No one knows exactly what triggers the disease process in Alzheimer’s, but most experts would agree that genetics play a role. In fact, approximately 30 percent of all people with AD have a family history of dementia. On the other hand, that leaves 70 percent of people who do not have a family history of dementia, which suggests that other factors are at work as well in the develop¬ment of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s: The Brain with Alzheimer’s
Many parts of your body change as you age. Your bones become more brittle as the production of bone-building osteoclasts slows.
Alzheimer’s: What Alzheimer’s Looks Like As It Progresses
It isn’t easy to distinguish the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s from the normal forgetfulness we all experience from time to time. You enter a room and can’t recall why you went there. You’re in the middle of a conversation, and you lose your train of thought. You run into a familiar face, but can’t figure out how you know the friendly person who is greeting you by name.
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Alzheimer’s: Other Possible Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease
Genetics may influence your predisposition toward getting Alzheimer’s and they may even be involved in the development of plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. But at the moment, no one knows exactly what causes the brain to deteriorate in the person with Alzheimer’s. Some experts believe that beta-amyloid plaques themselves are the cause of Alzheimer’s Disease, while others point to neurofibrillary tangles as the culprit behind the disease process.
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Alzheimer’s: Mild Alzheimer’s Disease -The Earliest Stage
Early on, as the nerve cells first begin to deteriorate, AD may present no signs or symptoms at all. Even the person who has Alzheimer’s may not notice anything different at first. But as the destruction worsens, and the person moves into this early stage, changes in behavior may become more apparent. Not every person in the early phases of Alzheimer’s will experience these symptoms, but they may include:
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Alzheimer’s: Moderate Alzheimer’s
As the disease progresses and more nerve cells in more parts of the brain are affected, the person with Alzheimer’s may develop new behaviors and exhibit more personality changes. It becomes increasingly apparent to family members that something is amiss as the person’s thinking become even hazier and judgment diminishes. Here’s what may occur:
Alzheimer’s: Severe Alzheimer’s Disease
In the final stage of Alzheimer’s Disease, the disease has eroded the person’s ability to think or reason. The most essential tasks of day-to-day living require assistance, and the person’s personality may be entirely changed. In some cases, the person may be bedridden. A weakened body puts the person at greater risk for other illnesses, which is why many people may die not of Alzheimer’s but of infections such as pneumonia. Some common changes at this stage are:
Alzheimer’s: Diagnosing Alzheimer’s
You’re worried. Memory lapses have become more frequent, and you find yourself frequendy confused about the day of the week, your whereabouts, and what you did just hours ago. A family history of Alzheimer’s has you wondering whether you have the disease. You call your doctor seeking help.
Alzheimer’s: Other Conditions In Early Alzheimer’s Disease
Another factor that makes early Alzheimer’s Disease difficult to detect is the presence of other conditions. Often, Alzheimer’s Disease coexists with other health problems that can mimic or resemble Alzheimer’s. Many times, it’s easy to dismiss the signs of Alzheimer’s Disease as one of these other health problems or to assume the person has Alzheimer’s when it’s really one of these other conditions.
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Alzheimer’s: Separating Forgetfulness From Early Alzheimer’s Disease
It isn’t easy to distinguish the normal forgetfulness that occurs with aging from the onset of Alzheimer’s. As we get older we gradually lose brain cells, and our brain processes slow making it harder for us to recall a certain event, a name, or a telephone number at a moment’s notice. But scientists now know that these memories are not entirely lost in healthy people. They simply take more time to retrieve.
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