Patient Basics: Alzheimer’s Disease

Originally published by Harvard Health.

What Is It?

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a loss of brain functions that worsens over time. It is a form of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease damages the brain’s intellectual functions. Short term memory often is affected early. Gradually other intellectual functions deteriorate. Judgment becomes impaired. Most people with advanced AD lose their ability to do normal daily activities.

Alzheimer’s usually begins after age 60. Occasionally, it affects younger people.

Scientists are uncertain about what causes the symptoms of AD. Alzheimer’s patients develop excessive deposits of two proteins in their brains. Researchers believe that these proteins distort communication between brain cells.

A chemical called acetylcholine may also be involved. It helps transmit messages between brain cells. Levels of acetylcholine begin to drop in patients with AD. This may add to the communication problems between brain cells.

Eventually, brain cells themselves are affected. They begin to shrivel and die.

The following factors may increase your risk of Alzheimer’s disease:

• Age. Risk increases with age.
• Family history. If members of your family, especially parents or siblings, have or had AD, your risk increases.
• Genetic factors. Inheriting certain genes increases your risk.

Symptoms

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease.

In the earliest stages of AD:

• New or recent memories are difficult to recall.
• It is hard to learn and retain new information.

As the diseases gets a little worse:

Older or more distant memories are gradually lost.

• Other symptoms may appear, including difficulty:
  • Expressing thoughts as spoken words
  • Carrying out simple instructions
  • Interpreting familiar faces or other well-known objects
• A person may not be able to:
  • Plan meals
  • Manage money
  • Remember to keep doors locked
  • Remember to take medicines
  • Retain their sense of direction, even in a familiar neighborhood.

On the other hand, a person with early AD usually is able to feed, bathe, dress and groom without help.

Many people with AD develop psychological problems. These may include personality changes, irritability, anxiety or depression.

As AD progresses to its middle and late stages, the affected individual may:

• Have delusions. These are irrational beliefs, especially about being persecuted or having belongings stolen.
• Have hallucinations. They may believe that they see, hear, smell, taste, or are being touched by something that isn’t really there.
• Become aggressive.
• Wander away from home if left alone.

Diagnosis

A person with Alzheimer’s often doesn’t recognize that there is a problem. Usually family members and close friends notice the forgetfulness and changes in behavior.

Rather than trying to convince a person that he or she has a problem, arrange for a doctor’s appointment. At least one family member or close friend should accompany the patient.

There is no definitive test for Alzheimer’s disease. The doctor will diagnose AD by taking a thorough medical history and performing a physical examination. This will include a neurological examination and a mental status exam.

The doctor will want to know about:

• Memory lapses
• Difficulty using language
• Problems learning and retaining new information
• Difficulty following directions or handling complex tasks
• Episodes of poor judgment or unusual or risky behaviors

More of this information is likely to be provided by family members and friends.

The doctor will do a neurological examination to check the brain and nerves. He or she will do a brief mental status examination. This includes visual, writing and memory testing.

The doctor will check for other illnesses that can cause symptoms that resemble Alzheimer’s disease. Testing may include blood tests, such as measurements of the levels of vitamin B12 and thyroid hormone. Very low levels of vitamin B12 and a very underactive thyroid can cause problems with thinking and memory. These problems can improve and even go away with treatment.

If the doctor’s simple testing of thinking and memory indicate that there may be a problem, more detailed testing of brain function can be done. This is called neuropsychological testing.

In some cases, the doctor may order a brain imaging study. A brain study can rule out other reasons for the symptoms. Brain imaging studies cannot diagnose Alzheimer’s with certainty. However, together with the doctor’s examination, and the blood and neuropsychological testing, they can help the doctor make a diagnosis.

The doctor may refer you to a specialist to confirm the diagnosis. Specialists include neurologists, geriatricians and geriatric psychiatrists.

Expected Duration

Alzheimer’s disease is irreversible. Once the diagnosis is made, mental function usually declines until death.

Prevention

There is no way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Staying physically and mentally active may help lower your risk of developing the disease.

In addition, regular physical exercise and a diet that includes fish, olive oil, and plenty of vegetables may delay the onset of symptoms and slow disease progression.

Treatment

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.

A class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors helps to restore communication between brain cells. These drugs may slow intellectual decline in some people with mild to moderate AD. They work by increasing the brain’s levels of acetylcholine.

Another medication has been shown to stabilize memory in people with moderate to severe AD. It is the first in a new class of medications called NMDA receptor antagonists.

Psychotherapy techniques can be used to help people with AD. These techniques may include reality orientation and memory retraining.

Medications may be given to relieve depression and calm agitated behavior.

As much as possible, AD patients should:

• Follow a regular exercise routine
• Maintain normal social contacts with family and friends
• Continue intellectual activities

Patients and their families should take advantage of community resources and support groups. They should discuss any safety concerns, especially driving, with the patient’s doctor.

Several nonprescription products claim to improve mental function. But the scientific evidence to support this claim is weak. Check with your doctor before taking any nonprescription medication.

When To Call a Professional

Call your doctor whenever you or a family member has any of the following problems:

• Serious lapses in memory or judgment
  • forgets medication
  • forgets the stove is on
  • allows strangers into the home
  • Gets lost while driving or walking, especially in a familiar neighborhood
  • Substantial change in personality

The affected person often is unaware of these problems. He or she may even deny that they exist.

Prognosis

No medication can cure Alzheimer’s disease. But medications may improve the ability to perform daily activities and relieve behavior problems. They may delay the need for a nursing home.

Additional Information

Alzheimer’s Association
National Office
225 N. Michigan Ave.
Floor 17
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-335-8700
Toll-Free: 1-800-272-3900
Fax: 312-335-1110
http://www.alz.org/

Alzheimer’s Disease Education & Referral Center (ADEAR)
National Institute on Aging
P.O. Box 8250
Silver Spring, MD 20907-8250
Toll-Free: 1-800-438-4380
Fax: 301-495-3334
http://www.alzheimers.org/

Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation
One Intrepid Square
West 46th Street and 12th Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Toll-Free: 1-800-259-4636
http://www.alzinfo.org