Alzheimer's Facts

It's expected in four decades the number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease will triple to 16 million, courtesy of the aging baby boomer population. This devastating disease destroys the brain's neurons and ultimately robs someone not just of memories and the comprehension of new experiences but of his life. On average, those with Alzheimer's disease live eight to 10 years after their diagnosis.

Signs

• Those with Alzheimer's disease first exhibit confusion over familiar locations, surroundings and time. They may have problems with basic tasks, such as using a toothbrush or a telephone or washing their hair. They may forget common words or define an object like a brush by its characteristics, as opposed to calling it by name. Another indicator can be changes in mood and personality. A social butterfly may become withdrawn, for example. She may become suspicious or experience dramatic shifts in mood.

Related Illnesses

• Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. We all forget names or get confused from time to time, but with Alzheimer's the changes are more profound and prolonged. Signs of Alzheimer's can also overlap with other types of dementia. It's important to get the right diagnosis so the appropriate course of therapies can be prescribed. Diagnosis typically involves neuropsychological tests, a brain scan and lab testing.

Risk Factors

• The risk of Alzheimer's disease increases as you age; the Alzheimer's Association reports that your risk doubles every five years after the age of 65--to the point that your odds of developing the disease are 50-50 after age 85. Research suggests that those with a parent, sibling or child with Alzheimer's disease are more likely to develop it. It's also believed that damage to the heart, whether from heart disease, stroke, or elevated cholesterol and blood pressure, can precipitate the disease.

Early Onset

• Though the chance of getting Alzheimer's disease increases as you age, it's far from just an "old person's" disease. Younger onset Alzheimer's typically is considered to strike between the ages of 30 and 65. It's estimated that half a million people suffer from Alzheimer's at these relatively young ages.

Stages

• At any age, those with Alzheimer's disease are subject to seven progressive stages. In its early form, there may be cognitive problems--a memory that's not as sharp, a mind that's unable to concentrate as it once did. In latter or end stages, words may be little more than muttered. Those with Alzheimer's may need help with activities of daily living, including using the bathroom, eating and swallowing--even holding up their head.

Treatment

• There is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease--though research is promising. The Food and Drug Administration has approved drugs known as cholinesterase inhibitors, marketed under brands such as Aricept and Exelon, for slowing the impacts of the disease for some patients. Some patients may require antidepressants and anti-psychotics to control some of the side effects associated with the disease, including paranoia, anxiety and depression.

Support

• Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease can take an emotional and physical toll. The Alzheimer's Association offers support groups throughout the country. Some caregivers do their part to work toward a cure by participating in clinical studies, which need subjects with and without Alzheimer's disease.