What Is Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. It affects an estimated 4 million American adults. AD usually has a gradual onset. Problems remembering recent events and difficulty performing familiar tasks are early symptoms.

Additionally, the Alzheimer patient may experience confusion, personality change, behavior change, impaired judgment, and difficulty finding words finishing thoughts or following directions. How quickly these changes occur will vary from person to person, but the disease eventually leaves its victims totally unable to care for themselves.

What Is the Difference Between Alzheimer's and Senility?

Increasing public awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease and its devastating effects is causing many older adults and Alzheimer family members to fear that forgotten names or misplaced keys may be early signs of Alzheimer’s.

Until recently, an older person who was forgetful and had difficulty caring for himself was labeled "senile." "Senility" was considered a normal part of aging.

The symptoms of "senility" are now described by the term "dementia." Health care professionals recognize that when memory loss interferes with daily activities, it is not normal and is most likely the result of a disease.

Dementia is not a normal part of aging. This is because its symptoms, which include difficulties with language, learning, thinking and reasoning, as well as memory loss, eventually become severe enough to interfere with a person’s work and social life.

Although Alzheimer's disease is the most common from of irreversible dementia, some forms of dementia are curable. Keep in mind, however, that the majority of adults over the age of 66 do not develop any form of dementia.

What Is "Normal" Memory Loss?

At some time, everyone forgets her keys or where the car is parked or the name of an acquaintance. Everyone forgets things as she goes about daily activities. Usually, we don’t think anything of such brief memory lapses. Often, what has been forgotten is something of little importance and eventually the information is remembered.

Although most of us expect our bodies and our reflexes to slow down with age, physicians now recognize that many healthy individuals are also less able to remember certain types of information as they get older. Health care professionals use the term "age-associated memory impairment" (AAMI) to describe minor memory difficulties that come with age.

AAMI is neither progressive nor disabling, whereas some dementias are both. AAMI is often most noticeable when the individual is under pressure. Once the person is relaxed, he is able to remember the forgotten material without difficulty.

No "treatment" for age-associated memory loss has been developed. However, writing reminders and lists, repeating messages or names out loud, allowing more time to remember, and using association to remember names may be helpful.

In addition to AAMI, minor memory difficulties may be caused by distraction, fatigue, grief, depression, stress, illness, medication, alcohol, vision or hearing loss, lack of concentration, or an attempt to remember too many details at once.

In general, it may be beneficial to cut back on alcohol, eat well-balanced meals, and make sure that medications are being taken as prescribed and are not themselves causing problems.

Recognizing Dementia

How can you tell if memory loss is more serious than age-associated memory impairment?

Dementia is progressive. AAMI may remain unchanged for years. Most individuals with AAMI can compensate for memory loss with reminders and notes. However, memory loss associated with dementia will begin to interfere with the normal activities of daily life. In addition, dementia will affect more than memory.

For instance, Alzheimer’s disease affects the ability to use words, work with figures, solve problems, and use reasoning and judgment. Alzheimer's disease also may result in changes in mood and personality.

When "forgetfulness" starts to affect the ability to carry on daily activities, it is cause for concern. Even in advanced old age, memory loss that interferes with everyday life is not normal. It may indicate a form of dementia, and the individual should undergo a complete evaluation to find out the cause.

At this time, Alzheimer's Disease cannot be cured. Related disorders such as multi-infarct dementia, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, also involve irreversible dementia.

Equally important to remember, though, are the many reversible causes of dementia-depression, nutritional and vitamin deficiencies, drug intoxication and interaction, thyroid imbalances, some infections, blood chemistry imbalances, tumors, some blood clots, normal pressure hydrocephalus, and excessive pressure in the brain from spinal fluid.

Getting a Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease

At this time, there is no single diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease. To rule out other causes of dementia symptoms requires a complete medical, neurologic and psychiatric evaluation, as well as neuropsychological tests. A complete history from the patient's family, including a description of the symptoms and progression, also is very valuable.

For more information on the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and the necessary diagnostic tests, contact the Alzheimer's Association Chapter nearest you. The Chapter's members may be able to refer you to appropriate local medical resources. Call the Association's toll-free number for the Chapter nearest you: 1-800-272-3900 (TDD: 312-335-8882) or visit their website at www.alz.org.