Alzheimer’s Resources, Products, and Services
When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, many are curious as to what causes Alzheimer’s Disease, while some even find themselves asking, “What is Alzheimer’s Disease?”
Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease that slowly and irreversibly destroys memory and thinking skills. In regard to what causes Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers have found that the loss of connections between neurons, plaques, and tangles within the brain are the culprit. Symptoms include memory problems, trouble finding the right words, poor judgment, and other thinking problems. Treatments include one of four medications approved by the FDA. Whether you are wondering what Alzheimer’s Disease is or what you can do to support your loved one or patients, Lincoln Medical Supply is a helpful resource.
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Help for Patients and Caregivers : Alzheimers |
What is Alzheimers? What is Alzheimers? Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks of daily living. In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear after age 60. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older people. The disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. Her symptoms included memory loss, language problems, and unpredictable behavior. After she died, he examined her brain and found many abnormal clumps (now called amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillary tangles). Plaques and tangles in the brain are two of the main features of Alzheimer’s disease. The third is the loss of connections between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. <<Back to Top>>Common Symptoms? The course of Alzheimer's disease is not the same in every person, but symptoms seem to develop over the same general stages. In most people with Alzheimer's, symptoms first appear after age 60. Memory problems are typically one of the first signs of Alzheimer's disease. Sometimes, other thinking problems, such as trouble finding the right words or poor judgment, are most prominent early on. Scientists now know that Alzheimer’s progresses on a spectrum with three stages—an early, preclinical stage with no symptoms; a middle stage of mild cognitive impairment (MCI); and a final stage of Alzheimer’s dementia. At this time, doctors cannot predict with any certainty which people with MCI will or will not develop Alzheimer’s. <<Back to Top>>Treatments / Medications for Alzheimers Four medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat Alzheimer's. Donepezil (Aricept®), rivastigmine (Exelon®), or galantamine (Razadyne®) are used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's (donepezil can be used for severe Alzheimer's as well). Memantine (Namenda®), is used to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer's. These drugs work by regulating neurotransmitters, the chemicals that transmit messages between neurons. They may help maintain thinking, memory, and speaking skills, and may help with certain behavioral problems. However, these drugs don’t change the underlying disease process, are effective for some but not all people, and may help only for a limited time. No published study directly compares the four approved drugs. Because they work in a similar way, it is not expected that switching from one of these drugs to another will produce significantly different results. However, a patient may respond better to one drug than another. Although treatment can help manage symptoms in some people, currently there is no cure for this devastating disease. <<Back to Top>>Additional Information <<Back to Top>> |