Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease, its causes and cures, has long remained a mystery to medical practitioners. However, the efforts of researchers are beginning to reveal clues that may soon enable physicians to prescribe medications and other forms of treatment that will successfully delay the onset of the disease and may even reverse the course of the illness. Yet for the four million Americans currently diagnosed with the disease, future treatments are irrelevant. Fortunately, there are some effective options currently available that can treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's and/or slow its progression. If caught early enough, the patient can gain valuable time that they may have had the diagnosis been made at a later stage during the disease=s development. Unfortunately, because the symptoms can often be so easily masked, this does not happen as often as it could.

Alzheimer's is characterized by a progressive loss of memory and deterioration in other mental faculties. It typically occurs in people over age sixty-five, though it may be diagnosed in those as young as forty. Sufferers undergo increasing confusion and disorientation with regard to time and location; experience difficulty completing routine tasks, such as balancing checkbooks; and develop language problems, often unable to find the right words to express their thoughts. Many times the early signs are attributed to the normal course of aging. Studies have shown that someone in their forties has p

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ive percent of cases (Kelly, p. 127). The state of dementia is established with a history and examination. The history is taken with a reliable source, often a family member who can help determine whether the progression of the dementia may be related to the use of anticholinergics, sedatives/hypnotics, chronic alcohol abuse, certain antihypertensive agents, certain analgesic agents, psychotropic medications, or illicit drugs (Kelly, p. 127). Physical or laboratory tests may be utilized to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other possibilities. Often these tests include a brain scan, which reveals subdural hematoma or neoplasia. Other tests the physician may find helpful in confirming the diagnosis include physiologic scans, CSF analysis (examination of the cerebral spinal fluid), and apolipoprotein E. Treatment Once diagnosis is confirmed, there are a number of treatments that are currently being utilized and researched. However, Dr. Philip Sloane states that "the cornerstone of disease management is high-quality primary care, meaning regular visits every four to six months, frequent contact with family members, availability by telephone, general health maintenance, and the minimization of medication with potential effect

Category: Medical - A