Night Owl 6/Night Owl's Shareware - PDSI-006 - Night Owl Corp (1990).iso/047a/alzhimrs.zip/ALZHIMRS.TXT

Text File | 1991-10-23 | 9KB | 204 lines

                 ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: AN OVERVIEW


                  What is Alzheimer's disease?

     Alzheimer's disease (pronounced Altz-hi-merz) is a
progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and
results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior.  It affects an
estimated 2.5 million American adults.
     When it was first described by German physician Alois
Alzheimer in 1907, Alzheimer's disease was considered a rare
disorder.  Today, it is recognized as the most common cause of
dementia.
     Dementia is not a disease itself but a group of symptoms
that characterize certain diseases and conditions.  In the case
of Alzheimer's disease, the dementia includes a decline in
intellectual functioning that is severe enough to interfere with
the ability to perform routine activities.
     The second most common form of dementia is multi-infarct
dementia, which is caused by vascular disease and strokes.  Other
causes of dementia are Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease,
Pick's disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
     There also are a number of conditions that cause dementia-
like symptoms:  depression, drug reactions, thyroid disorders,
nutritional deficiencies, brain tumors, head injuries,
alcoholism, infections (meningitis, syphilis, AIDS) and
hydrocephalus.
     Alzheimer's disease is distinguished from other forms of
dementia by characteristic changes in the brain that are visible
only upon microscopic examination.
     At autopsy, Alzheimer's disease brains show the presence of
tangles of fibers (neurofibrillary tangles) and clusters of
degenerating nerve endings (neuritic plaques) in areas of the
brain that are important for memory and intellectual functions.
     Another characteristic of Alzheimer's disease is the reduced
production of certain brain chemicals, especially acetylcholine
and somatostatin.  These chemicals are necessary for normal
communication between nerve cells.


             Who is affected by Alzheimer's disease?

     Alzheimer's disease is more likely to occur as a person gets
older.  Although less than one percent of people age 65 are
affected by Alzheimer's disease, it is present in an estimated 25
percent of those age 85 or older.  Alzheimer's disease can occur
in middle age as well.  The youngest documented case is that of a
28-year-old individual.
     Alzheimer's disease also affects the family of an Alzheimer
patient.  The emotional, social and financial costs of caring for
an Alzheimer patient are high.  Family members also often risk
their own health in order to care for the Alzheimer patient at
home.


                     What are the symptoms?

     Alzheimer's disease has a gradual onset.  Symptoms include
difficulty with memory and loss of intellectual abilities severe
enough to interfere with routine work or social activities.  The
Alzheimer patient also may experience confusion, language
problems (such as trouble finding words), poor or decreased
judgment, disorientation in place and time and changes in
behavior or personality.
     How quickly these changes occur in an Alzheimer patient will
vary from person to person.  Eventually, the disease leaves its
victims totally unable to care for themselves.  The course of the
disease averages eight years from the time symptoms first appear,
although Alzheimer's disease has been known to last as long as 25
years.


             How is Alzheimer's disease diagnosed?

     At this time, there is no single diagnostic test for
Alzheimer's disease.  A complete physical, psychiatric and
neurologic evaluation by a physician experienced in the diagnosis
of dementing disorders should be obtained when symptoms are
noticed.
     The examination should include a detailed medical history,
mental status test, neuropsychological testing, blood work,
urinalysis, chest x-ray, electroencephalography (EEG),
computerized tomography (CT scan) and electrocardiogram (EKG).
Such an evaluation is essential to determine whether the dementia
is the result of a treatable illness.
     When this kind of a detailed examination is done, the
accuracy of diagnosis is about 90 percent.  However, the only way
to confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is to examine brain
tissue under a microscope.


                What causes Alzheimer's disease?

     Scientists are still looking for the cause of Alzheimer's
disease, and their research is pointing in several directions.
     For one form of the disease called Familial or Uncommon
Alzheimer's Disease, there is strong evidence that a defect
exists in a single gene on Chromosome 21.
     However, for most Alzheimer's disease patients the genetic
involvement is less clear.  Although there does seem to be a
genetic predisposition for the disease, other factors influence
whether or not an individual develops Alzheimer's disease.
     Scientists continue to explore the importance of such things
as a slow virus; environmental toxins, such as aluminum; and
   other physical conditions of an individual that may interact with
the genetic defect.


                  Is Alzheimer's disease fatal?

     Although Alzheimer's disease is associated with a shortened
lifespan, the slow, progressive nature of the disease often means
the patient will live for several years after diagnosis.
     Alzheimer's disease eventually leaves the patient physically
less resistant to infections, such as pneumonia, which may be
fatal.  In addition, Alzheimer's disease generally affects an
older population that is subject to other chronic illnesses, and
those illnesses, too, may often be the cause of death.


          Can Alzheimer's disease be treated or cured?

     At this time, there is no treatment or cure available to
stop or reverse the mental deterioration of Alzheimer's disease.
However, new research findings give reason for hope.  Several
drugs used to relieve the symptoms of memory loss are in clinical
trials.
     Other medications are available now to assist in managing
some of the most troubling symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Under a doctor's supervision, medication can be used to control
depression, behavioral disturbances and sleeplessness.


              Can Alzheimer's disease be prevented?

     Prevention is not possible at this time because the cause of
the disease is not known.  However, advances in science are
bringing us closer to answers that can lead to treatments and/or
strategies for prevention.  Meanwhile, focus on improved care and
support for the caregiver are helping to ease the burden of
Alzheimer's disease.

    Is there help for people affected by Alzheimer's disease?

     The Alzheimer's Association is the only national voluntary
organization dedicated to providing support and assistance to
Alzheimer patients and their families.  The Alzheimer's
Association is continuing research into the cause, treatment and
cure of Alzheimer's disease, as well as ways to improve the care
and management of current Alzheimer patients.
     The Alzheimer's Association has more than 1,200 support
groups and 190 Chapters nationwide.  For more information on
Alzheimer's disease and the Alzheimer's Association or to
volunteer in the fight against Alzheimer's disease, call the
Association's toll-free number for the location of the Chapter
nearest you.



                            Glossary

  Dementia -- This is not a disease in itself but a group of
symptoms that characterize certain diseases and conditions.  The
major symptoms involve a decline in intellectual functioning that
is severe enough to interfere with routine activities.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia.

  Senility -- This label often was used to describe an individual
65 years or older with dementia.  Senility used to be considered
a normal part of aging.  Today, physicians recognize that
dementia is not a normal part of aging but the result of a
disease such as Alzheimer's disease.

  Senile dementia/pre-senile dementia -- Senile dementia is a label
that used to apply to patients whose symptoms of dementia
appeared after age 65.  Pre-senile dementia is a label that used
to apply to dementia victims who were younger than age 65.  These
distinctions have largely been eliminated.  Today, most cases of
dementia in both groups of patients are diagnosed as Alzheimer's
disease.

  Chronic organic brain syndrome -- This label is sometimes given
to patients with a collection of symptoms such as memory loss,
disorientation, confusion, personality changes and inability to
carry out normal daily activities.  The preferred term for these
symptoms is dementia or dementing illness.

  Hardening of the arteries -- The correct medical term is
arteriosclerosis.  The dementia symptoms associated with
arteriosclerosis result only when multiple cerebral infarcts
(strokes) have occurred.  This condition is called multi-infarct
dementia.

     This brochure is one of a series made available by the
Alzheimer's Association with underwriting from American Contract
Bridge League, Louis N. Cassett Foundation, the Coca Cola
Foundation, Ittleson Foundation, Inc., and Million Dollar Round
Table Foundation.