Is Alzheimer's Disease Fatal?

Alzheimer's disease is a condition which interferes with an individual's ability to think, speak and interact with others. You may notice a loved one becoming more and more forgetful, not remembering where she placed common objects or putting them in unusual places. If you have a family member who is developing these symptoms and is increasingly unable to relate with you and others, take her to a doctor to be evaluated.

Definition

• Alzheimer's is a brain disorder named for the German physician who first encountered it in 1906, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. Since then, doctors and researchers have learned it falls into the class of dementia disorders that interfere with thinking and memory. This disease also interferes with a patient's ability to work, have a social life and interact with others. According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's disease is responsible for 50 to 70 percent of diagnosed cases of dementia, and is not a normal part of aging.

Progression

• When someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, he will never "get better." This disease is progressive in nature. One early symptom is forgetfulness severe enough to interfere with his ability to function in every day life. His ability to enjoy his favorite hobbies will also be negatively impacted. He will also experience confusion, misplace objects, get lost in places which were previously familiar and slowly lose his ability to speak and write.

Effects

• Alzheimer's acts by destroying brain cells, which affects an individual's ability to think and interact with others. She may develop behaviors which interfere with her relationships with family and friends, and become unable to complete basic activities.
  When Dr. Alzheimer first encountered this disease, he performed an autopsy on a woman who had been brought to him by her family. He found that the cortex of the woman's brain had shrunk, along with the outer layer of the brain which controlled memory, speech, judgment and thinking. When he looked at her brain under a microscope, he noted fatty deposits, abnormal deposits in and around cells, and dead and dying brain cells.
  In conjunction with destroying brain cells, Alzheimer's disease weakens its victims making them more susceptible to disease that will kill them.

Death

• Because of the progressive destruction of brain cells, Alzheimer's disease is fatal. The average length of time from diagnosis to death is eight to 10 years. The Alzheimer's Association state that the disease is the seventh leading cause of the death in the United States. There is no cure for Alzheimer's and no treatment for stopping its progression. However, doctor's can prescribe medications that may reduce the severity of the symptoms.

Future Toll

• According to the National Institute on Aging, 2.4 million to 4.5 million people have Alzheimer's and that number is expected to rise. The number of people age 65 and older will double from 36 million in 2003 to 72 million by 2030. The number of people with AD doubles for every five-year interval after the age of 65. As America's population ages, Alzheimer's disease is expected to cause additional emotional and physical challenges for Alzheimer's patients, caregivers and family members. This disease will create a larger and larger economic burden on society in the coming years, according to the National Institute on Aging.