Alzheimer's Disease
What Is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's Destroys Memory and Thinking Skills
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. Memory problems are one of the first signs of Alzheimer's. People may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know. Over time, symptoms will most often get worse, and problems can include getting lost, repeating questions, and taking longer than normal to finish daily tasks. As the disease progresses, people may have trouble learning new things, recognizing family and friends, and communicating. Eventually, they need total care.
The Most Common Cause of Dementia
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia among older people. Dementia is a loss of thinking, remembering, and reasoning skills that interferes with a person's daily life and activities. Other causes of dementia include blood-vessel disease in the brain (called vascular dementia), Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and Lewy body disease.
Estimates vary, but experts suggest that as many as 5.1 million people in the United States may have Alzheimer's disease. Symptoms usually begin after age 60, and the risk of developing the disease increases with age. While younger people -- in their thirties and forties -- also may get Alzheimer's disease, it is much less common. It is important to note that Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging.
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Other Causes of Memory Problems
Not all people with memory problems have Alzheimer's disease. Some people may experience mild forgetfulness, which can be a normal part of aging. They may notice that it takes longer to learn new things, they don't remember information as well as they did, or they misplace their keys. Other memory problems may be related to health issues that are treatable. For example, medication side effects, vitamin B12 deficiency, or liver or kidney disorders can lead to memory loss or possibly dementia. Emotional problems, such as stress, anxiety, or depression, can also make a person more forgetful and may be mistaken for dementia.
Mild Cognitive Impairment
However, for some older people, memory problems are a sign of a serious problem, such as mild cognitive impairment, or MCI. People with this condition have more memory problems than normal for people their age, but their symptoms are not as severe as in Alzheimer's. They are able to carry out their normal daily activities. They usually do not have Alzheimer's symptoms like confusion, attention problems, and difficulty with language. Signs of MCI include misplacing things often, forgetting to go to important events and appointments, and having trouble coming up with desired words. People with MCI are more likely to go on to develop Alzheimer's disease than are people without MCI.
Plaques and Tangles in the Brain
Alzheimer's disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German doctor. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. He found many abnormal clumps (now called amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillary tangles). Today, these plaques and tangles in the brain are considered the main signs of Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists have found other brain changes in people with Alzheimer's disease. As more and more plaques and tangles form, healthy nerve cells begin to work less well and lose their ability to communicate with each other. Eventually, they die. As nerve cells die, brain tissue begins to shrink.
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