Home > Advocacy in Action > November is National Alzheimer's Awareness Month > What is Alzheimer's?
- What is Alzheimer's?
- 10 Ways to Maintain Your Brain
- Education and Awareness
- Getting Help
- West Virginia Statistics on Alzheimers
- Jane Marks, WV Chapter
Alzheimer's disease (pronounced AHLZ - high-merz) is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimer's progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior such as anxiety, suspiciousness, agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations. Current treatments work best when begun in the early stages of the disease, yet merely slow down the progression of the symptoms. There are no treatments to alter the basic course of the disease.
At age 65, your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease are about one in ten. At age 85 that increases to one in two. And, ten percent of all cases are diagnosed in individuals in their 40's and 50's. There are some individuals who have been diagnosed as early as in their 30's.
Alzheimer's disease is not just memory loss. People with Alzheimer's experience a decline in cognitive abilities, such as thinking and understanding, and changes in behavior. Ten warning signs that include common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (some also apply to other dementias):
If you have noticed several of the above symptoms in yourself or another you should:
See a physician for a complete examination Get a professional diagnosis, some of the symptoms listed above may be caused by other, treatable conditions.A skilled physician can diagnose Alzheimer's disease with 90% accuracy. Because there is no single test for Alzheimer's, diagnosis usually involves a thorough medical evaluation. The physician will do a battery of tests as there are approximately 100 different conditions that can mimic the symptoms of Alzheimer's to eliminate all other possibilities.
The only absolute way to be certain an individual has Alzheimer's disease is to get a brain autopsy upon death.
At present there is no medical treatment that cures or stops or reverses the progression of Alzheimer's disease. There are a number of drugs approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) that help some people with Alzheimer's disease on a short term basis.
There are many medications and treatment approaches that help with behavioral and physical difficulties experienced by someone with Alzheimer's disease. Good caregiver skills, love and friendship can provide one of the best treatments that results in a good quality of life for someone with Alzheimer's.
A new prevention initiative is the Alzheimer's Association, Maintain Your Brain® Campaign. This new public health and education campaign is based on the best available scientific evidence. It encourages us all to understand steps we can take now to make brain health a part of our overall goals for health aging. Read the 10 Ways to Maintain Your Brain®
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Updated: October 20, 2005
