Alzheimer's disease presents a challenge for patients, caregivers, health professionals, and society. It is a devastating disease that results in a total loss of self-identity for the afflicted. Despite decades of medical research, no curative treatment exists for Alzheimer's disease, and even the etiology of the disorder remains a mystery.
Alzheimer's disease causes progressive deterioration of the brain and usually affects people older than 60. The progression of Alzheimer's is slow but relentless. Symptoms include forgetfulness and loss of memory. Eventually, the disease destroys all memory, particularly for recent events. For example, a patient may retain the ability for vivid recall of childhood memories yet lack the capacity to remember events of the previous hour. As the disease progresses, the patient is overcome by confusion and disorientation. All higher thought processes degenerate, and over time the disease affects reasoning ability, speech, concentration, and handwriting. Secondary psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations, illusions, paranoia, delusions, and affective signs are also present (5:7). Patients in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease sometimes wander away from home or pose a threat to their own safety; constant supervision is required. In the late stages of the disease, total mental and physical incapacitation ensue, necessitating patient institutionalization.
Alzheimer's disease was first described by German physician Alois Alzheimer in 1906. The disease is a form of dementia, a condition that refers to any state of decreased mental ability. The term Alzheimer's disease was initially used only to describe pre-senile dementia, the onset of diminished mental capacity occurring before the age of 65. Dementia of unexplained etiology occurring after age 65 was referred to as senile dementia and considered a normal function of the aging process. Later, autopsy studies revealed that th...