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ABOUT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND DEMENTIAWhat is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease? Dementia is an umbrella term for a set of symptoms related to a decline in cognitive abilities (related to conscious intellectual activity) including: memory loss, impaired judgment and reasoning, disorientation, learning difficulties, changes in personality and moods.Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of brain damage that leads to dementia, accounting for about 64% of all cases of dementia. It is a progressive, degenerative disease. Symptoms include loss of memory, difficulty with day-to-day tasks, and changes in mood and behaviour. Physically, Alzheimer’s disease causes distinct markings in the brain. Brain cells shrink or disappear and are replaced by dense, irregularly shaped spots called plaques. Threadlike tangles will also develop within existing brain cells, and will eventually choke and destroy these healthy cells. What causes Alzheimer’s disease? Although researchers are making progress and can now identify what happens in the brain of a person with Alzheimer’s disease, no cause has yet been identified. Advice about reducing your risk of dementia, like that provided in our Healthy Brain section, is based on the observation and study of factors that seem to be prevalent in people who have developed the disease. If someone shares the same stories repeatedly in social settings, is this a sign that they are developing dementia? If this repetition is a new behaviour it should be investigated - particularly if other changes in memory or behaviour are present. However, there could be any number of explanations and it’s imperative that any changes be discussed with a doctor. Getting a diagnosis:
Alzheimer’s disease has ten recognized warning signs:
For the full list of warning signs with explanations, visit www.alzheimer.ca/english/disease/warningsigns.htm. One of the challenges in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease is that in its very earliest stages, the problems associated with forgetfulness are identical to normal aging. Many people experience problems with memory as they age and do not go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease. It is only when other cognitive problems start to show up that there is cause for concern. Unfortunately, at that point, the disease is likely to be well established in the brain. There is a recognized middle stage between what would be considered age-related decline and a more serious form of impairment called Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Although this group shows signs of memory impairment, some people do not go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease. This indicates that it could be critical to carefully look after brain health throughout life, and to attend to mental fitness and agility when even a slight decline in memory is noticed. Physicians use a number of tests to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia - none of which can tell for certain if Alzheimer’s disease is present in the brain. The tests range from reviewing the symptoms that are being noticed, or completing a written test in a doctor’s office, through to more specialized testing such as scanning the brain to test for areas of unusual activity. In most cases, the low-tech tests provide health professionals with a fairly accurate picture that can help to distinguish between normal aging and dementia. MRI tests are not commonly used because the picture generated does not show brain activity. It’s important to note that all testing for Alzheimer’s disease should be administered and interpreted by a recognized health professional and people should be wary of other kinds of ‘testing’ that they may be offered. For more information on diagnosis, visit www.alzheimer.ca/english/disease/diagnosis.htm. Researchers are working hard to resolve the challenges of early detection - particularly with regards to MCI because in order for treatments to be successful, it is important that the disease is recognized as early as possible. However, there is a gap in our knowledge in this area and Alzheimer Societies across Canada support research to further our knowledge. Alzheimer’s disease and genetics:
It is well recognized that early onset Alzheimer’s disease (i.e. occurring before 65 years) is genetically linked. In these families, there is usually a clear picture across the generations - but that does not mean you will develop the disease. Genetic markers have been identified but scientists are not saying that the presence of these markers alone account for why a person develops the disease. For instance, there are cases of twins (with identical genetic material) where only one of them develops the disease. This indicates that other factors are also at work. Aging is one of these factors. A person who is 80, is statistically more likely to get the disease than a younger person but that may or may not have something to do with his or her genetic material. The role of genetics in the other types of the disease is not so clear. The best advice we have at this point is that lifestyle, nutrition, and social factors are significant in brain health - and the older we get, the more important they are. Click here to learn more about maintaining a healthy brain. Are Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias reversible? Although research into new medications is making progress, there is currently no way to reverse the brain damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
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About Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
