HERIBERTO SEDENO, M.D. LECTURE ON ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

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HERIBERTO SEDENO, M.D. LECTURE ON ALZHEIMERS
DISEASE
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Alzheimer's Disease Basics Alzheimer's disease
slowly damages, and then destroys, a persons
memory, judgment, reasoning skills, personality,
autonomy, and bodily functions. It's a serious
and scary condition. That's why it is essential
to educate yourselfto take care of your loved
one, you'll need to know all you can. What is
Alzheimer's Disease? The most common cause of
dementia is Alzheimers disease (AD). AD is a
progressive and irreversible brain disorder. The
actual cause of AD is unknown. AD slowly damages,
and then destroys, a persons memory, judgment,
reasoning skills, personality, autonomy, and
bodily functions.
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• The disease specifically affects several
  components of the brain. These include
• a gradual loss of brain cells, called neurons
• damage to neurons so they no longer function
  properly
• loss of neural connectionscalled synapses
  where messages are passed from neuron to neuron
• Forgetfulness A Normal Part of Aging?
• Its normal to sometimes forget things, but as we
  age, it often takes longer to learn new skills or
  remember words, names, or where we left our
  glasses. Of course, this does not mean an
  individual has dementia. In fact, scientists have
  found that healthy older adults perform just as
  well as their young counterparts on complex and
  learning testsif given extra time to complete.

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However, theres a difference between occasional
forgetfulness and behavior that may be cause for
concern. Not recognizing a familiar face, trouble
performing common tasks (such as using the
telephone or driving home) or being unable to
comprehend or recall recent information are all
red flags that need to be checked by a medical
professional. Who Gets AD? Also known as
late-onset Alzheimers disease, AD is primarily a
disease of the elderly. The first noticeable
symptoms can occur as early as age 60. When AD
runs in families, its called familial
Alzheimers disease (FAD). AD sometimes can
affect people as young as 30. This type of AD is
called early-onset AD. It is rare and affects
less than one out of every 1,000 people with AD.
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The underlying cause or causes of AD, and
specific risk factors, remain unclear. Yet
experts believe AD is likely due to a combination
of environmental and genetic factors. Lifestyle
choices, such as diet, exercise, and staying
mentally active like learning new skills, also
are factors. About 5.3 million Americans have
AD, according to the National Institutes of
Health (NIH). That number will only climb as the
elderly population rises. AD is the sixth leading
cause of death in the U.S. and the fifth leading
in Americans age 65 and older. Worldwide,
approximately 24 million people have AD.
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Whats Being Done? Scientists are working to
better understand AD in order to create more
effective early diagnostic tools, improve
treatments, and perhaps even discover a cure. In
terms of whats immediately available, there are
numerous reputable resources and services for
people who suffer with AD and their loved ones
and caregivers. Some current treatment options
even may slow the progression of AD, however,
their effectiveness varies and diminishes over
time.