Alzheimers

            
             Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized especially by premature senile mental deterioration. Some 2 to 4 million persons have dementia associated with aging. Of these individuals, as many as two-thirds have Alzheimer's disease. With Alzheimer's disease and other dementia, problems with memory, judgment, and thought processes make it hard for a person to work and take part in day-to-day family and social life. Changes in mood and personality also may occur. These changes can result in a loss of self-control and other problems. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease at this time, it may be possible to relieve some of the symptoms, such as wandering and incontinence. The earlier the diagnosis the more likely it is that symptoms will respond to treatment. What are the risk factors? What are the signs and symptoms, and most importantly what are the treatments?.
             Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes AD. There probably is not one single cause, but several factors that affect each person differently. Age is the most important known risk factor for AD. The number of people with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. Family history is another risk factor. Scientists believe that genetics may play a role in many AD cases. For example, familial AD, a rare form of AD that usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 60, is inherited. The more common form of AD is known as late-onset. It occurs later in life, and no obvious inheritance pattern is seen. However, several risk factor genes may interact with each other to cause the disease. The only risk factor gene identified so far for late-onset AD, is a gene that makes one form of a protein called apolipoprotein E (apoE). Everyone has apoE, which helps .
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             carry cholesterol in the blood. It is likely that other genes also may increase the risk of AD or protect against AD, but they remain to be discovered.