How does Alzheimer's disease affect the body and what are the medications doctors are using for this disease?

Answer 1

== == == == Please see link at bottom. Note: Because someone forgets certain things as they age this does notmean they have on-set dementia connected to Alzheimer's Disease and is called 'the aging process' and is quite normal. Only 2% of the ages of 30's, 40's and 50's may be prone to the on-set of Alzheimer's Disease. Scientists have found that people that are constantly learning and using their brain on a daily basis seem less likely to be prone to memory loss. If one should be concerned about their memory loss as they age or of anyone in their family it's important that they see their physician for early detection. Physical Symptoms with a person with Alzheimer's Disease: * Slowly their memory will worsen and they will forget such things as a pot of water boiling on the stove and as the disease progresses may not even recognize their mate or own home. Eventually they will find they can't find the right words or forget how to read and write. Comprehension of what they read will reduce to almost zero percent. * Shuffling of the feet. * Stooped posture. * Wandering. The person will often forget where they are and leave the house only to get lost. If they are with a caregiver and are separated from them they can wander off quite quickly and some people with this disease will just keep walking or taking one bus after the other, while some will go into sheer panic mode. * Alzheimer's patients at the beginning of their disease can remember old memories very clearly, but find it difficult to comprehend conversations or new memories. Example: They may forget that they were at a grandchild's birthday party days ago or even just a few weeks previous. * Choking. The person with Alzheimer's can choke very easily on food because the brain is not sending the correct electrical impulses for the swallowing process and the esophagus does not work correctly (sort of like slinky toy) which pushes the food down into the stomach. * Anger Outburst. The person with Alzheimer's will eventually become angry (appear just old and cranky to members of the family) and prefer to be by themselves. Eventually, outburst of rage will appear and they can and will physically strike out at their caregiver. * Paranoia. The person with Alzheimer's will think perhaps that one of their family members is stealing something in their home or they may have given something to someone and call them a thief. They are paranoid of strangers and family alike which can cause the caregiver in the family and other family members great pain. * Insomnia * Swearing. Because Alzheimer's is a disease of the brain people with the disease can swear a blue streak even if they have never been much at swearing through their past lives. * Loss of language skills. The person with Alzheimer's may know what they want to say, but their brain refuses to compute and the person will become extremely agitated and as the Alzheimer's Disease progresses they are unaware of what they are saying or not saying. * High blood pressure. * Cholesterol problems. * Depression. * Adverse drug reactions * Nutritional difficulties (to the point of Anorexia) * Hypothyroidism As many as 4 million to 6 million people in the United States have the disorder. Given our aging population, it has been estimated that 14 million Americans will have Alzheimer's disease by the middle of this century unless we find a cure or preventive measures. The average length of time between the appearance of the first symptoms of Alzheimer's and death seems to range from 4 to 16 years. Women with the disease generally survive longer than men. Most Alzheimer's patients die of complications such as pneumonia. Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease It is essential to note that memory loss does not necessarily presage Alzheimer's disease. All of us forget things once in a while. Furthermore, some slowing of memory is a normal consequence of aging. If you experience memory loss, but not at a level that interferes with the activities of daily life, you probably do not have the disease. The vast majority of people past the age of 65 do not have Alzheimer's disease. Only after doctors rule out other neurological or medical problems do they focus on the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Then they use neuropsychological testing, brain imaging, and other techniques, such as blood tests and neurological and physical examination and history, to place people on two levels of diagnostic certainty: * Probable Alzheimer's disease-the person has no other illnesses that may contribute to the symptoms * Possible Alzheimer's disease the person meets the criteria for other illnesses that may contribute to his or her mental problems, such as hypothyroidism or cerebrovascular disease. What Affects the Risk for Alzheimer's Disease? While popular reports periodically circulate about dietary (for example, zinc) and other environmental factors (such as aluminum), none of these suspects have yielded anything definitive under investigation. People who develop Alzheimer's disease tend to use anti-inflammatory agents like aspirin and acetaminophen less often than their peers. Because chronic inflammation has been associated with amyloid deposition, anti-inflammatory agents could play an important role in slowing or inhibiting the disease. Several large studies are now in progress to test whether or not these drugs can prevent Alzheimer's disease. Drug Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease Since there is no cure for Alzheimer's, current treatment focuses on lessening its symptoms. Some researchers consider the loss of acetylcholine to be the reason for declining memory, so scientists have adopted the strategy of enhancing the brain's acetylcholine production. A class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors has a modest but positive effect on the memory-loss symptoms of the disease. * Tacrine (tetrahydroaminoacridine), sold as Cognex * Donepezil (Aricept) was approved for Alzheimer's disease in 1996. * Rivastigmine (Exelon) * Galantamine (Reminyl)Although there has been some indication that antioxidants can protect against memory loss, none has been shown to prevent Alzheimer's disease. People with Alzheimer's disease given vitamin E (2000 IU per day) lived longer than those taking a placebo, but showed no improvement in their mental function. Ginkgo biloba was found to provide a small benefit on cognitive testing in people with Alzheimer's disease, but the large number of dropouts in that trial has raised concerns about the validity of the results. Antidepressants, beta-adrenergic antagonists, lithium, benzodiazepines, and anticonvulsant drugs all show inconsistent results but are worth trying because they can help some individuals. In addition to sedating the person, many of these drugs worsen cognitive function; they have also been associated with falls and fractures. Antidepressants or sedatives will help an Alzheimer's patient with their insomnia. The Late Stages of Alzheimer's Disease In the last stages of illness, people with Alzheimer's disease are often unable to care for their most basic needs. Many individuals need round-the-clock care and are placed in nursing homes. People at this stage of illness may require tube feedings to maintain nutrition and decrease the risk of aspiration or choking. Skin Care to prevent bedsores is important, as is bowel care. Maintaining the dignity of the individual is still important: dressing, bathing, feeding, and grooming a person with Alzheimer's each day is essential even though that person may appear unaware of his or her surroundings. When making end-of-life decisions the family should follow an individuals wishes, but that may not be possible if the person has not made appropriate legal decisions. Some people make out documents authorizing certain life-support measures and not others, called Advance Directives, before they succumb to dementia. For people who have not put these choices in writing, the decision is usually up to the next of kin or legal guardian. Disagreements within the family can cause a great deal of difficulty, particularly when a rapid medical decision is required. Counseling can be of help.

Answer 2

Brain functions & communication and to a possible extent it may be Vascular