Dr. Alois Alzheimer was the first to define Alzheimer’s Disease in 1906. Today, approximately 4 million Americans have the disease and by the middle of the next century, it is estimated that 14 million Americans will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease is the third most expensive disease in the United States with costs averaging $12,500 per year and a total cost of over $174,000 throughout the patient'’ lifetime.

In November of 1994, former president Ronald Reagan announced to the world that he had been diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s disease. At that moment, he became one of the seven out of ten persons with that disease who were living at home and being cared for by their families.

What is Alzheimer’s disease? It is a degenerative disease that attacks the brain causing impaired memory, thinking, and behavior. It begins with a slow decline in the individual’s ability to recall familiar tasks or recent events, progressing gradually and causing confusion, personality and behavior changes, and impaired judgement. Speech becomes more difficult as the affected person struggles to communicate – losing words, and unable to finish thoughts or comprehend simple directions. As the disease progresses individuals with Alzheimer’s become unable to care for themselves.

The cause of Alzheimer’s remains unknown. Early diagnosis is important however, because there are treatments designed to alleviate some of the symptoms. Although existing drug treatments provide only symptomatic relief, they may delay the progression of the decline associated with Alzheimer’s.

The Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of early warning signs that may be helpful in determining if you or someone you know may need to see a physician for a more thorough examination. (Note: some of these warning signs may also apply to other dementing illnesses.)

1. Memory loss that affects job skills – frequent episodes of forgetfulness or unexplained confusion at home.
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks – preparing a meal and not only forgetting to serve it, but forgetting that they made it.
3. Problems with language – forgetting simple words, or substituting inappropriate words in sentences, making conversation difficult to understand.
4. Disorientation as to time and place – getting lost on their own street, not knowing who they are or how to get back home.
5. Poor or decreased judgement – not dressing in appropriate clothing, i.e. wearing a bathrobe to the store or wearing layers of shirts on a hot day.
6. Problems with abstract thinking – unable to recognize numbers in a checkbook, or perform basic calculations.
7. Misplacing things – Putting an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl, with no recollection of how they got there.
8. Changes in mood or behavior – people with Alzheimer’s tend to have rapid mood swings for no apparent reason.
9. Changes in personality – in a person with Alzheimer’s, the changes can be dramatic; from easy going to angry, suspicious, or fearful.
10. Loss of initiative – may become disinterested or uninvolved in many of their usual activities or social connections.

The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s occurs after physical, psychological, and neurological are conducted; a thorough medical history is obtained; and other medical conditions are ruled out one by one.

Two drugs have been approved by the FDA to aid in treating the loss of memory and the decline in cognitive abilities – Cognex® (tacrine) and Aricept® (donepezil). Although these medications cannot cure Alzheimer’s, they have been shown to be effective for those individuals in the mild to moderate stages of the disease. They may also improve behavior problems.

Alzheimer’s Disease can run from 8 to 20 years. Information and knowledge are important factors that can be beneficial for both those affected by the disease and their caregivers.

For more information contact:
Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association
11 Campus Lane, Easthampton 01027
1-413-527-0111 or 1-888-571-7766