Alzheimer Disease
Also called Senile Dementia of Alzheimer's Type (SDTA), or Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that progressively impairs memory and thinking ability, eventually affecting the ability to perform everyday tasks. In addition, people with this disease experience changes in their behavior and personality.
WHO recognizes dementia as a public health priority
55
with dementia worldwide
10
diagnosed each year
30
according to WHO estimates
Alzheimer’s is a growing epidemic
WHO calls for
Alzheimer’s disease, a global problem
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that progressively impairs memory and thinking ability. As it progresses, it affects even the simplest day-to-day tasks. In addition to these cognitive problems, Alzheimer’s sufferers experience significant changes in behavior and personality. Initial symptoms may be mild, such as occasional forgetfulness or difficulty remembering names and recent events. Over time, these symptoms worsen, making it difficult to carry out daily activities and communicate with others. The disease affects not only the diagnosed person, but also his or her family and caregivers, who must adapt to new and challenging circumstances. The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are still unknown. Although there is no cure, there are treatments and therapies that can help alleviate some symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Diagnosis is often late and prevention is, for now, not possible.
Stress and lack of resources
70% of dementia caregivers say that care coordination is stressful. Two-thirds also have difficulty finding resources and support for their needs.
Caregiver health
74% of caregivers say they are concerned about maintaining their own health since they began providing care
Lack of support
60% of caregivers believe that the healthcare system does not effectively support patients and their families in dementia care
Increased risk for women
The lifetime risk of Alzheimer’s disease at age 45 is 1 in 5 for women and 1 in 10 for men.
Symptoms
Alzheimer’s patients gradually lose their memories and identity until they no longer recognize the reality that surrounds them. The disease lasts between 7 and 15 years from diagnosis. During this time, the patient becomes more and more affected and dependent.
Main symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
- Memory loss
- Language problems
- Difficulty doing simple tasks
- Disorientation in time and space
- Loss of judgment
- Difficulty in having elaborated thoughts
- Loss of objects
- Changes in mood
- Behavioral changes
- Loss of initiative
Morbidity
Mortality and morbidity
Alzheimer’s is not just about memory loss, Alzheimer’s kills.
- 1 in 3 older people die with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. This disease kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.
- Deaths due to Alzheimer’s disease have more than doubled between 2000 and 2021, while deaths from heart disease – the biggest killer – have declined.
- At age 70, older people with Alzheimer’s are twice as likely to die before their 80th birthday as those without the disease.
- People age 65 and older survive an average of 4 to 8 years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, yet some live as long as 20 years with Alzheimer’s. This reflects the slow and uncertain progression of the disease. This reflects the slow and uncertain progression of the disease.
Alzheimer's FAQs
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1 - What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and irreversible non-contagious brain disease that gradually alters memory and other cognitive functions, affecting the ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. In addition, changes in conduct and behavior are frequent. All this, as a result of the progressive loss of neurons and the connections between them.
2 - What are the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease have a direct impact on activities of daily living. The main symptoms of Alzheimer’s are cognitive and behavioral, such as the following: Forgetfulness or difficulty remembering recent information; insistent repetition of a theme; difficulty planning, reasoning, or orienting oneself; showing confusion; difficulty maintaining a conversation; loss of personal objects; impaired judgment; apathy; withdrawal or apparent loss of interest; nervousness in new environments or situations; increased need for help due to loss of autonomy.
3 - Is there a cure or treatment for the disease?
There is currently no drug or treatment capable of curing this disease. The treatments prescribed to date can alleviate the symptoms, but have no influence on the brain changes due to Alzheimer’s disease.
Recently, a new drug has been approved for the first time in the United States, capable of slowing down cognitive deterioration in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Recently, a new drug has been approved for the first time in the United States, capable of slowing down cognitive deterioration in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
4 - If there is no cure, why is diagnosis so important?
Having a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease allows the person affected to plan for the future and make his or her own decisions before the progression of the disease prevents him or her from doing so.
An early diagnosis when the person still has sufficient capacity to make decisions regarding his or her own future allows him or her to make use of the relevant legal protection tools (e.g., living will or advance directives) and to express his or her wishes regarding this and other issues related to his or her care when the progression of the disease prevents it.
An early diagnosis when the person still has sufficient capacity to make decisions regarding his or her own future allows him or her to make use of the relevant legal protection tools (e.g., living will or advance directives) and to express his or her wishes regarding this and other issues related to his or her care when the progression of the disease prevents it.
5 - What causes Alzheimer's disease?
The causes of Alzheimer’s diseaseare still unknown. More and more evidence supports the idea that there is no single cause, but that there are several factors that may influence its possible development. The main factor is age. The next is genetics, and it should be understood that some genes increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
The modifiable factors are those related to the control of cardiovascular health and the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits, including cognitive and social activity, proper nutrition, physical activity and ensuring a good quality of sleep.
The modifiable factors are those related to the control of cardiovascular health and the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits, including cognitive and social activity, proper nutrition, physical activity and ensuring a good quality of sleep.
6 - Who is more affected by this disease, men or women?
Alzheimer’s disease affects women disproportionately. Partly as a matter of greater longevity. There also seem to be other factors linked to the female sex, such as hormonal issues. The exact mechanisms are not yet known and it is a very active avenue of current research.
7 - Does Alzheimer's disease differ from one person to another?
Yes, the disease affects each person differently. Despite the differences between people, there is a clinical pattern that allows us to have a description of the typical evolution, from which the different stages of Alzheimer’s disease are defined. In addition, the same person may have other health problems that, in addition to Alzheimer’s, make his or her care needs more complex.
8 - Is Alzheimer's hereditary?
In only 1% of cases or less, the development of Alzheimer’s disease is attributable to a genetic cause, i.e. it is hereditary. Being the son or daughter of someone who has or has had Alzheimer’s disease does not imply that you will develop the disease. There are some genes that increase the risk, but they are not determinant
9 - Is there any test that diagnoses Alzheimer's disease?
There is currently no test that determines 100% whether someone has Alzheimer’s disease. Although much progress is being made in the detection of Alzheimer’s based on biomarkers, the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease remains clinical, requiring the presence of symptoms of cognitive impairment and ruling out other causes.
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