Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disease that worsens over time and slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. Newer treatments may slow the progression of some symptoms for a time in people with early or middle-stage disease.
Alzheimer's Disease Overview
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disease that worsens over time and slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. It is the most common cause of dementia among older people. While most people with Alzheimer’s are 65 or older, it is not a normal part of aging and occasionally occurs in younger people.
Although treatment can slow the progression of the disease and help manage symptoms in some patients, there is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
An estimated 6.7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s and that number is likely to increase. That’s because the likelihood of developing the disease doubles every five years after age 65, and the American population is aging.
Alzheimer’s is a slow-to-develop disease with three distinct phases:
- Stage 1 is an early, preclinical stage with no apparent symptoms but memory lapses may begin during this timeframe.
- Phase 2 is characterized by more pronounced cognitive impairment, causing the person to require some assistance and can last for many years.
- Phase 3 is the final stage characterized by severe impairment that requires extensive care.
Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia, which refers to the loss of cognitive functioning (thinking, remembering and reasoning) and behavior abilities. Another common form of dementia is vascular dementia, which is caused by strokes.
Wellstar neurologists are experts in diagnosing Alzheimer’s and helping patients and families manage the symptoms and stress that can be part of a diagnosis. Our doctors work together to identify the best treatment options for each patient, including innovative approaches and medications.
Symptoms
Symptoms can vary considerably from person to person. According to The Alzheimer’s Association there are 10 primary warning signs:
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as asking for the same information repeatedly or forgetting recently learned information
- Challenges in planning or solving problems, or changes in the ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers such as difficulty following a familiar recipe or managing monthly bills
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks such as driving to a known location or remembering the rules of a favorite game
- Confusion with time and place, including losing track of dates, seasons and the passage of time, or forgetting where you are and how you got there
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships like trouble reading, judging distance, determining color or contrast, or not recognizing yourself
- New problems with words in speaking or writing, like trouble following or joining a conversation or finding the right words
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps and accusing others of stealing as a result
- Decreased or poor judgement, for example, when dealing with money or paying less attention to grooming
- Withdrawal from work or social activities, like pulling away from hobbies, work projects, and social events
- Changes in mood and personality such as confusion, suspicion, depression, fear, anxiety, or irritation, especially outside their comfort zone
Risk Factors
Though the exact causes of Alzheimer’s disease are not known, experts believe it is caused by complex interactions among genes and other risk factors. Age is the primary risk factor.
A small number of cases may be caused by inherited mutated genes. The only gene identified to date as a risk factor is one that makes a protein called apoliopoprotein E, known as the APOE gene.
Family history can be a risk factor for early-onset Alzheimer’s (diagnosed before age 65). Additionally, there may be a link between serious head injury and future development of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer's Disease Prevention
A great deal of research is under way to determine if certain lifestyle changes can help prevent the onset or severity of Alzheimer’s disease. So far studies have not shown that health or lifestyle habits can prevent or slow the disease over the long term. And no medication or dietary supplement has been shown to prevent Alzheimer’s.
Researchers continue to investigate the possible role of exercise and physical activity, diet, antioxidants and the presence of other conditions like vascular disease, heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Wellstar neurologists recommend good body and brain health practices including:
- Stop smoking if you do smoke or don’t start.
- Live a healthy lifestyle that includes a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
- Get regular exercise and brain stimulation.
Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis
An early Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis can help people start treatment sooner to slow the progression of the disease and prepare for the future.
There is not one test that definitively diagnoses Alzheimer’s disease. Rather, the diagnosis is a probable diagnosis. That means that your neurologist will use a combination of tests, sometimes performed by multiple specialists, over a period of time. Your diagnosis team may include a primary care physician, a neurologist, a neuropsychiatrist and a neuroradiologist
Tools & tests
Tools and tests used to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease include:
- A medical history that reveals answers to questions about health problems and daily behaviors that could be related to Alzheimer’s disease
- Tests that assess memory problem solving and attentiveness
- Blood, urine or spinal fluid tests to identify other possible causes of the symptoms.
- Brain scans, including CT, MRI or PET scans
Find a physician or learn more about memory disorder diagnosis at Wellstar.
Alzheimer's Disease Treatment
While no treatment has been shown to stop Alzheimer’s, several drugs may slow the progression of some symptoms for a time in people with early or middle-stage disease. These include Aricept (donepezil), Donanemab (Kisunl), Exelon (rivastigmine), Lecanemab (Leqembi) and Razadyne (galantamine). Moderate to severe Alzheimer's may be treated with Namenda (memantine).
Your Wellstar neurologist will discuss possible treatments with you and your family members to determine the best course of action. Alzheimer’s is a challenging diagnosis and although there is not a cure, there are strategies to help ease symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
Researchers are working on developing new treatments for Alzheimer’s. Ask your Wellstar neurologist about the possibility of clinical trials that let patients participate in research and take advantage of emerging drugs and treatments.
Ongoing Care for Alzheimer's Disease
As Alzheimer’s becomes severe, Wellstar’s palliative care physicians and certified registered nurses are dedicated to providing the patient and the family compassionate, quality palliative and hospice care in various settings, including home hospice, inpatient hospice nursing homes, assisted living facilities and nursing homes.
At Wellstar Hospice Care, we honor the whole patient and family, delivering respectful, appropriate care by reducing pain and enhancing comfort. We have the most competent and compassionate doctors, nurses, medical team and support staff of any hospice in the area. We offer hospice care at these locations: