Alzheimer's disease is fatal and there is no cure. It is a slow-moving disease that starts with memory loss and ends with severe brain damage.
Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in America.
The disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, the neuropathologist did an autopsy on the brain of a woman who died after exhibiting language problems, unpredictable behavior and memory loss. Dr. Alzheimer discovered the amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, which are considered the hallmarks of the disease.
The likelihood of developing Alzheimer's doubles every five years after the age of 65. For most people, symptoms first appear after the age of 60.
Family history - Genetics play a role in an individual's risk of developing the disease.
Head trauma - There is a possible link between the disease and repeated trauma or loss of consciousness.
Heart health -
The risk of vascular dementia increases with heart conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Repeating questions and statements
Mood and personality changes
Delusions and paranoia
Lack of control of bowel and bladder
Trouble handling money
An estimated 5.4 million Americans
have Alzheimer's disease. About two-thirds of that number are women.
The estimated cost of caring for Alzheimer's patients in the U.S. in 2015 is $221.3 billion.
The Alzheimer's Association (ALZ) estimates that 700,000 people with Alzheimer's disease will die in 2016. It is the fifth leading cause of death for Americans age 65 and older.
"Between 2016 and 2025 every state and region across the country is expected to experience an increase of at least 14 percent in the number of people with Alzheimer's due to increases in the population age 65 and older," according to the ALZ.
Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease:
is an uncommon form of dementia that strikes people younger than age 65.
About 5 percent of all people with Alzheimer's disease develop symptoms before age 65.
Early-onset Alzheimer's disease often runs in families.
September 2014 -
The journal Aging reports that in a small study at UCLA, nine out of the 10 patients involved, say their symptoms reversed
after they participated in a rigorous program that included things like optimizing Vitamin D levels in the blood, using DHA supplements to bridge broken connections in the brain, optimizing gut health, and strategic fasting to normalize insulin levels.
September 11, 2015 -
The Journal of Neurology publishes a study that suggests that the compound resveratrol, when taken in concentrated doses, may have benefit in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.