- What is Alzheimer's disease?
- What are the stages of Alzheimer's disease?
- How is Alzheimer's disease diagnosed?
- Is there a cure for Alzheimer's disease?
- What is Alzheimer's disease?
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Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia, a term used to describe a group of brain disorders that cause memory loss and a decline in mental function, over time. In fact, Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting about 5 million men and women in the United States.
The incidence of Alzheimer's disease increases with age, and is very rare among people younger than 60. It affects up to 50 percent of people older than 85, and the risk increases with age. Although the first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are often confused with the changes that take place in normal aging, it's important to remember that Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging.
Doctors and scientists are making steady progress in understanding some of the ways in which Alzheimer's disease affects the brain, but the cause is still unknown. Talk with the doctor if you or the person you are caring for is experiencing any of the symptoms associated with the various stages of Alzheimer's because there are medications approved to treat the disease that have been shown to delay progression and onset of new Alzheimer's symptoms.2
- What are the stages of Alzheimer's disease?
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In people with Alzheimer's disease, changes in the brain may begin 10 to 20 years before any visible signs of dementia or symptoms appear. Over time, Alzheimer's disease progresses through three main stages: mild, moderate, and severe. By categorizing symptoms being experienced or noticed into one of the three stages, doctors can determine if someone is likely suffering from Alzheimer's.
About mild Alzheimer's disease: While people suffering from mild Alzheimer's disease often seem healthy, they are actually having trouble making sense of the world around them. It often takes time for an observer to realize that something is wrong because the initial Alzheimer's symptoms are often confused with changes that take place in normal aging. It's important to track behavioral changes and talk with the doctor about Alzheimer's treatment options. Diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's may delay progression of the disease.
About moderate Alzheimer's disease: In this stage of the disease, the damaging processes occurring in the brain worsen and spread to other areas that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and thought. In this stage, symptoms and signs of Alzheimer's become more pronounced and behavioral problems can occur. The right Alzheimer's treatment plan is key to slowing the progression of symptoms. Talk with the doctor about Namenda® (memantine HCl)*.
About severe Alzheimer's disease: In the severe stages of Alzheimer's disease, damage to the brain's nerve cells is widespread. At this point, full–time care is typically required. For friends, family, and Alzheimer's caregivers, this can be the most difficult stage. People with severe Alzheimer's disease may lose the ability to walk, speak, feed themselves, and recognize others. The right Alzheimer's treatment plan is key to slowing the progression of symptoms. Talk with the doctor about Namenda.9
- How is Alzheimer's disease diagnosed?
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People who begin to feel that something may be wrong with their memory or their ability to perform daily activities will often visit their primary care physician or family doctor for a consultation and/or Alzheimer's diagnosis. If the family doctor suspects dementia, he or she may refer the person to a neurologist or geriatric psychiatrist who specializes in diagnosing Alzheimer's and treating different types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
Diagnostic Tests and Tools
Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is most often made in the moderate stage. To diagnose Alzheimer's disease, doctors use a series of tests and tools to evaluate thinking, behavior and physical function because there is no single scale that can definitively diagnose Alzheimer's disease by itself.
Diagnostic tests may include:
- Clock Drawing Test
- Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE)
- Functional Assessment Staging (FAST)
The information learned from these tests helps determine whether a person has Alzheimer's disease, with an accuracy rate of about 90 percent. Doctors will determine that a person is highly likely to have Alzheimer's disease when these tests show that he or she has:
- Dementia confirmed by medical and psychological exams
- Problems in at least two areas of mental functioning
- Progressive loss of memory and other mental functions
- Symptoms that began between the ages of 40 and 90
- No other disorders that might account for the dementia21
- Is there a cure for Alzheimer's disease?
- Namenda may help delay the progressive symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease. Namenda is safe and effective when taken alone or combination therapy with another Alzheimer's medication, with excellent tolerability. Namenda is the only treatment option approved and recommended for moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.1, 13 Unfortunately, there is no treatment available today that completely stops the progressive, damaging changes that take place in the brains of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
