Symptoms Of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease “Alzheimer’s Disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.” The first case of Alzheimer’s Disease was in 1906 when Dr. Alois Alzheimer discovered changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of a “mental illness.” The woman had suffered from memory loss, language problems and behavior problems. After her death he found clumps and tangled fibers. These clumps, now known as amyloid plaques and the tangled fibers as neurofibrillary, are still some of the main features of Alzheimer’s. Today Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and more than 5 million Americans suffer from
These signs include, memory loss, challenges solving problems, difficulty completing a familiar task, problems speaking and writing, poor judgement, social withdrawal and changes in mood. Neurologists specialize in diseases of the brain and can determine if a person has Alzheimer’s with a series of steps. These steps include examining family history, mental status testing, neurological and physical exams and various tests. Blood tests and brain imaging are common tests performed by doctors to determine if you have this disease. Early diagnosis is important for this disease as there is a better chance at treatment response, increased chances of participating in a clinical trial and time to plan for your
Current medication can’t stop the progression of this disease but it can help slow down symptoms for a short while. There is currently 2 FDA approved medications for Alzheimer’s. These medications are cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine and they help treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s including memory loss, confusion, and problems thinking and reasoning. Cholinesterase inhibitors are usually used to treat people in their early to moderate stage of Alzheimer’s. Cholinesterase inhibitors can help keep acetylcholine levels high which can help with communication. This medication can also delay symptoms for 6 to 12 months but this usually only happens to half of the people who take this medication. Memantine is used to treat people in the moderate to severe stage of Alzheimer’s. Memantine can help regulate glutamate which helps with learning and memory and can also delay symptoms. Treatment can also include clinical