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Origin: German neurologist Dr Alois Alzheimer described Alzheimer’s Disease in 1906.
Prevalence: Alzheimer's accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases and is expected to affect 80 million people worldwide by 2040.
Brain Changes: Alzheimer's leads to brain cell death due to changes in structure and chemistry.
Key Features: Disease plaques and tangles develop, disrupting nerve cell function.
Chemical Imbalance: Shortage of crucial brain chemicals affects message transmission.
Normal Aging: Age-related changes in processing speed and memory.
Key Differences: Recognizing when symptoms indicate Alzheimer's.
Metabolic Ailments: Issues like malnutrition or vitamin deficiencies.
Central Nervous System Disorders: Conditions such as strokes or epilepsy.
Substance-Induced Conditions: Effects from medications or substance abuse.
Psychological Factors: Conditions like depression or chronic stress.
Infections: Illnesses such as meningitis or encephalitis.
Diagnostic Challenges: No single definitive test for Alzheimer's.
Evaluation Process: Assessing past and present functioning, medical history, and memory loss levels.
Late-Stage Symptoms: Loss of motor control and cognitive function.
Emotional and Behavioral Changes: Aggression, depression, or sleep disturbances.
Age Considerations: Typically affects those over 65 but can occur earlier.
Life Expectancy: Patients live an average of 8-10 years post-diagnosis, with some surviving up to 20 years.
Complications: Aspiration pneumonia due to swallowing difficulties is a common cause of death.
