Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that effects the memory, thinking and behavior of an individual. Usually a person’s symptoms develop at slow pace and then grow to be worse over time. In some cases, symptoms may become sever enough to interfere with daily tasks. Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging, but is the most common form of dementia. It accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases and usually occurs when the person is about 60 years of age.

Alzheimer’s wasn’t discovered until 1906 and today about 90 percent of what we know about Alzheimer’s has been discovered in the last 20 years. It is now at the forefront of biomedical research. There is no current cure for Alzheimer’s disease, however, treatment for symptoms is available to the patient. The treatment for Alzheimer’s helps slow the process of the disease worsening and focuses on improving the quality of life of those who are diagnosed with the disease.

Each Alzheimer’s case is unique and is treated specific to that individual. The average life span of someone who is effected by the disease ranges from 4-20 years, depending on the age, health and severity of the condition they are in.

If Alzheimer’s runs in the family, it’s important to know and be aware of the symptoms and discuss a plan of action with your family. It’s important to prepare for the possibility of illness to avoid any potential issues that may arise in the future.

Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life

• Challenges with problem solving or planning

• Struggling with the effort to complete familiar tasks at home or work

• Confusion with time and place

• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

• Problems with speaking and writing

• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

• Increased incidences in poor judgement

• Emotional withdrawal

• Mood or personality changes