Virtual Medical Centre

Alzheimer's Disease

• What is Alzheimer's Disease?
• Who gets Alzheimer's Disease?
• Predisposing Factors
• Progression
• Probable Outcomes
• How Will Alzheimer's Disease Affect Me?
• How is Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosed?
• How is Alzheimer's Disease treated?
• Alzheimer's Disease References
• Drugs/Products Associated with Alzheimer's Disease

What is Alzheimer's Disease?

3D Animation on Alzheimer's Disease This animation brought to you by Blausen Medical Communications. Contact Andrew Walbank.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive disease of the brain characterised by failure of memory and disturbances in other cognitive (mental) functions, such as language or perception of reality. It is currently thought that AD results from an increase in the production or accumulation of a specific protein (beta-amyloid protein) that leads to nerve cell damage.

Who gets Alzheimer's Disease?

Dementia affects approximately 160 000 Australians. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 50-75% of cases. Alzheimer's disease occurs most commonly in the elderly. Dementia affects about 10% of those aged over 65 years with 20% of those over 80 years suffering from severe dementia. Women may be at slightly higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than men. An Access Economics report commissioned by Alzheimer's Australia and published in March 2005 suggests that the number of people with dementia in Australia will be 25% higher by 2050 than was predicted in 2003.

The report estimates that:

• By 2016, dementia will be the leading cause of disease burden in Australia.
• By 2050, the total number of Australians with dementia will be over 730,000, or 2.8% of the population.
• During 2050, it is projected that there will be over 175,000 new cases diagnosed.

Mini-cog The Mini-Cog is a 3 minute test which can be used to discriminate between demented and non-demented persons.

Predisposing Factors

The most important risk factor for the development of dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) is advancing age.

Other Alzheimer's Disease predisposing factors include:

• Genetic factors: Alzheimer's Disease occurs more commonly in close relatives of the affected patient. A direct genetic link is found in less than 10% of cases of Alzheimer's.
• Chromosomal defects: Down syndrome is associated with Alzheimer's Disease.
• Diet and aluminium: Excessive exposure to aluminium, abnormal cell membrane metabolism, diet, cholesterol and fat have been suggested to be associated with the development of Alzheimer's Disease. However, the evidence for many of these factors is unclear.

Progression

Alzheimer's disease will typically become evident between the ages of 50-70 years old. This condition is slowly progressive, with progressive deterioration in cognitive function, memory loss and behavioural changes occurring in the early stages. As Alzheimer's disease progresses, patients may lose the ability to speak, coordinate movements or perform simple tasks. In the later stages of disease, patients may lose the ability to walk, become incontinent, and are bedridden for an extended period.