Alzheimers
<p ><b>Alzheimer's disease</b> (<b>AD</b>), also known in medical literature as <b>Alzheimer disease</b>, is the most common form of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia" title="Dementia" >dementia</a>. There is no cure for the disease, which <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degenerative_disease" title="Degenerative disease" >worsens as it progresses</a>, and eventually leads to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_illness" title="Terminal illness" >death</a>. It was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alois_Alzheimer" title="Alois Alzheimer" >Alois Alzheimer</a> in 1906 and was named after him.<sup id="cite_ref-pmid9661992_0-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-pmid9661992-0" >[1]</a></sup></p>
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Most often, AD is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age,<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-1" >[2]</a></sup> although the less-prevalent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early-onset_Alzheimer%27s" title="Early-onset Alzheimer's" class="mw-redirect" >early-onset Alzheimer's</a> can occur much earlier. In 2006, there were 26.6 million sufferers worldwide. Alzheimer's is predicted to affect 1 in 85 people globally by 2050.<sup id="cite_ref-Brookmeyer2007_2-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-Brookmeyer2007-2" >[3]</a></sup></p>
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Although Alzheimer's disease develops differently for every individual, there are many common symptoms.<sup id="cite_ref-alzheimers.org_3-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-alzheimers.org-3" >[4]</a></sup> Early symptoms are often mistakenly thought to be 'age-related' concerns, or manifestations of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_(biological)" title="Stress (biological)" class="mw-redirect" >stress</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-pmid17222085_4-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-pmid17222085-4" >[5]</a></sup> In the early stages, the most common symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. When AD is suspected, the diagnosis is usually confirmed with tests that evaluate behaviour and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_tests" title="Cognitive tests" class="mw-redirect" >thinking abilities</a>, often followed by a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroimaging" title="Neuroimaging" >brain scan</a> if available.<sup id="cite_ref-alzres_5-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-alzres-5" >[6]</a></sup></p>
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As the disease advances, symptoms can include <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_confusion" title="Mental confusion" >confusion</a>, irritability and aggression, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mood_swing" title="Mood swing" >mood swings</a>, trouble with language, and<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_memory" title="Long-term memory" >long-term memory</a> loss. As the sufferer declines they often withdraw from family and society.<sup id="cite_ref-pmid17222085_4-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-pmid17222085-4" >[5]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-pmid17823840_6-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-pmid17823840-6" >[7]</a></sup> Gradually, bodily functions are lost, ultimately leading to death.<sup id="cite_ref-nihstages_7-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-nihstages-7" >[8]</a></sup> Since the disease is different for each individual, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prognosis" title="Prognosis" >predicting how it will affect</a> the person is difficult. AD develops for an unknown and variable amount of time before becoming fully apparent, and it can progress undiagnosed for years. On average, the life expectancy following diagnosis is approximately seven years.<sup id="cite_ref-pmid3776457_8-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-pmid3776457-8" >[9]</a></sup> Fewer than three percent of individuals live more than fourteen years after diagnosis.<sup id="cite_ref-pmid7793228_9-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-pmid7793228-9" >[10]</a></sup></p>
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The cause and progression of Alzheimer's disease are not well understood. Research indicates that the disease is associated with<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senile_plaques" title="Senile plaques" >plaques</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurofibrillary_tangles" title="Neurofibrillary tangles" class="mw-redirect" >tangles</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain" title="Brain" >brain</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-pmid15184601_10-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-pmid15184601-10" >[11]</a></sup> Current treatments only help with the symptoms of the disease. There are no available treatments that stop or reverse the progression of the disease. As of 2012, more than 1000 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_trials" title="Clinical trials" class="mw-redirect" >clinical trials</a> have been or are being conducted to find ways to treat the disease, but it is unknown if any of the tested treatments will work.<sup id="cite_ref-CT_11-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-CT-11" >[12]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_exercise" title="Mental exercise" >Mental stimulation</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exercise" title="Exercise" class="mw-redirect" >exercise</a>, and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balanced_diet" title="Balanced diet" class="mw-redirect" >balanced diet</a> have been suggested as ways to delay symptoms in healthy older individuals, but there is no conclusive evidence supporting an effect.<sup id="cite_ref-prevention1_12-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-prevention1-12" >[13]</a></sup></p>
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Because AD cannot be cured and is degenerative, the sufferer relies on others for assistance. The role of the main <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caregiver" title="Caregiver" >caregiver</a> is often taken by the spouse or a close relative.<sup id="cite_ref-metlife.com_13-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-metlife.com-13" >[14]</a></sup>Alzheimer's disease is known for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caregiving_and_dementia" title="Caregiving and dementia" >placing a great burden on caregivers</a>; the pressures can be wide-ranging, involving social, psychological, physical, and economic elements of the caregiver's life.<sup id="cite_ref-pmid17662119_14-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-pmid17662119-14" >[15]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-pmid10489656_15-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-pmid10489656-15" >[16]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-pmid10489657_16-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-pmid10489657-16" >[17]</a></sup> In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_country" title="Developed country" >developed countries</a>, AD is one of the most costly diseases to society.<sup id="cite_ref-pmid15685097_17-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-pmid15685097-17" >[18]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-pmid9543467_18-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease#cite_note-pmid9543467-18" >[19]</a></sup></p>