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It's a common source of light-hearted humor, the so-called "senior moment" when a well-known name stays on the tip of the tongue, car keys hide in plain sight or the key ingredient of a traditional holiday dessert gets left unused on the kitchen countertop. But when these moments start to happen too frequently, it inevitably leads to the dreaded question: "Could it be Alzheimer's?" Now estimated to affect 5.4 million Americans, Alzheimer's is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that causes memory loss in its earliest stages. People with this degenerative condition eventually lose the ability to carry out the simple tasks of everyday living. While progress is being made to identify the causes of Alzheimer's and develop drugs and treatments, the disease remains a much-feared disease that has no cure. Alzheimer's was named for the German physician who first described it in 1906, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. His autopsy of brain tissue of a 51-year-old female patient who suffered memory loss, language problems and unpredictable behavior found abnormal clumps and tangled bundles of fibers. These abnormal structures have been identified as protein fragments and twisted fibers that are called beta-amyloid and tau. These abnormalities that build up in between brain nerve cells have been theorized to cause cell damage and death, which ultimately disrupts communication among the brain’s nerve cells. "Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, a term used for a group of brain diseases that cause the loss of intellectual and social skills that interfere with everyday life and self-care," says Stephen Jones, M. D., family practice and sports medicine physician, at Lane RMC. "While the cause of Alzheimer's is currently unknown, we believe it may involve a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Current medications and treatment approaches can improve symptoms for a time and help patients preserve their independence. Researchers are fervently studying to determine how to prevent Alzheimer's or slow its progression." In September, Alzheimer nonprofits and associations around the world will participate in the first World Alzheimer's Month, sponsored by the global organization Alzheimer's Disease International. The goal of World Alzheimer’s Month is to reduce the stigma of having dementia and promote community programs that support patients and their caregivers. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in America. The disease is not a normal part of aging, but it occurs more frequently in older people. 90 percent of the time, Alzheimer’s is diagnosed in people over 60-years-old. However, there are cases when the disease is diagnosed at a young age, sometimes as early as 30-years-old, which is referred to as early-onset Alzheimer's. The bulging baby-boomer generation is causing alarm as the number of people 65 and older is expected to grow from 40 million to 72.1 million by 2030. And people are living longer due to medical advances and personal fitness. “Significant growth is expected in the next two decades in the population 85 and older, from 5.5 million to 8.7 million,” says Debra Scudder, Director of Clinical Operations, Quorum Health Resources. Recognizing the challenge that Alzheimer’s researchers are up against, Congress unanimously passed the National Alzheimer's Project Act in December 2010. The act called for a national plan to accelerate research and improve care and service for Alzheimer's victims and their families. Additional research funding will be used to search for causes and ways to prevent, delay or treat the daunting disease. "The societal impact of Alzheimer's disease in America already is staggering, the disease costs $200 billion annually, with more than 15 million unpaid caregivers using their time and resources to support affected friends and loved ones. We need to make advances in Alzheimer's prevention and care to avert a major strain on our healthcare systems, Medicare and Medicaid and other funders that provide monetary support for care." The clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's can be difficult as there are several different conditions including; frontotemporal, Lewy bodies, mixed and vascular dementia. While the symptoms of these neurodegenerative processes vary, they present similar challenges for the people affected and those who care for them. If you're concerned that you may be developing Alzheimer's, watch for these 10 early signs and symptoms as identified by the Alzheimer's Association, and check with your doctor if they persist: • Memory loss that disrupts daily life • Challenges in planning or solving problems • Difficulty completing familiar tasks • Confusion with time or place • Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships • New problems with words in speaking or writing • Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps • Decreased or poor judgment • Withdrawal from work or social activities • Changes in mood and personality Keep in mind that these symptoms can be caused by other disease conditions or life influences that can get better with medical or mental health inventions. Getting an expert medical assessment can assure that your "senior moments" aren't signaling a more serious condition. For more information, visit Lane RMC’s Baton Rouge Family Practice center.
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family practice, family medicine, sports medicine, sports physicals, physicals, check-ups, minor ailments, alzheimers, disease,
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