What Is Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer's Disease and the Cell-Factory
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another dementia, you are not alone. The Alzheimer's Association is the trusted resource for reliable information, education, referral and support for millions of people affected by the disease. Alzheimer's disease is believed to prevent parts of a cell's factory from running well.
They don't know where the trouble starts. Problems in other areas are caused by backups and breakdowns in one system. Damage can cause irreversible changes in the brain as cells die and lose their ability to do their jobs.
Social Activities and the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a disease that affects 5.8 million people in the US. 80% are 75 years old or older. Around 50 million people worldwide have dementia, and between 60 and 70% have Alzheimer's disease.
It is difficult to juggle finances, balance checkbooks and pay bills on time. A person with Alzheimer's may be unable to deal with numbers. Alzheimer's causes a decline in the ability to make decisions.
A person may make poor choices in social interactions or wear clothes that are inappropriate for the weather. It may be more difficult to respond to everyday problems, such as food burning on the stove. Skills are not lost even when symptoms get worse.
Skills that are preserved include reading, listening, singing, listening to music, dancing, drawing, and doing crafts. A number of conditions can cause memory loss or other dementia symptoms. If you are worried about your memory or other thinking skills, you should talk to your doctor.
Increasing age is the most common risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is not normal aging, but it is more likely to occur as you get older. People with MCI have a higher risk of dementia.
The Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
The cause of most Alzheimer's cases is still unknown, except for a small percentage of cases where genetic differences have been identified. There are several hypotheses trying to explain the disease. Alzheimer's has no cure and it gradually renders people incapable of tending to their own needs, so caregiving is basically the treatment and must be carefully managed over the course of the disease.
A Medical Doctor Can Help You Understand Dementia
Changes in the brain can cause nerve cells to stop working and eventually die, which is the cause of dementia. Changes in the brain can be connected to certain forms of dementia, but the specific brain changes that cause dementia are not known. There are rare genetic defects that cause dementia.
Different types of dementia can cause an accurate diagnosis to be difficult. It is difficult to diagnose dementias a single disease because a person could have more than one type. People who are experiencing symptoms of dementia should visit a doctor.
Detection of Structural Changes in the Cortex
The symptoms are the same as those seen in people who are older. Symptoms of stress or depression can make it difficult to get an accurate diagnosis. Structural changes in the cortex can be detected by Sonographers who interpret the scans.
They can help to determine if a stroke or a brain injury could affect cognitive, movement or speech. Blood tests are used to monitor the altered state of a person. A blood test that can show evidence of brain changes is being developed by researchers.
The Future is Now
It is wise to plan for the future. Encourage the person to make a power of attorney for their own benefit, and to draw up an advanced care directive to let them know what treatments they would prefer if they became unable to give consent later on.
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