Corpus Christi Texas Medical News October 2004
Introduction
Alzheimers (AHLZ-high-merz) disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a persons memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimers progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations.
Although there is currently no cure for Alzheimers, new treatments are on the horizon as a result of accelerating insight into the biology of the disease. Research has also shown that effective care and support can improve quality of life for individuals and their caregivers over the course of the disease from diagnosis to the end of life.
Dementia
Alzheimers is the leading cause of dementia, a group of conditions that all gradually destroy brain cells and lead to progressive decline in mental function. Vascular dementia, another common form, results from reduced blood flow to the brains nerve cells. In some cases, Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia can occur together in a condition called "mixed dementia." Other causes of dementia include frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Parkinsons disease. For more information on related disorders, see Related Disorders.
Progression of Alzheimers disease
Alzheimers disease advances at widely different rates. The duration of the illness may often vary from 3 to 20 years. The areas of the brain that control memory and thinking skills are affected first, but as the disease progresses, cells die in other regions of the brain. Eventually, the person with Alzheimers will need complete care. If the individual has no other serious illness, the loss of brain function itself will cause death.
