“Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s worsens over time. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. Alzheimer’s has no cure, but two treatments — aducanumab (Aduhelm™) and lecanemab (Leqembi™) — demonstrate that removing beta-amyloid, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, from the brain reduces cognitive and functional decline in people living with early Alzheimer’s. Other treatments can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. Today, there is a worldwide effort underway to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset and prevent it from developing. Just like the rest of our bodies, our brains change as we age. Most of us eventually notice some slowed thinking and occasional problems with remembering certain things. However, serious memory loss, confusion and other major changes in the way our minds work may be a sign that brain cells are failing.”
Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers)
In 2014, as many as 5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease.
The symptoms of the disease can first appear after age 60 and the risk increases with age.
Younger people may get Alzheimer’s disease, but it is less common.
The number of people living with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65.
This number is projected to nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060.
Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes Alzheimer’s disease. There probably is not one single cause, but several factors that affect each person differently.
Age is the best known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Family history—researchers believe that genetics may play a role in developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Changes in the brain can begin years before the first symptoms appear.
Researchers are studying whether education, diet, and environment play a role in developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists are finding more evidence that some of the risk factors for heart disease and stroke, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol may also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
There is growing evidence that physical, mental, and social activities may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is
One of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States.
The 6th leading cause of death among US adults.
The 5th leading cause of death among adults aged 65 years or older.
In 2014, an estimated 5 million Americans aged 65 years or older had Alzheimer’s disease. This number is projected to nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060.
In 2010, the costs of treating Alzheimer’s disease were projected to fall between $159 and $215 billion.4 By 2040, these costs are projected to jump to between $379 and more than $500 billion annually.4
Death rates for Alzheimer’s disease are increasing, unlike heart disease and cancer death rates that are on the decline.5 Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, has been shown to be under-reported in death certificates and therefore the proportion of older people who die from Alzheimer’s may be considerably higher.
Various disorders and factors contribute to the development of dementia. Neuro-degenerative disorders result in a progressive and irreversible loss of neurons and brain functioning. Currently, there are no cures for these types of disorders. They include:
Mixed dementia, a combination of two or more types of dementia
In addition, certain medical conditions can cause serious memory problems that resemble dementia. These problems should go away once the conditions are treated. These conditions include:
Side effects of certain medicines
Emotional problems, such as stress, anxiety, or depression
Certain vitamin deficiencies
Drinking too much alcohol
Blood clots, tumors, or infections in the brain
Delirium
Head injury, such as a concussion from a fall or accident
Thyroid, kidney, or liver problems
Doctors have identified many other conditions that can cause dementia or dementia-like symptoms. These conditions include:
Argyrophilic grain disease, a common, late-onset degenerative disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare brain disorder
Huntington’s disease, an inherited, progressive brain disease
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), caused by repeated traumatic brain injury
HIV-associated dementia (HAD)
The overlap in symptoms of various dementias can make it hard to get an accurate diagnosis. But a proper diagnosis is important to get the right treatment. Seek help from a neurologist—a doctor who specializes in disorders of the brain and nervous system—or other medical specialist who knows about dementia.
“Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most generic form of dementia, is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that destroys neuronal cells. AD is the fifth leading cause of death for people aged sixty-five and older [1]. Scientists do not yet fully understand the cause of this disease, which is likely to involve several factors and can affect each person differently. Health care providers often fail to diagnose AD at an early stage; thus, researchers are currently working on a diagnostic framework in which AD onset can be detected based on biological changes in the brain and body even before any symptoms appear [2]. Early AD identification remains challenging as the conventional biomarkers for AD can overlap with the classical aging process.
Recent studies suggest that dysfunctional glucose metabolism is often found in AD brains. An aged-matched comparison between regular and AD brains showed reduced glucose utilization, evidenced in APP (AD model) mice [7]. Thus, glucose utilization could be an early important imaging marker for AD detection. Under normal physiological conditions, brain cells use a relatively higher percentage of glucose for their function and energy source [8]. Alteration in cerebral glucose metabolic rate and glucose consumption are reflected in the synaptic excitability and neuronal activity [9]. In the AD brain, a lesser extent of glucose utilization was detected by positron emission tomography (PET) using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) as a tracer [10]. Specifically, a reduction in glucose consumption at the hippocampal and posterior cingulate of the brain was observed in the early AD stages [11,12,13].
NIH National Library of Medicine (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9455726/)
“To diagnose Alzheimer’s dementia, doctors conduct tests to assess memory impairment and other thinking skills, judge functional abilities, and identify behavior changes. They also perform a series of tests to rule out other possible causes of impairment. Alzheimer’s dementia can be diagnosed in several different ways. Often, Alzheimer’s is diagnosed through a doctor’s exam. They will evaluate your signs and symptoms and do several tests. They may talk to friends and family members to find out more about symptoms and behavior.
It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia. The correct diagnosis is an important first step toward getting the appropriate treatment, care, family education and plans for the future.”.
MAYO CLINIC (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers/art-20048075)
The National Institute of aging states the following procedures also may be used to diagnose dementia:
“Cognitive and neuropsychological tests. These tests are used to assess memory, problem solving, language skills, math skills, and other abilities related to mental functioning.
Laboratory tests. Testing a person’s blood and other fluids , as well as checking levels of various chemicals, hormones, and vitamins, can help find or rule out possible causes of symptoms.
Brain scans. These tests can identify strokes, tumors, and other problems that can cause dementia. Scans also identify changes in the brain’s structure and function. The most common scans are:
Computed tomography (CT), which uses x rays to produce images of the brain and other organs
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of body structures, including tissues, organs, bones, and nerves
Positron emission tomography (PET), which uses radiation to provide pictures of brain activity
Psychiatric evaluation. This evaluation will help determine if depression or another mental health condition is causing or contributing to a person’s symptoms.
Genetic tests. Some dementias are caused by a known gene defect. In these cases, a genetic test can help people know if they are at risk for dementia. It is important to talk with a genetic counselor before and after getting tested, along with family members and the doctor.
“Alzheimer’s disease is a type of brain disease, just as coronary artery disease is a type of heart disease. It is
caused by damage to nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. The brain’s neurons are essential to thinking, walking,
talking and all human activity. In Alzheimer’s, the neurons damaged first are those in parts of the brain responsible for memory, language and thinking. As a result, the first symptoms tend to be memory,
language and thinking problems. Although these symptoms are new to the individual affected, the brain changes that cause them are thought to begin 20 years or more before symptoms start.”.
Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org › alzheimers-facts-and-figures)
What structurally happens to the brain and what happens to the individual in brain thinking diagnosed with this disease:
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with the disease—those with the late-onset type—symptoms first appear in their mid-60s. Early-onset Alzheimer’s occurs between a person’s 30s and mid-60s and is very rare. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older adults.
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, or tau, tangles).
These plaques and tangles in the brain are still considered some of the main features of Alzheimer’s disease. Another feature is the loss of connections between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Neurons transmit messages between different parts of the brain, and from the brain to muscles and organs in the body. Many other complex brain changes are thought to play a role in Alzheimer’s, too.
This damage initially appears to take place in the hippocampus, the part of the brain essential in forming memories. As neurons die, additional parts of the brain are affected. By the final stage of Alzheimer’s, damage is widespread, and brain tissue has shrunk significantly.
How many affected in the United States by Alzheimer’s Disease:
Estimates vary, but experts suggest that as many as 5.5 million Americans age 65 and older may have Alzheimer’s. Many more under age 65 also have the disease. Unless Alzheimer’s can be effectively treated or prevented, the number of people with it will increase significantly if current population trends continue. This is because increasing age is the most important known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Symptoms:
Memory problems are typically one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s, though initial symptoms may vary from person to person. A decline in other aspects of thinking, such as finding the right words, vision/spatial issues, and impaired reasoning or judgment, may also signal the very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition that can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s, but not everyone with MCI will develop the disease.
People with Alzheimer’s have trouble doing everyday things like driving a car, cooking a meal, or paying bills. They may ask the same questions over and over, get lost easily, lose things or put them in odd places, and find even simple things confusing. As the disease progresses, some people become worried, angry, or violent.
Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging.
Memory problems are typically one of the first warning signs of cognitive loss.
According to the National Institute on Aging, in addition to memory problems, someone with Alzheimer’s disease may experience one or more of the following signs:
Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as getting lost in a familiar place or repeating questions.
Trouble handling money and paying bills.
Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.
Decreased or poor judgment.
Misplaces things and being unable to retrace steps to find them.
“The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that 1.5 million Americans, and at least five million people worldwide, have a form of lupus! Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age. Ninety percent (90%) of people living with lupus are women. However, men, children, and teenagers develop lupus, too. Most people with lupus develop the disease between the ages of 15-44. Most people with lupus develop the disease between the ages of 15-44. Lupus is two to three times more prevalent among African American, Hispanic/Latina, Asian American, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander women than among White women.”.
Lupus Foundation of America (https://www.lupus.org/resources/lupus-facts-and-statistics)
“World Lupus Day was 5/10/23 and by WELCOA a health topic for May. Genes do play a role in the predisposition to the development of lupus. There are dozens of known genetic variants linked to lupus. These genes impact both who gets lupus and how severe it is. 20 percent of people with lupus will have a parent or sibling who already has lupus or may develop lupus. About 5 percent of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness. Although lupus can develop in people with no family history of lupus, there are likely to be other autoimmune diseases in some family members. Lupus is not contagious, not even through sexual contact. You cannot “catch” lupus from someone or “give” lupus to someone.
World Lupus Day (https://worldlupusday.org/lupus-facts-and-statistics/)
“You can’t cure or slow the progression of Huntington disease, but health care providers can offer medications to help with certain symptoms. As Huntington disease progresses, you will need constant assistance and supervision because of the debilitating nature of the disease. People usually die from the disease within 15 to 20 years of developing symptoms. If you have been diagnosed with, or are at risk for Huntington disease, it is critical to maintain your physical fitness as best you can. People who exercise regularly and stay active tend to do better than those who don’t. A number of studies are currently under way to examine possible therapies for Huntington disease.”
John Hopkins Hospital (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/huntingtons-disease)
