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It is not at all uncommon to see Alzheimer’s patients become increasingly withdrawn, because they are saddened and frustrated by their problems communicating and living as they once did.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.

Because of these tests, patients and their families can become more informed about the progression of the disease, and take a more active part in treating it. A crucial part of this treatment is understanding the course that the disease will take, and the factors that might contribute to its development.

While nobody knows the exact cause of Alzheimer’s, doctors know that there are a number of risk factors, including age, genetics, and a history of injury to the head or skull. On a more microscopic level, the disease involves the gradual deterioration and death of neurons in the brain, in conjunction with high numbers of amyloid plaques and tangles in the neural matter. This process of cell death leads to the symptoms of dementia, including extreme forgetfulness, loss of language abilities, and alterations in judgment or personality.

Gradually, these symptoms will get worse, and will finally result in death. To slow down the progression of the disease, doctors recommend a number of steps. First, drugs like cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine can help to minimize neuron death in the brain, by increasing or decreasing the levels of specific neurotransmitters. Secondly, counseling can help every member of a patient’s family, by providing a number of coping strategies. These strategies include the ability to ask questions calmly and constructively, and the ability to respond to one another in affirming and positive ways.

Additionally, the help of a trained medical professional can be instrumental in deciding when to move your loved one to a care facility, and what levels of medications should be given at what times. Although a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be scary, the best course of action is to become educated about the course of the disease, and about the steps that can be taken to slow down its progress. Hopefully, with the help of the medical community and other support organizations, every affected family can arrive at a workable treatment plan that fits their particular situation.