Alzheimers
Alzheimer’s is a disease which is becoming increasingly common in today’s society, with over five million Americans currently living with this devastating disease. While Alzheimer’s has only become well known to many in the last several decades, it’s symptoms were first detailed in 1906.
Alois Alzheimer was the neurologist from Germany who described the disease, and for whom it was named. Alzheimer’s is a progressive, sometimes rapidly progressive, disease. It is always fatal. The way Alzheimer’s works is by killing brain cells, which plays havoc on the memory. The destruction of these vital brain cells causes not only memory lapses, but also confusion and quite often a complete inability to go about one’s daily activities. Alzheimer’s patients will no longer find it possible to live their life as they once did, and must have constant companionship and supervision. Alzheimer’s disease begins most commonly with memory lapses, such as forgetting where the car keys are, which might initially seem quite minor. As time goes on, additional symptoms will develop.
Some of the most prevalent symptoms will include: Confusion, such as forgetting appointments, names, and things which they did only recently. Mood swing which seemingly have no real origin might appear. These are exacerbated by the memory lapses, since it’s incredibly frustrating for Alzheimer’s patients to find this happening.
It is not at all uncommon to see Alzheimer’s patients become increasingly withdrawn, because they are saddened and frustrated by their problems communicating and living as they once did. Memory loss , and the loss of associated brain skills, is termed “dementia”. By far the most commonly seen type of dementia today is Alzheimer’s. In fact, well over half of all dementia cases today are Alzheimer’s patients.
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s , there are drugs which can help to manage the symptoms of the disease and in some cases to slow the progression of it. Drugs such as Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl can be very helpful for those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. While there are side effects which can be quite unpleasant, many patients feel it’s well worth that inconvenience. Today major research continues on the origins and cure for Alzheimer’s and we are learning more about it every day. Every piece of knowledge may one day help find the answers for a cure.