What is Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease is a type of dementia that impacts the way a person thinks and behaves. The condition most strongly impacts a patient's memory and ability to remember even simple things, such as the name's of their family members. Over time, symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease gradually get worse to the point where the alzheimers effects interfere with daily living.

Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for up to 80% of dementia cases. Although Alzheimer's is often associated with age, it's important to realize that it is not a normal part of aging. The average age of a typical patient is 65 years old, however, up to 5% of people suffer from early onset Alzheimer's. Early onset, or younger onset Alzheimer's can strike people as young as 40 years old.

Over time, Alzheimers symptoms get more severe. As a progressive disease, the earlier stages are mild. Patients forget simple things, like where they left an object or directions to a store. In later stages, the memory loss is much more severe, patient's are unable to continue a conversation or respond to people at all. Alzheimer studies show that most people live an average of 8 years after symptoms first appear, but in some cases people can live up to 20 years after. The level of health, age, and coexisting conditions can impact the survival rate.

Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms

When you get older, experiencing problems with memory and slowed thinking is inevitable. However, when those symptoms grow serious enough that memory-loss, confusion, and other thinking problems impact the quality of your life, it could be sign or a larger problem with the brain. The signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are subtle at first and may not be recognizable until they grow into more severe symptoms.

The first Alzheimers effect is difficulty with remembering new information. That's because the first problems of Alzheimer's start with the learning part of the brain, and eventually spreads to other parts. As the disease progresses, more severe symptoms appear, including: disorientation; behavior and mood changes; confusion about time, place and events; more severe memory loss; suspicions about family, friends, and alzheimers caregiving professionals; and trouble walking, swallowing, and speaking. The symptoms generally worsen over time and and occur more frequently and more intensely.

In most cases, it's difficult for patients to admit that they need help. The symptoms of Alzheimers disease are usually more apparent to friends and family members first. If you notice you or a loved one experiencing dementia symptoms, you should visit a doctor right away. The alzheimer's latest treatments are more effective the earlier the treatment is started. Early diagnosis and early treatment can significantly extend the expected lifespan of a patient and make the difference between mild and severe effects.

Alzheimer's Disease and the Brain

The cause behind alzheimers effects lies with a malfunction of the cells in the brain. The brain has billions of nerve cells that all communicate together and perform specialized jobs. Some nerve cells are responsible for thinking, remembering, and learning, while others are responsible for senses, like seeing, hearing, and smelling.

To successfully work together and operate normally, the cells are always in constant communication with other cells. They receive oxygen and other energy supplies to maintain smooth operation. Although the exact Alzheimer's cause isn't known, many scientific Alzheimers journals suggest that the problem occurs when a cell group doesn't run correctly. When one cell or cell group fails, it impacts all the other cells it communicates with, and the damage spreads from there. Cells are unable to do their jobs, and cell death occurs, which impacts the functionality of the brain.