November is Alzheimer's Disease Awareness month
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
(Note: In recognition of Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, the Marion County Record will publish a series of related articles.)
Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia, in which the victim experiences progressive mental deterioration.
According to the American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF), about half of all people who suffer from dementia have Alzheimer's.
The disease obtained its name from a German doctor who did an autopsy on the brain of a deceased patient in the early 1900s and identified two specific abnormalities which caused the condition.
One abnormality is the presence of hard, insoluble plaque deposits outside and around nerve cells within the brain.
In addition, twisted bands of fibers are present within the nerve cells. These insoluble tangles prevent or break down the transport of nutrients from one part of the nerve cell to another.
Although a definitive diagnosis cannot be made while the person with Alzheimer's is living, doctors can make an accurate diagnosis 90 percent of the time, according to the AHAF.
The cause of the disease is not known. Four genes have been identified as risk factors but other unspecified factors also are involved. The probability of getting the disease is higher for women than men.
There is no cure. However, if the condition is diagnosed in its early stages, medications have been developed which help control symptoms and/or slow progression.
During its early stages, Alzheimer's is marked by confusion, resulting in unpredictable interactions. These can occur suddenly and for a short time when triggered by a traumatic event.
Memory and orientation become impaired. The person has trouble concentrating, planning, and making judgments.
As the disease progresses, personality changes begin to occur. Later, the person develops difficulty with perception, speech, and walking.
Eventually, other bodily functions fail and the person becomes totally dependent.
The average length of time from diagnosis to death is four to eight years, but it can take 20 years or more for the disease to run its full course.
Next week's article will convey real-life experiences of individuals who are affected by Alzheimer's disease, as well as their families and friends.
