Definition of Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer's disease causes healthy brain tissue to deteriorate, leading to a decline in memory, the loss of social ability and cognitive impairment. The disease normally occurs in people aged 65 or older but should not be confused with senile dementia. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 2.4 to 4.5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease.

Causes

• The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is unknown, though scientists have pinpointed several genetic, biological and lifestyle factors that appear to contribute. Biologically, Alzheimer's could occur when the normal aging processes associated with the brain somehow malfunction. As for genetic causes, in some families, Alzheimer's occurs in people as young as 30. Though geneticists have not yet untangled the mystery of hereditary Alzheimer's, it is clear that there is a genetic factor at stake. As for lifestyle factors, it has been found that people who do not get mental stimulation are more prone to Alzheimer's.

Physiology

• Scientists have hypothesized a correlation between the disease and three brain-related issues. Amyloid plaques building up in the brain may cause Alzheimer's, as could neurofibrillary tangles, which prevent neurons from functioning normally. Neurofibrillary tangles and other factors could lead to a loss of connectivity between neurons, a process that actually causes the brain to atrophy.

Early Stage Symptoms

• Early indicators of Alzheimer's disease include forgetfulness or disruptive memory loss, deteriorating problem-solving skills, difficulty with daily tasks, confusion about time or location, problems with speaking or writing, poor judgment, withdrawal from day-to-day life and a noticeable change in personality. People over 65 experiencing one or more of these symptoms should contact a doctor immediately.

Late Stage Symptoms

• In the later stages of Alzheimer's, the disease has ravaged the brain and its tissue has atrophied. Symptoms include the inability to recognize friends or family members, inability to control bodily functions, delusions, paranoia and inability to communicate. By this stage, Alzheimer's patients are generally completely dependent on others for their most basic care. Unfortunately there is currently no treatment that has been proven to slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease, though symptoms can be treated with several FDA-approved drugs.

Misconceptions

• The phrase "Alzheimer's Disease" is often confused with "old-timer's disease," perhaps because the disease most commonly occurs in old age. The disease is actually named after German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer, who first pinpointed the disease, calling it "pre-senile dementia."