Alzheimer's disease

Description

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a brain disorder that affects memory ability. In severe phases it prevents patients from performing everyday activities, they are not able to recognize members of their family and friends, neither to understand speech or to talk by themselves. This is a devastating disease that becomes even more severe with the time and in some patients it can progress very fast. Although treatment is very limited, medicines used are more efficient if the treatment starts as soon as possible. Besides that, early discovering enables families to prepare for developing of symptoms and to organize in most effective way. The disorder is more frequent in elder patients, although it is not a normal part of aging process. The probability of coming down with this disorder is also increased in case of earlier cases of this disease in the family, hypertension suffered for many years and earlier head trauma.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually appear gradually withprogressive worsening. In some cases symptoms are rapidly worsening. Symptoms include memory problems, inability to perform routine tasks, problem with recognizing people, altered personality, speech problem and behavioral change.

Overview

Anamnesis and physical examination of the patient will be performed. The examination will determine if there are other causes for symptoms, such as stroke, infection, brain tumor or metabolic problem.

Tests

Complete blood count (CBC), biochemical blood analysis, CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Specialists

General Practice, Geriatry, Internal Medicine and Neurology

Therapy

Unfortunately, there are no medicines confirmed to slow down progressing of this disease. Some medicines can improve the daily functioning of the patient. They include: donepezil (aricept),rivastigmine (exelon), galantamine (reminyl) and memantine ebixa. Simplifying daily routine of the patient can be helpful. With the disease being progressed, it is important to secure support for the patient and family through caregivers and support group.