Alzheimer’s disease attacks the cortical tissue
of the brain and causes it to atrophy. What results are neurofibrillary
tangles and senile plaques.
These abnormalities of the brain disrupt
the electrical impulses of the brain creating dementia.
The following are symptoms associated with dementia of the Alzheimer type:
- Memory impairment.
- Language disturbances.
- Inability or impaired ability to carry out motor functions even
though there is no medical reason why motor functions should be
impaired.
- Inability to recognize objects.
- Disturbances with planning and organizing functions.
It is also important to note that for an Alzheimer’s diagnosis to be
made there can be no other medical cause for dementia present. Some of
these causes include cerebrovascular disease, Parkinson’s disease,
brain tumor, Huntington’s disease, hypothyroidism, hypercalcemia, HIV,
subdural hematoma, niacin deficiency, or a B-12 deficiency among others.
Dementia of the Alzheimer type can take on many forms. This is because
Alzheimer’s disease affects all parts of the brain, and since different
parts of the brain perform different functions, damage in any of these
areas will have symptoms associated with the functions of that
particular area or lobe of the brain. For example: damage to the
temporal lobe will result in the inability to capture new information
and remember it later. A classic example of this is a patient who can
relate detailed stories from his past but cannot remember what he had
for lunch five minutes ago.
While there is no cure for dementia of the Alzheimer type today, drug companies are working frantically to discover a cure.
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