No End in Sight for Persistant Mind Disease

Research on Alzheimer’s disease is being done everyday. According to alzheimers.org, causes at this time are unknown and there is no cure. It affects the parts of the brain which control thought, memory and language. Alzheimer’s got its name from a German doctor named Dr. Alois Alzheimer. Back in 1906, Dr. Alzheimer was the first to find changes in brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. “He found abnormal clumps (now called amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillary tangles). Today, these plaques and tangles in the brain are considered hallmarks of AD,” reports the site. The disease starts slowly, causing people to forget things they once knew, personality changes late in life, deterioration in reading and writing, and many more life altering problems. While they do not know exactly what causes the disease to consume so many lives, they do know that age is an obvious factor. Recent research shows that every five years, the number of people who get Alzheimer’s doubles after age 65. The other major risk factor is genetics. People whose family members have Alzheimer’s are at a greater risk for eventually getting the disease. Some studies show there may be a correlation between increased aerosol use and the disease. This is only a theory, however.The first signs of Alzheimer’s are as subtle as mild forgetfulness. Recent events and familiar things may become harder to recall. Even simple math problems are more difficult at this stage. These things are usually frustrating for the person experiencing them, but may not be apparent enough for others to pick up on. As the later stages of the disease set in, the simplest tasks, like brushing teeth and hair, can be forgotten. Speaking, understanding, reading and writing are impossible tasks for the Alzheimer’s victim by the worst stages of the disease. Aggressiveness and anxiousness can occur and some even wander away from home. By this time, the person needs full time care. Seven signs have been identified to watch for if you suspect a person is developing Alzheimer’s. Alzheimers.org has prepared this list. “1.Asking the same question over and over again. 2. Repeating the same story, word for word, again and again. 3. Forgetting how to cook, or how to make repairs, or how to play cards – activities that were previously done with ease and regularity .4. Losing one’s ability to pay bills or balance one’s checkbook.5. Getting lost in familiar surroundings, or misplacing household objects.6. Neglecting to bathe, or wearing the same clothes over and over again, while insisting that they have taken a bath or that their clothes are still clean.7. Relying on someone else, such as a spouse, to make decisions or answer questions they previously would have handled themselves.” Although it seems the disease would become obvious as it progresses, doctors will not give a definite diagnosis until the person undergoes an autopsy. The plaques and tangles mentioned earlier are the only way a doctor can know if a person had Alzheimer’s. A plethora of things can cause memory loss and other mental malfunctions which can be mistakenly diagnosed as Alzheimer’s. Some examples of the causes other than Alzheimer’s for memory loss are dehydration, vitamin deficiency, poor nutrition, bad reactions to medicines, problems with the thyroid gland, or a minor head injury. There have been four approved drugs recently released for Alzheimer’s patients. Unfortunately, none of them can reverse the damage that has already been done. Nothing can really stop it either. Slowing down the effects of Alzheimer’s is all that can be done at this point. Patients may also experience relief from sleeplessness, agitation, wandering, anxiety, and depression with medication. Namenda is a new medication given to people with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s. It basically delays the disease a little in a way which allows the patient to carry out everyday tasks, such as going to the bathroom, for a longer period of time. Vitamin E, Ginkgo Biloba, and estrogen are being researched in combinations for treatment in slowing down the disease as well. Scientists believe that more than 4.5 million Americans are now diagnosed with the disease. This is an astounding disease which is growing in astronomical numbers. Attention and awareness are required as the numbers of people affected skyrocket every year. Almost everyone has known someone who lives or lived with this disease. It can be heart wrenching and unbelievable to watch someone go through this. Clinical studies are being done on people who have Alzheimer’s as well as people who do not. Anyone who would like to participate in safe clinical trials to help Alzheimer’s research can call 1-800-438-4380. (http://www.alzheimers.org/treatment.htm)