Alzheimer's Disease
What is Alzheimer's Disease ?
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the biological process that begins with the appearance of a buildup of proteins in the form of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. This causes brain cells to die over time and the brain to shrink. About 6.9 million people in the United States age 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s disease. Among them, more than 70% are age 75 and older. Of the more than 55 million people in the world with dementia, 60% to 70% are estimated to have Alzheimer’s disease.
Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. Over time, Alzheimer’s disease leads to serious memory loss and affects a person’s ability to do everyday tasks. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. In advanced stages, loss of brain function can cause dehydration, poor nutrition or infection. These complications can result in death. But medicines may improve symptoms or slow the decline in thinking. Programs and services can help support people with the disease and their caregivers.
Symptoms
- Repeat statements and questions over and over
- Forget conversations, appointments or events
- Misplace items
- Get lost in places they used to know well
- Forget the names of family members
- Have trouble finding the right words
- Depression
- Loss of interest in activities
- Social withdrawal
- Mood swings
- Not trusting others
- Anger or aggression
Cause
The exact causes of Alzheimer’s disease aren’t fully understood. But at a basic level, brain proteins don’t function as usual. This disrupts the work of brain cells, also known as neurons, and triggers a series of events. The neurons become damaged and lose connections to each other. They eventually die. Scientists believe that for most people, Alzheimer’s disease is caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that affect the brain over time. In less than 1% of people, Alzheimer’s is caused by specific genetic changes that almost guarantee a person will develop the disease. For people in this group, the disease usually begins in middle age. The disease begins years before the first symptoms. The damage most often starts in the region of the brain that manages memory. The loss of neurons spreads in a somewhat predictable pattern to other regions of the brain. By the late stage of the disease, the brain has shrunk
Risk Factors
Researchers don’t know why some people get Alzheimer’s disease and others don’t. Some risk factors may include being Black or Latino. Environmental factors (something about where you live, work or spend a lot of time). Genetic changes. Having a traumatic brain injury. Smoking. Your age (AD usually affects people older than 65). Your overall health. Some health conditions may increase your Alzheimer’s risk, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, down syndrome caused by trisomy 21, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity.
When to see a Doctor
Several conditions can cause memory loss or other dementia symptoms. Some of those conditions can be treated. If you are concerned about your memory or other thinking skills, talk to your healthcare professional. If you are concerned about the thinking skills you notice in a family member or friend, ask about going together to talk to a healthcare professional.