According to NorthShore University HealthSystem, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of mental decline, also known as dementia. This disorder damages the brain and causes a steady loss of memory, meanwhile affecting judgment, intelligence, behavior and the ability to speak, think, work and do daily activities.

Alzheimer’s disease becomes worse over time; however, the speed at which it does so varies for different people. For example, some people become unable to carry on daily activities at early onset of the disease, while others are able to manage fairly well until much later into the disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is caused by changes in the brain. The direct cause is still unknown; however scientists have discovered that the disorder is due to a buildup of proteins in the brain that lead to a loss of neurotransmitters (the chemical messengers of the brain).
The disorder is most common in people over the age of 60. People who have a family history of Alzheimer’s have a high risk of developing the disease. Other risks include head injury, a hard fall and history of heart disease.

Although it is common to experience mild memory loss with age, it is important to see a doctor when experiencing new, frequent forms of memory loss. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include having trouble making decisions, confusion about the time and date, getting lost in well-known places, trouble learning and remembering new information, trouble finding the right words to say and more trouble doing daily tasks such as cooking or paying bills. As Alzheimer’s gets worse, people may develop sundowning, or getting restless and wandering in late afternoon and at night. They may also start to act very differently, withdrawing from family and friends, hallucinating, falsely believing others are lying, cheating, using or trying to harm them, and frequently lashing out at others.

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. However, doctors will prescribe certain medicines to help with memory, thinking, and confusion.

For more information, as well as treatment options, visit NorthShore University HealthSystem.

According to a new study, elderly people with weak muscles may be at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

NorthShore University HealthSystem covered a recent study conducted by Rush University Medical Center in Chicago:

Researchers  followed 970 older adults (average age 80) who didn’t have dementia at the start of the study. The participants underwent a number of evaluations, including tests of cognitive function and muscle strength.

During an average 3.6 years of follow-up, 138 (14.2 percent) of the participants developed Alzheimer’s disease. Those with the highest levels of muscle strength at the start of the study were 61 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those with the weakest muscles, the researchers found.

The link between muscle strength and Alzheimer’s remained even after the researchers accounted for other factors, such as body mass index and physical activity levels.

The researchers also found that weak muscles were associated with increased risk of mild cognitive impairment, the earliest sign of cognitive decline.

For the full study visit the news section of NorthShore University HealthSystem

Scientists are still trying to fully understand the cause or causes of Alzheimer’s disease; fortunately, while they can’t seem to identify any specific causes they have made progress in identifying potential risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the U.S. News and World Report, scientists have a new lead on genes that contribute to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

On September 6, two international teams of researchers stated that in comparing subtle genetic spelling variations in nearly 12,000 Alzheimer’s patients with almost 19,000 other people revealed three genes, which they believe to be associated with the disease.

These genes are the first to be implicated in the risk of getting the common form of Alzheimer’s since the variant of the apolipoprotein E gene APOE4 was identified in 1993. That gene’s influence may explain about 20 percent of cases of Alzheimer’s disease, says Philippe Amouyel of the French health research agency INSERM in Lille and coauthor of one of the new studies. But researchers knew other genes must be involved since 60 to 80 percent of the risk of developing the disease is genetic.

This is a promising step in the field of medical research. To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease research visit the neuroscience department at NorthShore University HealthSystem.

There are many known risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease, unfortunately, there equally as many misconceptions circulating around these risk factors as well. A recently published article on MedicineNet.com discusses the major risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease and addresses some of the most common misconceptions.
Read more

Alzheimer’s is a heartbreaking neurological disease that affects the older population. According to WebMD:

“Alzheimer’s disease is a condition in which nerve cells in the brain die, making it difficult for the brain’s signals to be transmitted properly. Alzheimer’s symptoms may be hard to distinguish early on. A person with Alzheimer’s disease has problems with memory, judgment, and thinking, which makes it hard for the person to work or take part in day-to-day life. The death of the nerve cells occurs gradually over a period of years”.
Read more