Disease Care

Alzheimer's Disease

"Dementia" is a broad term that describes brain disorders resulting in loss of intellectual functions which is severe enough to interfere with daily functions and relationships. The loss of memory is a common symptom of dementia, but by itself does not equal dementia. Dementia is diagnosed when there is significant impairment of at least two brain functions, such as memory and language. Dementia is NOT part of the normal aging process. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia.

Alzheimer's disease attacks the brain, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Scientists are learning more every day; however they still do not know what causes Alzheimer's disease, and there is no cure. Scientists think that as many as 4.5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's. The disease usually begins after age 60. Risk goes up with age. Alzheimer's disease gets progressively worse, starting with mild memory problems and ending with severe brain damage. On average, people diagnosed with Alzheimer's live from 8 to 10 years after they are diagnosed, though some people may live with Alzheimer's for as long as 20 years.

Symptoms

Memory loss
Language deterioration
Impaired ability to mentally manipulate visual information
Poor judgment
Confusion
Restlessness
Mood swings

Eventually, Alzheimer's disease affects cognition, personality and the ability to function.

Diagnosis

There is no specific blood test or imaging test that is used for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The only definite way to diagnose Alzheimer's is to find out whether there are "plaques and tangles" in brain tissue - clear signs of Alzheimer's. However, doctors usually are not able to look at the brain tissue until after a person has passed away, when an autopsy is performed. Therefore, doctors can only make a diagnosis of "possible" or "probable" Alzheimer's while a person is alive.

Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed when:

A person has sufficient cognitive decline to meet criteria for dementia
The clinical course is consistent with that of Alzheimer's disease
No other brain diseases or other processes are better explanations for the dementia.

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