Alzheimer’s DiseaseAlzheimer’s Disease

By: NoraBy: Nora

Teen Health 8 Teen Health 8

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What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, irreversible disease progressive, irreversible disease in which the brain cells in which the brain cells deteriorate. This commonly deteriorate. This commonly leads to severe dementia.leads to severe dementia.

What causes Alzheimer’s?What causes Alzheimer’s?

Scientists still do not know what causes Scientists still do not know what causes Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer's Disease.

Some risk factors may be:Some risk factors may be: HeredityHeredity AgeAge

StatisticsStatistics

About 4 million people in America are thought to have the About 4 million people in America are thought to have the disease. disease.

14 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s by the middle 14 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s by the middle of the next century unless a cure or prevention is found.of the next century unless a cure or prevention is found.

One in 10 people over 65 and nearly half of those over 85 One in 10 people over 65 and nearly half of those over 85 have Alzheimer’s disease. have Alzheimer’s disease.

A small percentage of people in their 30s and 40s develop A small percentage of people in their 30s and 40s develop the disease. the disease.

A person with Alzheimer’s lives an average of 8 years and A person with Alzheimer’s lives an average of 8 years and as many as 20 years or more from the onset of symptoms.as many as 20 years or more from the onset of symptoms.

SymptomsSymptoms

Memory loss Memory loss Difficulty performing familiar tasks Difficulty performing familiar tasks Problems with abstract thinking.Problems with abstract thinking. Problems with languageProblems with language Poor judgmentPoor judgment Difficulty with time and placeDifficulty with time and place Mood swingsMood swings Personality changesPersonality changes

PrognosisPrognosis

Alzheimer’s disease causes the formation of abnormal Alzheimer’s disease causes the formation of abnormal structures in the brain called plaques and tangles. As they build structures in the brain called plaques and tangles. As they build up in affected individuals, nerve cells connections are reduced. up in affected individuals, nerve cells connections are reduced. Areas of the brain that influence short-term memory tend to be Areas of the brain that influence short-term memory tend to be affected first. Later, the disease works its way into sections that affected first. Later, the disease works its way into sections that control other intellectual and physical functions.control other intellectual and physical functions.

Alzheimer’s disease affects people in different ways, making it Alzheimer’s disease affects people in different ways, making it difficult for medical professionals to predict how an difficult for medical professionals to predict how an individual’s disease will progress. Some experts classify the individual’s disease will progress. Some experts classify the disease by stage (early, middle and late). But specific behaviors disease by stage (early, middle and late). But specific behaviors and how long they last vary greatly, even within each stage of and how long they last vary greatly, even within each stage of the disease.the disease.

Current ResearchCurrent Research

There is no known cure or the disease, but There is no known cure or the disease, but scientists are still looking for a way to scientists are still looking for a way to prevent and cure the diseaseprevent and cure the disease

Doctors can delay the onset of the disease Doctors can delay the onset of the disease through existing treatments, such as anti-through existing treatments, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidants, or hormone inflammatory, anti-oxidants, or hormone replacement therapy. replacement therapy.

Personal StoryPersonal Story

Former president Ronald Reagan is one of the Former president Ronald Reagan is one of the many people that suffer from Alzheimer's disease. many people that suffer from Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease has prevented President Alzheimer's disease has prevented President Ronald Reagan from speaking. In addition, as Ronald Reagan from speaking. In addition, as Reagan passes from moderate to severe Reagan passes from moderate to severe Alzheimer's, he no longer knows the names of Alzheimer's, he no longer knows the names of family members, even his wife.family members, even his wife.

Things to remember...Things to remember...

Alzheimer’s disease affects your memoryAlzheimer’s disease affects your memory Alzheimer’s makes it hard and sometimes Alzheimer’s makes it hard and sometimes

impossible for you to take care of yourselfimpossible for you to take care of yourself There is no cure for the diseaseThere is no cure for the disease It is not known what causes the diseaseIt is not known what causes the disease

Sources:Sources:

www.alz.orgwww.alz.org www.whitehouse.orgwww.whitehouse.org www.Alzheimers.comwww.Alzheimers.com www.alzheimers.orgwww.alzheimers.org