Alzheimer's disease is the commonest cause of dementia with an estimated half a million sufferers in UK., is a condition in which the mind becomes unable to function properly. This disease causes degeneration in an area of the brain which is needed for the processing of information, retrieving old memories, and adding new memories.People with this disease tend to be forgetful, or lose their ability to remember, and cannot think clearly. As the disease progresses, the person with Alzheimer;s disease loses their capacity to care for themselves, and need to be taken care of by other people. They may become confused and forget to eat, or they may wander away from home and get lost.
The disorder rarely occurs under the age of 45 years. The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease increases with age. About 20 percent of people over age 80 will develop this disorder. Familial cases are occasionally seen.
Diagnosis may be established during life by the early memory failure and slow progression and by excluding other causes. CT scanning aids diagnosis by excluding multiple infraction or a mass lesion.
The cause of Alzheimer's disease is still unknown. An association with Down's syndrome suggests a disease locus on chromosome 21, and this has been confirmed in familial cases. Early research suggested selective lesions of neurotransmitter pathways occurred and a disorder of chrolinergic innervation was postulated. It is now known that many neurotransmitter pathways are defective.
No effective treatment exists. Transmitter augmentation therapy seems unlikely to be effective in view of the many neurotransmitters involved. A recent non-randomised study of the anticholinesterase THA claimed some limited success. Randomised trials are now in progress.
The disorder rarely occurs under the age of 45 years. The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease increases with age. About 20 percent of people over age 80 will develop this disorder. Familial cases are occasionally seen.
Diagnosis may be established during life by the early memory failure and slow progression and by excluding other causes. CT scanning aids diagnosis by excluding multiple infraction or a mass lesion.
The cause of Alzheimer's disease is still unknown. An association with Down's syndrome suggests a disease locus on chromosome 21, and this has been confirmed in familial cases. Early research suggested selective lesions of neurotransmitter pathways occurred and a disorder of chrolinergic innervation was postulated. It is now known that many neurotransmitter pathways are defective.
No effective treatment exists. Transmitter augmentation therapy seems unlikely to be effective in view of the many neurotransmitters involved. A recent non-randomised study of the anticholinesterase THA claimed some limited success. Randomised trials are now in progress.
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