November is Alzheimers Awareness Month Alzheimers disease was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and therefore bears his name. Dementia is not a disease itself. Its a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions. The most common form of dementia among older people is Alzheimer’s disease. About 4.5 million Americans suffer from this condition, which usually begins after age 60. In the early stages, the most common symptom is difficulty in recollection of recent events. When Alzheimers disease is suspected, the diagnosis is usually confirmed with tests that evaluate behavior and cognitive function. In most case an MRI or brain scan is performed but tissue examination of brain material is required for a definitive diagnosis. As the Alzheimers progresses symptoms include confusion, irritability, aggression, mood swings, trouble with language, and long-term memory loss. Typically the individual will withdraw from family and society. Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible and progressive. Currently treatment and research focuses on helping people maintain mental function, managing behavioral symptoms, and slowing or delaying the symptoms of the disease. There is no cure. There are four medications approved by the FDA to treat Alzheimer’s and they all work by regulating neurotransmitters. The National Institute on Aging funds Alzheimer’s Disease Centers at major medical institutions across the U.S. Researchers at these Centers are working to improve diagnosis and management of Alzheimer’s disease patients while, at the same time, focusing on discovering a cure and possibly prevention of this debilitating disease.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 18:18:27 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015