluminum, because it ressembled what is called "dialysis dementia". But analysis of the shape and composition of the plaque showed that both diseases are definitely different.
3- The primary cause has not been determined yet, but what is clear is that at least some protein gets misfolded, and all the useless protein copies accumulating in brain cells ends up killing them.
4- There is no cure, but memory enhancement drugs can help patients live better with the disease. Estrogen treatement has had some success, as well as treatment with steroid sulfatase inhibitors.
2006-12-07 08:24:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not exactly sure of the causes, but my grandfather had Alzheimers and passed in 1995. I was only 8 then so I dont remember too much, but I remember each day he remembered less and rarely spoke. He basicly forgot who everyone was except for my Grandmother and his sons. He also slept a lot more and basically became brain dead. He use to just walk around the house muttering and wouldnt conversate with anyone.
2006-12-07 06:55:00 · answer #4 · answered by Snolan860 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should watch the movie "Iris" It's about a lady that developed Alzheimer's and it shows what she went through and what the people around her went through. It's a tear-jerker.
2006-12-07 07:04:52 · answer #5 · answered by nursgrad07 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hard to beat wikipedia for straight information like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer’s_Disease
2006-12-07 07:02:19 · answer #6 · answered by jplrvflyer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to know, but I forgot.
Hey, do I know you? You seem familiar to me. Have we met?
2006-12-07 06:59:30 · answer #7 · answered by BadGirlGimpy 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋