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Index of Diseases and Conditions: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities.

AD begins slowly. It first involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. People with AD may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know. Over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care. This can cause great stress for family members who must care for them.

AD usually begins after age 60. The risk goes up as you get older. Your risk is also higher if a family member has had the disease.

No treatment can stop the disease. However, some drugs may help keep symptoms from getting worse for a limited time.

National Institute on Aging

Familial Alzheimer Disease on Wikipedia

'''Familial Alzheimer's disease''' (FAD) is an uncommon form of Alzheimer's disease that comes on earlier in life (usually between 30 and 60 years of age) and is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. While it only accounts for 5% or less of total Alzheimer's disease, it has presented a useful model in studying various aspects of the disorder.

Clinical Features

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It usually occurs in old age, and starts gradually with early signs being forgetfulness, particularly in remembering recent events and the names of people and things. There may be some other cognitive difficulties early on, but nothing overly alarming. As the disease progresses, the patient may start to exhibit greater problems. They may forget how to do simple things such as brushing their hair, and later in the disease may become anxious or aggressive, ultimately needing full-time care. Familial Alzheimer disease is an uncommon form of Alzheimer's that comes on earlier in life (usually between 30 and 60 years) and is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. There are a number of types of familial (or early-onset) AD, which are identified by their genetics and other characteristics such as the age of onset. As a whole, this form of the disease only accounts for roughly 10% to 15% of all cases of AD. histology, familial AD is practically indistinguishable from other forms of the disease. Deposits of amyloid can be seen in sections brain tissue (visible as an apple-green yellow birefringence under polarised light). This amyloid protein forms plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that progress through the memory centres of the brain. Very rarely the plaque may be unique, or uncharacteristic of AD; this can happen when there is a mutation in one of the genes that creates a functional, but malformed, protein instead of the ineffective gene products that usually result from mutations. ==Genetic ...   [ Read More ]


External Resources

Time Slips - Storytelling project with people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers.

Lizzie Love the Caring Clown - A poetry therapist who works with the elderly with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. She also does birthday parties and gives workshops.

Szeman, Sherri - Novelist who has written fiction about the Holocaust and Alzheimer's disease. Site includes book group questions, sample chapters, and discussion page.

Raye, Collin - She's Gonna Fly - Dedicated to those suffering from Alzheimers and Lyme Disease.

Alzheimer's Tips - A guide that teaches how to provide quality care to individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of memory loss.

Adventures of Phoebe Flower - Offers stories to help children and their families deal with issues such as ADHD, Alzheimer's Disease, friendship.

Hartman Publishing Online - In-service education publisher for certified nursing assistants and home health aides on OSHA, infection control, body mechanics, Alzheimer's disease, pressure sores, geriatrics, quality care & customer service.

Vilvacora - Offers herbal treatments for many diseases, such as cancer, allergies, alzheimer, parkinson disease and hepatitis. How to buy the herbs, how to dose them, how to compose complete treatments.

Attention Control Systems - Proposes a handheld cognitive orthodic device for individuals with brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, A.D.D. and other cognitive disorders.

Sandra Martin Productions - Information on educational videos for health care, aging, physical and mental disabilities, alzheimers disease, and death and dying.


Related Pages on HealthTales.com:

Alzheimer's Caregivers
Fifth Disease
Addison's Disease
Celiac Disease
Chagas Disease
Crohn's Disease
Gaucher's Disease
Gum Disease
Hodgkin's Disease
Huntington's Disease

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