Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. It is a progressive, degenerative brain disease that causes deterioration of brain cells and ultimately death. It starts with damage to the hippocampus, making it harder to form new memories over time. Plaques and tangles then spread throughout the brain, killing cells and compromising function. While there is no cure, medications can help slow cognitive decline. Support from family caregivers is also important for managing the condition.

2. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia in adult life and
is associated with the selective damage of brain regions and neural
circuits critical for memory and cognition. In fact,it is a
progressive,degenerative and incurable neurological brain disease
that causes deterioration of brain nerve cells and ultimately
death ,this brain disorder named after a German physician, Alois
Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906.

3. The disease comes on gradually as to abnormal protein fragments corps lacks and
tangles accumulate to the brain and kill brain cells ,they start here in the
hippocampus :the part of the brain where memories are first form .Over many years
time the plaques and tangles slowly destroy the hippocampus and it becomes harder
and harder to form new memories .After that, more plaques and tangles spread it to
different regions of the brain killing cells and compromising function wherever they
go,this spreading arround is what cause the different stages have alzeimer’s
Alzheimer's advances in stages, progressing from mild forgetfulness and cognitive
impairment to widespread loss of mental abilities and in the very last stage , the part
of brain that regulates breathing and the heart is destroyed . The time course of the
disease varies by individual, ranging from five to 20 years.

4. .AD develops genetic lifestyle and environmental factors work together to cause
the disease progress to start.
.In recent years ,scientists have discovered genetic links to AD they are also
investigating other factors that may play a role in causing AD .NIA-funded
Alzheimer’s Disease Centers ”ADCs” across the country are leading the research
efforts looking into diagnosis and treatment of AD.

5. The two main types of AD are early-onset and late-onset:
.Early-onset AD is rare, usually affecting people aged 30 to 60 and usually running
in families.Resarchers have identified mutations in three genes that cause early-
onset AD.
.Late-onset AD is more common, it usually affects over age 65.Reseachers have
identified a gene that produces a protein called apolipoprotein E.
Scientists believe this protein is involved in the formation of beta-amyloid
plaques.

7. Scientists examine characteristics, lifestyles, and disease rates of groups of
people to gather clues about possible causes of AD. The NIA is currently
funding epidemiologic studies in a variety of different groups. Two of the
studies focus on religious communities. Researchers conduct yearly exams
of physical and mental status ,and studies of donated brains at
autopsy.Some early results indicate:
.Mentally stimulating activity protects the brain in some ways.
.In early life,higher skills in grammar and density of ideas are associated
with protection against AD in late life.

10. Stay calm and be understanding.
Be patient and flexible. Don’t argue or try to convince.
Acknowledge requests and respond to them.
Try not to take behaviors personally. Remember: it’s the
disease talking, not your loved one.

11.  Alzheimer's disease is usually diagnosed clinically from the patient history,
collateral history from relatives, and clinical observations, based on the
presence of characteristic neurological and neuropsychological features and
the absence of alternative conditions.
 Advanced medical imaging with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI), and with single photon emission computer
tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) can be used
to help exclude other cerebral pathology or subtypes of dementia.
 The diagnosis can be confirmed with very high accuracy post-mortem when
brain material is available and can be examined histologically.

14.  Neuropsychological tests such as the mini-mental state examination (MMSE)
are widely used to evaluate the cognitive impairments needed for diagnosis.
More comprehensive test arrays are necessary for high reliability of results,
particularly in the earliest stages of the disease.
 Psychological tests for depression are employed, since depression can either be
concurrent with AD, an early sign of cognitive impairment, or even the cause.
 When available as a diagnostic tool, SPECT and PET neuroimaging are used to
confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer's in conjunction with evaluations involving
mental status examination. In a person already having dementia, SPECT
appears to be superior in differentiating Alzheimer's disease from other possible
causes, compared with the usual attempts employing mental testing and medical
history analysis

15.  Although there is currently no way to cure Alzheimer's disease or stop its
progression, researchers are making encouraging advances in Alzheimer's
treatment, including medications and non-drug approaches to improve symptom
management.
 Mild/Moderate AD:
Cholinesterase inhibitors increase the levels of acetylcholine in the brain, which
plays a key role in memory and learning. This kind of drug postpones the
worsening of symptoms for 6 to 12 months in about half of the people who take it.
Cholinesterase inhibitors most commonly prescribed for mild to moderate
Alzheimer's disease include Aricept (donezepil HCL), Exelon (rivastigmine), and
Razadyne (galantamine).

16. Moderate/Severe AD:
Namenda (memantine) regulates glutamate in the brain, which plays a
key role in processing information. This drug is used to treat moderate to
severe Alzheimer's disease and may delay the worsening of symptoms in
some people. It may allow patients to maintain certain daily functions a
little longer than they would without the medication

17. AChEI +/- MemantineAChEI +/- Memantine

18.  A molecule designed by a Purdue University researcher to stop the
debilitating symptoms of Alzheimer's disease has been shown in its
first phase of clinical trials to be safe and to reduce biomarkers for the
disease. called a beta-secretase inhibitor, prevents the first step in a
chain of events that leads to amyloid plaque formation in the brain.
This plaque formation creates fibrous clumps of toxic proteins that are
believed to cause the devastating symptoms of Alzheimer's.
 Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that a
compound called NIC5-15, might be a safe and effective treatment to
stabilize cognitive performance in patients with mild to moderate
Alzheimer's disease. The two investigators, Giulio Maria Pasinetti and
Hillel Grossman, presented Phase IIA preliminary clinical findings at
the Alzheimer's Association 2009 International Conference on
Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) in Vienna on July 12.

19. Home
Assisted living facilities (those in the early
stages)
Nursing homes (special care units)

20. AD takes a huge physical and emotional toll.Caregivers must deal with
changes in a loved one’s personality and provide constant attention for
years.Thus,caregivers are especially vulnerable to physical and
emotional stress
Peer support programs can help link caregivers with trained
volunteers .Other support progams can offer services geared to
caregivers dealing with different stages

21. Alzheimer's is a disease that robs people of their memory. People who
get Alzheimer's disease are usually older, but the disease isn’t a normal
part of aging. Scientists aren’t sure why some people get it and others
don’t. But they do know that the symptoms it causes seem to come from
types of nerve damage.In fact, No cure for Alzheimer’s Disease:
medications can only help slow the progress of cognitive decline , for
that reason the support of their families and other caregivers is so
important for them.