All About Alzheimer’s Disease

Everyone misplaces things now and then; all of us forget names, to our embarrassment. Occasionally we feel out of sorts and moody and can act out of character. For someone with Alzheimer’s disease, however, these behaviours occur much frequently; they become symptoms of a growing problem, one that can’t be fixed by a good night’s sleep or a relaxing vacation.

Alzheimer’s disease is devastating – both to the one who is suffering with it and to their loved ones who stand by helplessly and watch. Most of us have been touched in some way by Alzheimer’s – a family member or a friend has been stricken with it – but what really is Alzheimer’s disease? Where does it come from? What can be done about it?

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that over time destroys an individual’s ability to remember things, communicate with others, and function on a practical basis. As a sufferer’s memory begins to fade, their personality and behaviour often undergoes drastic changes. This can be very upsetting to family members who don’t understand what is wrong.

Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia. It attacks the area of the brain that has to do with thoughts and language. Alzheimer’s causes problems in an otherwise normal individual, problems that are severe enough to interfere with a person’s work and social life.


A little history

Alzheimer’s disease was first discovered in 1906 by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German physician. He identified a group of brain cell abnormalities after conducting an autopsy on a woman who had died after years of experiencing severe memory loss and mental confusion. He observed thick plaque around the nerve cells in her brain as well as a tangle of twisted fibers; these two factors are needed even today to really determine if a person has Alzheimers, which means that a realistic diagnosis can still only be made through an autopsy.

However by examining a patient’s history and performing medical tests, physicians are able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment to slow the disease’s progression. The earlier this diagnosis, the better the chances are that the treatments will work.


What to look for

So how can you tell if someone you love is beginning to develop Alzheimer’s disease? There are a number of symptoms to watch for. Memory loss is of course the most common symptom associated with the disease. While it’s normal to forget an appointment occasionally, someone with Alzheimer’s begins to forget things frequently and then cannot remember it later either.

Speech can be affected. We all have trouble finding the right word now and then, but with Alzheimer’s disease, an afflicted individual cannot remember what normal, everyday things are called. A person with Alzheimer’s might not be able to remember what the car is called, for example.

Personality changes can also occur, drastically altering one’s normal behaviour. An Alzheimer’s patient might suddenly become suspicious or very anxious, and they may experience extreme mood swings.


What to do

If you begin noticing several of these symptoms on a regular basis in someone you love, the best thing to do is make an appointment with their physician. Although Alzheimer’s disease has no cure, early diagnosis is very beneficial.