Alzheimer's Disease
This disease has affected more than 5 million people in 2015
About Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease is a chromosomal abnormality found on chromosomes 1, 14 and 21. It was discovered by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1906 while studying a corpse. It is a disease that causes loss of brain function and specifically affects memory, language and thought. After diagnosis, the life expectancy of an individual floats around 8 to 10 years, though it varies based on the form of Alzheimer's.
Symptom's and Effects
Alzheimer's causes loss of memory, language, thought, and even personality. People start to forget people's names frequently or where they were. As it becomes more aggressive, they forgot how to do simple tasks such as brushing their hair. In terms of language, people with Alzheimer's often slur their language and forget how to say certain words. Thinking clearly is also a challenge, as well as focusing on certain tasks. Changes in personality is surprisingly a symptom as well, as they often feel nervous or sad.
Help with Alzheimer's
The Alzheimer's Organization is a group that helps individuals with Alzheimer's. They provide people with caregivers and medicine. The caregivers help them complete tasks and take their medicine. It is often hard for family members alone to take care of them, making caregivers very important. The medicine provided helps slow symptoms and effects of the disease.
Inheritance
Scientists don't know exactly how Alzheimer's is developed, but they believe it is multifactorial, meaning it is caused by a combination of genes and environmental factors. The main form of Alzheimer's is autosomal dominant, meaning only one parent has to pass it on to the offspring rather than both.
Tests for Alzheimer's
There are many different ways to test for Alzheimer's, but not to diagnose it. The tests only help eliminate other disorders with symptoms similar to Alzheimer's. These test include checking patients' memory, language skills, and problem solving abilities. These tests will show if a person's brain function has deteriorated.
Alzheimer's Prevention
There is no cure for Alzheimer's, but there are different medicines to help slow symptoms. One of these medicines, Aricept, increases neurotransmitting cells in the brain. Namenda is another medication for Alzheimer's that protects brain cells from being damaged by glutamate. Antidepressants are occasionally given out to help ease the mood of an individual with Alzhemier's.
Some Questions
Some people may ask if they are at risk of Alzheimer's, but most don't have to worry. If you are at risk though, you still don't have to worry about it usually until you are 65 and older. You are probably not at risk at all if nobody in your family history has ever had Alzheimer's.