Alzheimer’s disease: A Progressive brain disorder

PRESINILE DEMENTIA & ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder. In fact, the brain of an Alzheimer patient undergoes changes or metamorphosis. As a result, the cells responsible for carrying on vital functions like memory and speech slowly but surely get stunted. In America, Alzheimer’s disease has assumed alarming proportions what with millions of people expected to be patients of this progressive disorder of the brain.

Notably, former American President Ronald Reagan and former boxing champion Classius Clay who was earlier known as Mohammed Ali suffered from Alzheimer’s disease in their advanced age.

THE VULNERABLE AGE GROUP OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

The most common cause of memory loss among people beyond the 65 plus age group across the globe has been identified to be Alzheimer’s disease.

However, Alzheimer’s disease rarely strikes people in the age group of 30 – 50. However, the risk of persons above the 60-plus age group is more.

Alzheimer’s disease can strike the young in the age group of 30 – 50 and also those in the 60-plus age group. While 10 per cent of the Americans in the 60 plus age group have been found to fall prey to this ailment, roughly 50 per cent of the population in the USA in the 85 plus age bracket is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

ALOIS ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCHES BLAST MISCONCEPTIONS

Alzheimer’s disease was known as ‘Presenile dementia’ prior to 1960 when the researches of German psychologist shed new light on the brain disorder.

There were several misconceptions tagged to Alzheimer’s disease. One of the earlier misconceptions was that Alzheimer’s disease pertained to only the youth. The misconceptions were rectified by Alois Alzheimer in 1960.

The extensive research of Alois (published in 1960) removed many of the hitherto held misconceptions regarding presenile dementia. In his memory, the typical ailment of the brain came to be rechristened as Alzheimer’s disease.

The studies of Alois demonstrated that presenile dementia did not attack only the youth (as was thought) and also that people in the sexagenarian and above age bracket are more prone to succumb to presenile dementia than the youth.

It has also been found that people who have a family or genetic history of Alzheimer’s disease are likely to suffer more from the onslaughts of this brain ailment

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE A LA DIABETES

Alzheimer’s disease like diabetes attacks silently. Moreover, like the diabetics the Alzheimer patients should also be prepared mentally to live and get adjusted with this lifelong partner.