Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disease that causes progressive loss of mental function. Eventually the victim of Alzheimer's disease loses all ability to think or function, and dies of complicating illnesses. Most of us fear the onset of Alzheimer's disease because we don't want to become increasingly unable to take care of ourselves. However, there is hope.
Alzheimer's disease is primarily a disease of the elderly. Up to half the people over 85 have Alzheimer's disease; few people under 60 have it. There are, however, genetic forms of Alzheimer's disease that appear in people as young as their 40's or 50's. Men and women are equally affected, and there are no socioeconomic, cultural or ethnic tendencies toward Alzheimer's disease. About a quarter of the people with Alzheimer's disease have identifiable genetic factors causing it. The cause of Alzheimer's disease is unknown in the remaining three-quarters of the cases. Most likely, there are multiple factors involved.
Alzheimer's disease symptoms appear gradually, over a long period of time. The most salient Alzheimer's disease symptom is forgetfulness. Memory problems cause increasing functional and social disability as the victim forgets more and more things-including how to dress himself and toilet himself.
Other Alzheimer's disease symptoms include confusion, poor judgment, agitation, muscle stiffness, hallucinations, articulation difficulties, loss of vocabulary and seizures. Death is usually not caused by Alzheimer's disease itself, but by complications such as pneumonia or malnutrition.
Alzheimer's disease research is a scientific priority. A great deal of research is being done in several areas of Alzheimer's disease. A lot of the research has to do with finding medications that help treat Alzheimer's disease. A number of new and existing drugs are being tested to see if they help treat Alzheimer's disease. An example is Lipitor, a cholesterol-lowering medication that may also help with Alzheimer's disease.
Another area of Alzheimer's disease research is investigating the role of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and antioxidants in treating Alzheimer's disease. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that may prevent the destruction of brain cells by preventing the accumulation of free radicals and relieving oxidative stress on brain cells.
Huyperzine is an herb that has been used by Chinese medicine to treat Alzheimer's disease, and it seems to be as effective as the medications that are currently used.
Vitamin B12 is an enzymatic vitamin that is necessary for maintenance of the myelin sheath of the nerves, for removal of excess homocystiene in the brain, and perhaps for neurotransmitter function. In fact, vitamin B12 deficiency causes a dementia that is virtually identical to Alzheimer's disease (except that it is reversible when you take vitamin B12).
Many older people are deficient in vitamin B12 because the ability to absorb it through the gastrointestinal system diminishes with age. Because of the link between vitamin B12 deficiency and dementia, and the potential link with Alzheimer's disease, older adults may want to take vitamin B12 supplements. To make sure the vitamin B12 supplementation is effective, try using the vitamin B12 Patch. Vitamin B12 may not be absorbed if pills are taken. The vitamin B12 Patch is a painless, reliable way to get adequate amounts of vitamin B12.
