How do you get Alzheimers?

Answer 1

The precise mechanism by which people get Alzheimer's Disease is not known to medical science. There are a number of theories. It may be related to prions (a similar disease, Creuzfeldt-Jaacob Disease, is known to be caused by prions), it may involve aluminum poisoning or other forms of metal toxicity, or it may involve nothing more than the wearing out of an aging brain.

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More detail on suggestions that Alzheimer's is a prion disease in the related links.

See related links for an interview with Dr. Colm Kelleher author of "Brain Trust: The Hidden Connection Between Mad Cow and Misdiagnosed Alzheimer's Disease" recorded November 16, 2004. Video is about 1 hour long but well worth the time.

Dying for a Hamburger presents strong evidence that Alzheimer's disease is caused by the same agent that causes mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE), variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), and a host of other neurodegenerative diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Dying For a Hamburger now presents compelling evidence that Alzheimer's disease has become epidemic due to

modern meat-packing practices.

Answer 2

You can get Alzheimers when you become older. The course of AD is not the same in every person with the disease, but symptoms seem to develop over the same general stages.

Very early signs and symptoms

Memory problems are one of the first signs of AD. Some people with mild AD have a condition called amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). People with MCI have more memory problems than normal for people their age, but their symptoms are not as severe as those of people with AD. More people with MCI go on to develop AD than people without MCI.

Mild AD

As AD progresses, memory loss continues and changes in other cognitive abilities appear. Symptoms in this stage can include:

* getting lost

* trouble handling money and paying bills

* repeating questions

* taking longer than before to complete normal daily tasks

* poor judgment

* losing things or misplacing them in odd places

* mood and personality changes

In most people with AD, symptoms first appear after age 60. AD is often diagnosed at this stage.

Moderate AD

In moderate AD, damage occurs in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought. Symptoms may include:

* increased memory loss and confusion

* problems recognizing family and friends

* inability to learn new things

* difficulty carrying out tasks that involve multiple steps (such as getting dressed)

* problems coping with new situations

* delusions and paranoia

* impulsive behavior

Severe AD

People with severe AD cannot communicate and are completely dependent on others for their care. Near the end, the person with AD may be in bed most or all of the time. Their symptoms often include:

* inability to recognize oneself or family

* inability to communicate

* weight loss

* seizures

* skin infections

* difficulty swallowing

* groaning, moaning, or grunting

* increased sleepingDiagnosis