Alzheimer's Disease
The Start of Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's was discovered by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1906. It is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. It was named after Alois Alzheimer's by Emil Kraepelin. But it didn't always have that name, before it was called "presenile dementia".
What is Alzheiemer's?
Alzheimer's is a disease that destroys memory and makes people not know important details in their life. People that get Alzheimer's are usually older but if they are 80 or more years old then they have 3 to 4 years more to live. But if they are younger then they have 10 or more years. This disorder is very common, nearly 15% of people 71 years old or older get this disease. And approximately 3.8 million Americans currently experience symptoms of it. Also women mostly get this disease because females tend to live longer than males, and chances with this disease increases with age. People with a family member who has Alzheimer's will also more likely develop this disorder. Scientists unfortunately still have no answer in a way to prevent this disorder, they also still don't know a cure for it.
Symptoms
There are several symptoms to Alzheimer's that include:
-memory loss that disrupts daily life
-challenges in planning or solving problems
-difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work, or at leisure
-confusion with time or place
-trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
-new problems with words in speaking or writing
-misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
-deceased or poor judgement
-withdrawal from work or social activities
-change in mood or personality