2. 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
3. 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.
4. 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
6. 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.
7. 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
8. 7 STAGES OF ALZHEIMER’S
Stage 1: Normal
Stage 2: Normal aged forgetfulness
Stage 3: Mild cognitive impairment
Stage 4: Mild Alzheimer’s
Stage 5: Moderate Alzheimer’s disease
Stage 6: Moderately severe Alzheimer's
disease
Stage 7: Severe Alzheimer's disease
9. 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
