Alzheimer's DiseaseAlzheimer's Disease, the leading cause of dementia, results in a deterioration of thinking skills due to a progressive loss of brain cells. Alzheimer's is a disease that takes over the life of both the person with the diagnosis and the family. It is a difficult disease to conclusively diagnosis and is even more difficult to treat. Alzheimer's is a frequently occurring disease that continues to increase in prevalence as the population ages. A person diagnosed with Alzheimer's lives an average of eight years, from the onset of the disease, although occasionally survival can be longer than 20 years. Seventy percent of Alzheimer's patients are living at home and/or being cared for by family members. Scientists are still not sure what causes Alzheimer's. Family history has been identified as a potential risk factor. Researches agree though, that Alzheimer's is most likely caused by several possible factors. There is evidence that vascular problems such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure increase risk. Age is certainly a factor, since approximately ten percent of people over 65 and as many as 50% of people over 85 have Alzheimer's. In addition, two abnormal structures in the brain have been linked to the disease. These are amyloid plaques (clumps of protein fragments found on the outside of cells) and neurofibrillary tangles (clumps of altered proteins found inside the cells). Research has yet to determine exactly what role these play in the disease. Alzheimer's can strike someone as early as 30 years old, however most people are diagnosed with the disease after the age of 65. The early onset form of the disease accounts for less than ten percent of all those diagnosed. Symptoms
TreatmentDiagnosing Alzheimer's is difficult but can be helped with early and thorough evaluation. There is no single test for Alzheimer's. A comprehensive patient exam and evaluation may include health history, physical exam, mental status testing, blood work, and imaging exams. There are currently four FDA approved medications for the treatment of Alzheimer's and several other clinical trials are in process. There are also other medications and therapies that can help reduce some of the behavioral symptoms associated with the disease. Once a person has been diagnosed, early involvement of the patient and the family in education and planning can help ease the long-term burden of the disease. SupportWe encourage you to obtain a copy of the book The 36 Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons With Alzheimer's Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life by Nancy L Mace and Dr. Peter V. Rabins, available at most book stores. Alzheimer's Association "The Alzheimer's Association is the largest national voluntary
health organization dedicated to advancing research for the causes,
treatments, and prevention of Alzheimer's disease, as well as to
enhancing care and support for individuals, their families, and
caregivers." Canton Area Chapter This chapter supports and assists people and their caregivers with dementia regardless of its cause. They provide advocacy, education, peer counselors, newsletters, support for research and local support groups. Occasionally, schedule changes for the support groups may occur. If you are planning to attend any of the support groups for the first time, it is recommended that you contact the Chapter office at the above numbers to confirm the date, time, and location. ALLIANCE CANTON AREA DAYTIME CANTON AREA EVENING CARROLLTON DENNISON DOVER/NEW PHILADELPHIA EARLY STAGE GROUP MASSILLON MILLERSBURG ORRVILLE WOOSTER
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