Image by Alyssa L. Miller via FlickrAlzheimer's disease (AD), also called Alzheimer disease, senile dementia of the Alzheimer type, primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer's type, or simply Alzheimer's, is the most common form of dementia. This incurable, degenerative, and terminal disease was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and was named after him. Most often, it is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age, although the less-prevalent early-onset Alzheimer's can occur much earlier. In 2006, there were 26.6 million sufferers worldwide. Alzheimer's is predicted to affect 1 in 85 people globally by 2050. To be honset this is so scarey to have so many people affect with this disease.Symptoms
Symptoms of Alzheimer's
Is it Alzheimer's or just normal aging? We all forget things as we age. Mild forgetfulness is normal. More serious memory problems can make independent living difficult. Read about the steps you can take to help your memory.
Warning Signs
7 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
These early signs may hint that a person has AD. They DON'T mean a person definitely has Alzheimer's. If someone you love shows several of these signs, they should be examined by a health care professional.
Types
Alzheimer's Types
There are several types of Alzheimer's disease.
Web MD
April 19, 2011 -- Alzheimer's disease should be diagnosed early, before a person develops severe, late-stage dementia, new guidelines suggest.
It's been 27 years since guidelines for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease were laid out. Since 1984, research has shown Alzheimer's to be a disease that begins decades before dementia appears.
Now panels from the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association have split Alzheimer's disease into three stages:
Dementia, including mental impairments not as severe as those previously required for an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease. This new category of Alzheimer's disease includes patients with changes in memory and thinking ability that do not keep them from performing everyday functions, but which strongly suggest that a patient will develop Alzheimer's dementia.
Preclinical Alzheimer's disease. The new guidelines recognize that the Alzheimer's disease process begins before there are any symptoms. But for now, there aren't good enough tests to tell whether a person has this stage of Alzheimer's.
The Mayo Clinic Staff state:
Current Alzheimer's disease medications and management strategies can temporarily improve symptoms, maximize function and maintain independence. It's also important to seek social services and tap into your support network to make life better. Research efforts aim to discover treatments that prevent Alzheimer's or slow its progression.
Resources:
Web MD
Mayo Clinic
Wikipedia
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