Identification

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It is a progressive, incurable, degenerative, terminal disease that was first described by Alois Alzheimer in 1906. It is generally diagnosed in people age 65 and older. It is estimated that 26.6 million people had Alzheimer's in 2006, and this number may quadruple by 2050.
  
  

Effects

• Each case of Alzheimer's is unique, though there are certain common symptoms. The earliest symptoms are normally misdiagnosed as age- or stress-related. The earliest symptom is often memory loss. Once Alzheimer's is suspected, a physician will confirm the diagnosis with a battery of behavioral and cognitive tests, and possibly a brain scan. As the disease progresses, other symptoms, such as confusion, irritability, mood swings and long-term memory, loss will follow.
  
  

Expert Insight

• Central nervous system (CNS) medications for Alzheimer's can be divided into two categories: those for the cognitive symptoms and those for behavioral symptoms. The cognitive medications focus on affecting the levels of chemicals that carry messages in the brain. The drugs Aricept and Exelon work by raising the level of acetylcholine and have been shown to delay worsening of cognitive symptoms. nother medication, Memantine, regulates glutamate levels and also can delay the worsening of symptoms.
  
  

Expert Insight

• Behavioral symptoms include verbal outbursts, restlessness and hallucinations. These symptoms are often the most difficult for family and friends to deal with. While these symptoms can be treated with medication, non-medical options should be considered first. One key is to understand that these behaviors are not someone "acting out" but are symptoms of the disease. Efforts should be made to try to change the affected person's environment to remove obstacles and to increase his comfort and peace of mind.
  
  

Expert Insight

• If non-drug approaches do not prove to be successful, additional medications can be introduced to patients with severe symptoms or with the potential to harm themselves or others. Some patients are able to sleep better with anti-depressants. Other times a doctor will prescribe medications "off-label," a practice in which a medication is prescribed for purposes other than the conditions for which it was specifically approved. In some cases, anti-psychosis medications can be used to reduce aggression and ease hallucinations. Of course, such medications should be prescribed with great caution as there can be serious side effects.