Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease is a progressive, degenerative, and irreversible disease.

Progressive - increasing. The amount of damage done by the disease increases over time.
Degenerative - breaking down. The nerve cells in the brain degenerate or break down.
Irreversible - no known cure. Damage done to the brain cells cannot be repaired.

Alzheimer's Disease causes gradual breakdown in the nerve cells of the brain. The brain changes and no longer works the way it used to. As a result, people with Alzheimer's Disease become less and less able to make sense of information from the outside world and to send messages to their bodies. People with Alzheimer's Disease become unable to think, remember, understand, and make decisions as before. They will have trouble with everyday activities such as getting dressed, cooking a meal, or washing the car. Eventually, they become unable to look after themselves and will develop other illnesses such as pneumonia, which will cause death.

Alzheimer's Disease was discovered in 1906 by the German neurologist, Alois Alzheimer. He published a paper describing the case of a 55 year-old woman with dementia. In the article Alzheimer described the plaques and tangles in the brain which have become the markers for Alzheimer Disease.

The Facts

• Alzheimer's Disease is not a normal part of aging.
• The majority of people with Alzheimer's Disease are over the age of 65, though individuals have been diagnosed as young as 30.
• Alzheimer's Disease knows no boundaries, it affects men and women of all races, religions and socio-economic backgrounds.
• To date, the cause of Alzheimer's Disease is not known.
   

Alzheimer's Disease and Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder where people have an extra chromosome 21. This causes delays and limitations in physical and intellectual development. People with Down Syndrome appear to age more rapidly than other persons in the general population and are thus at greater risk of Alzheimer's Disease than are peers of a similar age. Many individuals with Down Syndrome who live past 35 develop the characteristic markers for Alzheimer's Disease (plaque/tangles in the brain). Those people with a developmental disability are at a greater risk for Alzheimer's Disease if the individual is over 40 and if the individual has a history of Alzheimer's Disease in their family.