What Alzheimer Is Like for Seniors?

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common types of dementia. This disease was originally observed by a German psychiatrist and neurologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and is named after him.

Alzheimer's disease is an incurable degenerative disorder occurring in individuals above 65 years of age, but cases with early onset of the disease are not uncommon. A report presented in 2006 specified that about 26.6 million individuals suffer from this degenerative disease. The symptoms of this disorder can be unique for each person, there are however many symptoms that are common. The initial symptoms of the disease is a loss of the capability to form new memories and the inability to recall current events. Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is based on cognitive tests and brain scan. As the disease advances, the individual can show symptoms of confusion, irritability, aggression, mood fluctuations, language problems and finally long-term memory loss. The vital functions of the body fail to operate, and death is the final stage. Less than 3% percent live for more than fourteen years after the diagnosis of this disease.

Who are at risk?

The prime factor blamed for Alzheimer's is increased age, and as the age of an individual increase, the risk of this disease also increases. According to a report, about 10% of the individuals 65 years of age and 50% of people 85 years of age suffer from Alzheimer's. According to one projection, the number of patients with this disease could increase to 14 million by 2050. Genetic predisposition is also thought to be a factor for this disease.

However, about 2-5% of people develop symptoms in their early forties and fifties. The children of a person with early onset Alzheimer's are at 50% risk of developing this disorder. The gene found on chromosome 19 is believed to be responsible for this disease. However, in a majority of cases, specific genetic hazards have not been identified yet. Other risk factors correlated are high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, high blood cholesterol and diabetes.

Symptoms

The onset of the disease is gradual, but symptoms become more prevalent as the disease advances. Problems correlated with short-term memory normally arise in the earlier phase of the disease. Mild personality changes also occur in the preliminary phase of this disorder. With the advancement of the disease, the patient develops symptoms of difficulty with abstract thinking and other intellectual impairments. The patient will start to feel carrying out office work to be more challenging. Behavioral transitions also takes place. In later cases, the person can become chaotic and disoriented about the month, time, people and places. The person is further at the jeopardy of getting pneumonia, and the condition can become worse before the death of the patient.

The treatment of Alzheimer involves giving unconditional love and care to the patient. Some medical reports have suggested that within the start of the next decade, innovative breakthroughs might be made cure the disease. Till then, there are other forms of treatment that can help in delaying the signs and keeping the tension at bay.