ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

WHAT IS ALZHEIMER’S?

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. It is a neurodegenerative disease that occurs in the

brain.  Alzheimer’s disease causes a deterioration in the

brain by destroying the nerve cells. Once the nerve cells begin to deteriorate it causes a reduction of responses to other nerve cells.

 The condition spreads out causing chemical interruptions, the transmission of impulses is slow, and finally tissues in the brain begin to get worse.

In Alzheimer’s disease, nerve cells in the brain die gradually. This makes it increasingly difficult for your brain’s signals to be sent properly. 

There are 7 stages of Alzheimer's

HOW YOU GET THE DISEASE?

They still don’t know how the Alzheimer’s disease process begins, it seems likely that damage to the brain starts a decade or more before problems become evident.

People who have relatives with Alzheimer’s have a higher risk than the general population for developing the disease.

People who have a parent or sibling with Alzheimer's disease are 3.5 times as likely to develop it.

 This strong tendency of Alzheimer's disease to run in families is due, in part, to mutations in certain genes. 

WHERE DOES ALZHEIMER’S AFFECT YOU IN THE BODY? Alzheimer’s affects the brain. Alzheimer's causes neurons to die which causes the

brain to shrink. This leads to a loss of functioning capabilities in almost all parts of brain, not just the ones that affect memory.

This leads to the formation of clumps and tangles within the brain and eventually leads to death.

When you have Alzheimer’s the cerebral cortex shrinks massively. The cerebral cortex is the outer surface of the brain and it is responsible for all intellectual functioning.

The spaces in the folds of the brain (the sulci) are grossly enlarged.

You cannot catch or spread Alzheimer’s

Normal Brain Alzheimer’s Brain

WHEN DO YOU GET ALZHEIMER'S? Alzheimer’s disease can occur at any age, even as

young as 40 years, but its occurrence is much more common as the years go by

Early Alzheimer's starts at 65 years of age or younger. Late Alzheimer's starts after age 65

One in ten people over 65 years of age suffer from the disease, and over half the people over 85 have Alzheimer’s disease. 

At first the symptoms are difficult to recognise. In the first 2 stages of Alzheimer's you cannot

recognise that you have it. Often it is difficult to pinpoint when the Alzheimer’s

disease actually began in a person. 

SYMPTOMS OF ALZHEIMER'S

Short term memory loss – forgetting recent events, names and places

Difficulty performing familiar tasks Disorientation especially away from your normal

surroundings Increasing problems with planning and managing Trouble with language Rapid, unpredictable mood swings Lack of motivation Changes in sleep and confusion about the time of

day Reduced judgement e.g. being unaware of

danger

7 STAGES OF ALZHEIMER’S

Stage 1: NormalStage 2: Normal aged forgetfulnessStage 3: Mild cognitive impairmentStage 4: Mild Alzheimer’sStage 5: Moderate Alzheimer’s

diseaseStage 6: Moderately severe

Alzheimer's diseaseStage 7: Severe Alzheimer's

disease

CURE AND TREATMENT FOR ALZHEIMER’S

Currently there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. However there are several drugs that may be prescribed to help people with Alzheimer’s. They are not a cure, but can help with some of the symptoms of the disease.

Drugs such as donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Reminyl) are used to treat symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.

Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and antipsychotics are used to treat the symptoms of depression, anxiety, agitation, and the hallucinations and delusions that may occur in Alzheimer's disease patients