Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia in the world today. It is an incurable disease that is degenerative and terminal. The majority of people diagnosed with the disease are over the age of 65. Over 26 million people have been affected by the disease since it was discovered by Alois Alzheimer in 1901. Every case of Alzheimer's is the same for each patient. There are common symptoms involved but each person has a different experience of the disease. Alzheimer's isn't just a burden on the patient but also on the primary caretaker; which is usually a loved one or close relative.
Most Alzheimer's patients are diagnosed with the disease after a series of cognitive tests, behavioral assessments and a brain scan. Early symptoms of the disease include memory loss, confusion, irritability, aggression, mood swings, language problems, long-term memory loss and the depletion of the senses. The majority of patient live for roughly seven years after being diagnosed and only a handful live for 14 years following diagnosis.
There is no cure for Alzheimer's Disease; nor any known prevention. Most doctors recommend a healthy diet, exercise and brain stimulation to help keep the mind and body sharp whether with or without the disease. There are four stages of Alzheimer's; Predementia, Early Dementia, Moderate Dementia and Advanced Dementia. As the disease progresses through these stages the patient develops incontinence and the inability to feed themselves.
The caregiver for an Alzheimer's patient should be a strong-willed person that can handle almost anything. Alzheimer patients, as mentioned earlier, can develop forms of aggression and terrible mood swings. The caregiver has to be prepared for these changes in attitude at a moment's notice. As the disease progresses to the most devastating stages, the caregiver's role is to make the patient as comfortable as possible, which is the most difficult thing to do.
Diagnosis of the disease comes about through various brain tests such as a CT scan, a PET scan, a SPECT scan or an MRI. All off these tests, combined with cognitive ability tests, help to rule out any other possible cerebral problems that could signal another disease other than Alzheimer's. Once diagnosed, the only way to move forward is with care and any medication the doctor can provide to alleviate some of the most painful symptoms.
Some scientific studies over the past decade have come up with a few different ways to help prevent Alzheimer's or at least the quick advancement of the disease. A diet laden with B12, B3, C, folic acid, cereal, wheat, bread, olive oil, fish and red wine could all be factors in helping to prevent this debilitating disease. The largest number of diagnosed Alzheimer's patients comes from after the age of 90. That number is 69,000 new cases per year. The lowest number of new cases per year is from the 65-69 year old range at 3,000 new cases diagnosed per year. Alzheimer's cannot be cured, it cannot be fully prevented but patients can have some of the symptoms alleviated with medicine and the proper care.
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