Information about Alzheimer’s disease

It is estimated among Scientists that nearly 4.5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. This disease is most commonly found in adults over the age of 65 and the risks of having Alzheimer’s disease increases the older a person becomes. While it is still possible that younger people can get the disease it is very uncommon.

Studies have shown that approximately 5 percent of Adults aged 65 to 75 have Alzheimer’s disease. It is also speculated that almost half of those at the age of 85 or older may have the disease. Even though this disease is very common in older people it is important to remember that it is not a part of the aging process.

A potential new drug will be entering the market for the treatment of Alzheimer’s. We are continually monitoring its progress. If you would like to be notified of new developments, please fill in the form below.

Alzheimer's disease gets its name from a German doctor named Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In the early 1900’s, Dr. Alzheimer noticed some changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. Alzheimer found tangled bundles of fibers and some abnormal clumps. Today these tangled bundles of fibers are called neurofibrillary tangles and the clumps are called amyloid plaques and they are considered to be signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

There have also been other brain changes found in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists have found that there is a loss of nerve cells and pathways in areas of the brain that are vital to memory and other mental abilities. Studies have also shown that people with Alzheimer’s disease can have lower levels of some chemicals in the brain that work directly with nerve cells.

Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease and Risk Factors

The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are not yet fully understood by the science community. It is likely that there are several factors that cause the disease and not just one single cause. It is also likely that these factors affect different people in different ways. The most important known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is age. It is estimated that for every five years over the age of 65 the number of people with the disease doubles.

Another risk factor for the disease is family history. It is believed in that genetics could play a role in the causes of Alzheimer’s disease.

Late-onset which occurs later in life is a form of Alzheimer’s disease and is one of the more common forms of this disease. In most cases there are no obvious family patterns seen in this type of Alzheimer’s disease. One risk factor for this type of Alzheimer's disease is a gene that makes one form of a protein called apolipoprotein E, or apoE.

ApoE is present in everyone’s body and it helps carry cholesterol in the blood. Only about 15 percent of people have the form of apoE that increases the risk of Alzheimer's. It is likely that other genes may also increase the risk of Alzheimer's or protect against it, but they have yet to be discovered.

In addition to genetics and apoE Scientists are trying to learn a lot more about the causes and risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists are studying education, diet, environment, and molecular changes in the brain to learn what role they might play in the development of this disease.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and Diagnosis

Alzheimer's disease usually starts out quite slow. One of the first symptoms may be mild memory loss. Many people who are in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease may have some trouble remembering small details such as recent events, names of people they know. Although these symptoms may raise awareness or concern they are usually not serious enough to cause alarm in people.

As the disease progresses the symptoms get more serious, memory loss increases and forgetfulness begins to interfere with daily activities. There have been many cases where people with the disease have forgotten their way home and the more serious the memory loss becomes the harder it is to cope with daily life. When these more serious symptoms occur it is much more noticeable to surrounding people and the person with the disease. This is usually when the person with the disease or somebody close to them inquires about medical help.

When a person has symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease it is a good idea to see a doctor while the symptoms are still in the early stages. Having an accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in the early stages can help patients and family members plan for the years to come. Having an opportunity to discuss care options with the patient while they are still able to think clearly can ease some of the stress on both the patient and family members.

Making a definite diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease today is only possible by looking at the brain to find plaques and tangles in the tissue. In order to look at brain tissue an autopsy must be performed by the doctor therefore it is impossible to give a definite diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease while a person is living.

When doctors make a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease the diagnosis is either "possible" or "probable".

Several methods and tools are used by doctors to diagnose patients with Alzheimer’s disease. A doctor might start out with a complete medical history examination about the patient’s health and past medical problems. Other medical tests such as blood tests, urine tests, and test of the spinal fluid can also be performed. In addition to medical tests doctors will perform other tests to measure memory, problem solving tests, and other ability tests. Brain scans are also done which allows a doctor to look at a picture of the brain to see if anything looks abnormal.

Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease

Although Alzheimer’s disease has no known cure there are some treatments that can help prevent some of the symptoms from becoming worse for a limited time. Research is being done which gives scientists some clues as to the way Alzheimer’s disease develops. This research also gives us hope that one day doctors will be able to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s, slow the progression of the disease, or possibly prevent it from ever occurring.

There is no treatment to cure Alzheimer’s disease but for some patients who are in the early and middle stages of the disease, the drugs Aricept, Exelon or Razadyne may help prevent some symptoms from becoming worse for a limited time. Aricept is also approved for severe symptoms of Alzheimer's. Another drug, Namenda, is approved for use in moderate to severe forms of the disease, although it is also limited in its effects. Newer drugs, such as Dimebon, are currently being tested in clinical trials and are showing remarkable results. Dimebon is an antihistamine drug used in Russia for over 20 years.

There are also some prescription medications that may assist in controlling some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease such as sleeplessness, agitation, wandering, anxiety, and depression. It is possible that treating patients with these medications will make their lives more comfortable and makes caring for patients easier.

Dimebon is a Russian Antihistamine drug that is doing well in Alzheimer’s tests. We are monitoring its progress as a potential new drug to treat Alzheimer’s.

If you would like to be notified of new progress in these tests, please fill out the form below.

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