Alzheimer's Disease,and other forms of dementia.

What it is
Dementia is the loss of mental capacity that ultimately interferes with daily functioning. It develops when the parts of the brain involved with learning, memory, decision-makuing and language are affected by one or more of a variety of infections or diseases. Common symptoms of dementia include changes in personality, mood and behavior.

First described in 1906 by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, Alzheimer's disease, the most common dementia-related illness, is a progressive illness that affects individuals both physically and mentally. Alzheimer's causes 50-70 percent of all dementias adn most commonly develops in elderly people. Late-onset Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of the disease, usually occurring after age 65 and striking nearly half of all people over the age of 85. Five to eight percent of all people over the age of 65 have some form of dementia and this number doubles every five years above that age. A person with Alzheimer's disease may have problems with memory, judgement and thinking, which can make work and even daily life activities difficult.

Risk Factors
At this time, the exact cause of Alzheimer's is unknown and the illness is not preventable. However, most doctors and scientists agree that several factors contribute to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. These factors include age, gender (more frequently affecting women), heredity as well as having Down syndrome or sustaining a head injury and environmental toxins.

Diagnosing the Disease
Alzheimer's often goes unrecognized or is misdiagnosed in the early stages. Other conditions, such as depression, head injury, certain chemical imbalances or the effects of some medications. can produce symptoms that are similar to Alzheimer's. Some disorders that can result in demtnia are curable, but Alzheimer's is not. Therefore, both atimely diagnosis and effective use of therapies to manage symptoms are crucial. A physician can only diagnose Alzheimer's disease after a thorough medical, psychiatric and neurological evaluation. Through a process of elimination, doctors can diagnose what they refer to as probable Alzheimer's with almost 90 percent accuracy.

Common Symptoms
• Impaired memory and thinking
• Disorientation and confusion
• Misplacing things
• Abstract things
• Trouble performing familiar tasks
• Changes in personality and behavior
• Poor or decreased judgement
• Inability to follow directions
• Impaired visual and spatial skills
• Loss of motivation or initiative
• Loss of normal sleep patterns.

References:
1 National Alzheimer's Association - www.alz.org
2 Charlotte E. Grayson, MD - www.webmd.com
3 The Cleveland Clinic