We are very grateful to Alzheimer's Disease International for providing the following information. Please, visit Alzheimer's Disease Internation at www.alz.co.uk Email: adi@alz.co.uk

Explaining dementia

     Dementia occurs as a result of a disease process. When a person is diagnosed by his/her physician, and is said to have a dementing illness - AD or a related disorder - it is because that person shows clear signs of impaired memory, thinking and behaviour.

     The first signs the family may see are problems in remembering recent events and difficulty performing routine, familiar tasks. The person may also experience confusion, personality change, behaviour change, impaired judgment, difficulty finding words, finishing thoughts, or following directions. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia.Also common is vascular dementia.

Explaining Alzheimer's disease

     Alzheimer's disease (AD) attacks the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. The onset of the disease is gradual and the person's decline is usually slow. Currently, the cause of the disease is unknown, and ther is no cure.

     Alzheimer's disease is named after Dr Alois Alzheimer, who in 1906 described changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of what was thought to be an unusual mental illness. These changes are now recognised as the characteristic abnormal brain changes of Alzheimer's disease.

     AD affects all groups in society and is not linked with social class, gender, ethnic group or geographical location. And, although AD is more common among elderly persons, younger persons can also be affected.

What are the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

     AD affects each person in a different way. Its impact depends largely on what the person was like before the disease, ie, personality, physical condition and life style. The symptoms of AD can be best understood in the context of three stages of its development - early, middle and late.

     As stated before, not all persons with AD will display all these symptoms and they vary from individual to individual. The stages serve as a guide to the progress of the disease to help caregivers be aware of potential problems and to allow for planning of future care needs. No one person will experience the progress of the disease in exactly the same way as another.

     Some of these items may appear in any of the stages, eg a behaviour listed in the late stage may occur in the middle stage. Also, caregivers should be aware that in all stages, short, lucid periods can occur.

What causes Alzheimer's disease?

Currently the cause of AD is unknown. However, it is known what does not cause AD. AD is not

• Caused by hardening of the arteries
• Caused by under-use or over-use of brain
• Related to sexually transmitted diseases
• Caused by infection
• Caused by old age; it is not a normal part of the ageing process
• Caused by exposure to aluminum or other metals.

Why is diagnosis important?

     Early diagnosis is helpful in order that the caregiver can be better equipped to deal with the disease and to deal with the disease and to know what to expect. A diagnosis is the first step towards planning for the future.

     There is no simple test to make a diagnosis. The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is made by taking a careful history of the person's problem form a close relative or friend, together with an examination of the person's physical and mental status. It is important to exclude other conditions or illnesses that cause memory loss.

     The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is only confirmed at postmortem by examination of the brain.

Is there treatment?

     No. At the moment there is no curative treatment for Alzheimer's disease. However, there is a great deal that can be done for the person with Alzheimer's as well as things to ease the burden on you the caregiver. Consult your physician, social worker or other health professional for more information. There are now some drugs available in some countries for people with mild to moderate AD. These drugs are not a cure but may help some people with some of the symptoms of AD. Caregivers should contact their nearest Alzheimer association or physician for more information.