Can You give me details on Alzheimer's Disease?

Answer 1

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized in the brain by abnormal clumps (amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (neurofibrillary tangles) composed of misplaced proteins. Age is the most important risk factor for AD; the number of people with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. Three genes have been discovered that cause early onset (familial) AD. Other genetic mutations that cause excessive accumulation of amyloid protein are associated with age-related (sporadic) AD. Symptoms of AD include memory loss, language deterioration, impaired ability to mentally manipulate visual information, poor judgment, confusion, restlessness, and mood swings. Eventually AD destroys cognition, personality, and the ability to function. The early symptoms of AD, which include forgetfulness and loss of concentration, are often missed because they resemble natural signs of aging.

Answer 2

msjerge, above me is right on his details. My aunt and my mother died with Alzheimer's and it is a very sad disease. My aunt would continuosly say, "I don't know what is wrong with me, I can't remember anything any more." So, in the early stages they know something is so wrong and can not change it.
She kept her long term memory for quite awhile, short term went very fast. Some days for a fleeting moment she would remember something and you would start thinking maybe she had been mis-diagnosed. Some alzheimer's people get to a point they do not even know who you are anymore. I was lucky, my aunt knew who I was till the day she died and my mother knew who I was right up till a few days before she died. They did not know a lot of people but they knew me. I contribute that to the fact, I was always there for them. Thats realy not fair for me to say though, because sometime's that is not always the case, either.
Is there any drugs out there, that work for them. My opinion is, No, not at this point in time. Actually the drug they put my aunt on, 6 years ago is what caused her to die. We took her to the Mayo clinic a week before she died and they said, she was dying from the drug because it had caused damage to her kidney's. That she should have had a blood test taken every 6 weeks to detect if it was shutting her kidneys down. When my mother was diagnosed with the same horrible desease, 2 years later, her doctor tried to put her on a drug and I refused. Told him I had done my homework on the computer when my aunt had it and everything I had read was not good as to the results of these drugs. He acted disgusted with me but when he left the room, the nurse that had been listening to all this, said and I quote. "you are making the right decision and you are right on refusing these drugs, they do more damage then good. And more people should do their homework and not take a doctors word for it." That in itself made me know I was doing the right thing for Mom. I hope and pray they find something to counteract this desease because its a long slow death. It strips you of all your pride and dignity and is very hard on the family.

Answer 3

Introduction
Alzheimer’s (AHLZ-high-merz) disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimer’s progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations.

Although there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, new treatments are on the horizon as a result of accelerating insight into the biology of the disease. Research has also shown that effective care and support can improve quality of life for individuals and their caregivers over the course of the disease from diagnosis to the end of life.

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Dementia
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a group of conditions that all gradually destroy brain cells and lead to progressive decline in mental function. Vascular dementia, another common form, results from reduced blood flow to the brain’s nerve cells. In some cases, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia can occur together in a condition called "mixed dementia." Other causes of dementia include frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Parkinson’s disease. See Related Diseases for more information.

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Progression of Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease advances at widely different rates. The duration of the illness may often vary from 3 to 20 years. The areas of the brain that control memory and thinking skills are affected first, but as the disease progresses, cells die in other regions of the brain. Eventually, the person with Alzheimer’s will need complete care. If the individual has no other serious illness, the loss of brain function itself will cause death. For more information, please see Stages.

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Early-stage and early-onset Alzheimer's
Early-stage is the early part of Alzheimer’s disease when problems with memory, thinking and concentration may begin to appear in a doctor’s interview or medical tests. Individuals in the early-stage typically need minimal assistance with simple daily routines. At the time of a diagnosis, an individual is not necessarily in the early stage of the disease; he or she may have progressed beyond the early stage.

The term early-onset refers to Alzheimer's that occurs in a person under age 65. Early-onset individuals may be employed or have children still living at home. Issues facing families include ensuring financial security, obtaining benefits and helping children cope with the disease. People who have early-onset dementia may be in any stage of dementia – early, middle or late.

Answer 4

google alzheimers...look in your local telephone book for alzheimers resource groups..contact your local library for reading material..or go to a medical clinic or dr.s office...they usually have a lot of free literature I hope this helps you good luck

Answer 5

sumthing to do with the brain being aged.. and there are things there that accumulate and damage it. some say its hereditary, meaning you could get it from your parents if they have it . it usually starts around 50 or 60 years old.it start with alittle confusion, and forgetfulness of the names and well, like where he put the keys stuff. then it progreses into amore serious form where one actually forgets tha name , place where he lives. it disrupts normal lifestyle of the persons, which sumtimes renders him dependable.

Answer 6

probably caused by heavy metal toxic overload from various metals such as aluminum and others over time.

Answer 7

Ummm, I forgot