What Is Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder affecting more than 4 million Americans. While extensive continuing Alzheimer's research has proven common risk factors and characteristics of Alzheimer's disease, the causes of Alzheimer's are still unknown. Researchers worldwide are tenaciously investigating the possible causes of Alzheimer's and ways to prevent it.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative illness marked by the gradual loss of brain cells. In the early stages, memory and thinking abilities decline—then cells begin to die in other areas of the brain that control functions such as muscle control. The average duration of Alzheimer's disease is 5 to 10 years, but it varies considerably with reports of people living as long as 20 years with the disease. Inevitably, however, the brain eventually stops functioning altogether.

Alzheimers Research
Years of Alzheimer's research have taught us that the initial symptoms typically include memory loss (dementia), confusion, and disorientation. For example, in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease the affected person may forget a loved one’s name or a familiar place. As the disease progresses, they may forget how to do simple household tasks and become confused quite easily. People with Alzheimer’s disease may also have difficulty speaking clearly and might display personality and behavior changes. Some sufferers, in a state of disorientation, wander away from home, which is a very common symptom of Alzheimers disease.

Causes of Alzheimers
While the causes of Alzheimer's have yet to be determined, the disease was first described in 1906 by German Physician Dr. Alois Alzheimer. He found that brain cells become replaced by abnormal protein accumulations called amyloid plaques. Thread-like tangles (neurofibrillary tangles) within those cells then begin causing irreversible damage. Plaques and tangles block the messages in our brain that enable us to think, remember and speak. As Alzheimer's disease progresses, these cells die and the person’s ability to function worsens.

Although there are no proven causes of Alzheimer’s, medical experts and scientists have been carefully examining links to genetics, family history, biological factors, and external environments. While Alzheimer's research has not yet concluded how to stop the disease’s progression, we do know that it affects both men and women, and attacks most often after age 65. There is no cure, but some drug therapies can help to minimize early symptoms of Alzheimers disease, such as memory loss, speech problems and disorientation.

Alzheimer's research continues around the world in an effort to understand and identify possible causes of Alzheimers disease. Experts agree that the disease is most likely a complex set of factors rather than one isolated cause. While Alzheimer's research has indicated that the greatest known risk is increasing age, a family history of Alzheimers disease is another known risk and some genes have demonstrated definite links to the disease.  While studies are being conducted by various organizations to find a cure for Alzheimer's, so far there are just 5 FDA-approved medications that can help to reduce some of the early symptoms of the disease.