What is Alzheimer's Disease

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE WHAT IS DEMENTIA A general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. WHAT IS ALZHEIMER'S A disease that attacks the brain. It is the most common form of dementia. ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE ACCOUNTS FOR 60% TO 80% OF ALL DEMENTIA CASES 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 5.2 AMERICANS MILLION HAVE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE EVERY 680 SOMEONE IN THE • UNITED STATES WILL DEVELOP ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE SECONDS 2/3111 1/3 11t & ARE WOMEN WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE ARE MEN PEOPLE OF THEM HAVE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE 85 O 1/3 AND OLDER PEOPLE 65 1 IN 9 HAS AND OLDER ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE 5th LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR AMERICANS AGE 65 AND OLDER AN ESTIMATED 450,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO DIE WITH ALZHEIMER'S IN 2013 $ $ $ $ $ TREATMENT COST WAS ABOUT $4 $200 BILLION 2$ $ $$ $$ IN 2012 CURRENTLY THERE IS NO CURE Pharmaceuticals only treat symptoms and do not keep the disease from worsening. RISK DEPENDS ON: • AGE • GENDER • LOCATION PHYSICAL HEALTH • GENETICS • RACE • EDUCATION STEPS TO DIAGNOSE A THOROUGH EVALUATION OF MEDICAL HISTORY MENTAL STATUS TESTING A PHYSICAL AND NEUROLOGICAL EXAM TESTS - SUCH AS BLOOD TESTS AND BRAIN IMAGING SIGNS 1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life 2. Challenges in planning or solving problems 3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks 4. Confusion with time or place 5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships 6. New problems with words in speaking or writing 7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps 8. Decreased or poor judgment 9. Withdrawal from work or social activities 10. Changes in mood and personality Sources http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/19/us-usa-alzheimers-idUSBRE921ORL20130319 http://www. alz.org http://www.alz.org/downloads/facts_figures_2013.pdf BPM www.bpmsl.com Senior Living Company