Alzheimer’s is a disease that is non-curable, and affects the brain and muscles. It is a disease that may have a family genetic link, but for the most part, it is impossible to predict who may develop it. It eventually leads to death.
Common symptoms of Alzheimer’s are restlessness, trouble sleeping, yelling, shredding paper, and stiff muscles. Also, a person who may have Alzheimer’s will find that everyday activities become harder to do. They may forget where they put things, forget family member’s names, and have trouble communicating with others. However, a person with Alzheimer's may remember things that have happened in the past, or things such as their name or date of birth. These things may cause social withdraw.
10 percent of people over 60 have Alzheimer’s, while 50 percent of people over age 85 have it. As you get older, your risk of developing Alzheimer’s increases. Alzheimer’s is more likely to affect women than men. A woman’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s is one in six, while the risk for men is one in eleven. Although the risk of developing Alzheimer’s gets higher as you get older, Alzheimer’s can also start when someone is in their 40s or 50s. This is known as early onset Alzheimer's.
Along with the above mentioned symptoms, Alzheimer’s causes other problems such as brain and muscle deterioration. Alzheimer's is the sixth most common cause of death in the United States. Alzheimer’s causes brain tissue and nerve cells to die, eventually affecting all bodily functions, and leading to death.
There is no way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Research is currently being done on how to slow its progression, but no cures have been found. Mental stimulation could help slow its progression, but the difference it makes is a miniscule amount.
Dent Neurological Institute
3980 Sheridan Drive, Buffalo, NY 14226
(716) 250-2038
Alzheimer's Association Western New York Chapter
2805 Wherle Drive #6 Buffalo, New York 14221
(800) 272-3900