ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE Alzheimer’s disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German neuropathologist, who identified the disease in 1906. A patient at a local mental institution had exhibited severe dementia for ten years before her death at age 55. During the autopsy on her brain, Dr. Alzheimer found tangled nerve cells and plaque deposits that he believed to be the cause of her dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the term for a specific deterioration of nerve clusters in the brain. These clusters become calcified and tangled, causing many cells to die.   There are between four and six million people with Alzheimer’s disease in this country. With the aging of our population, these numbers are expected to increase dramatically. Research has been stepped up dramatically in the past twenty years, but we continue to have many more questions than answers. Some medications on the market can ease or delay symptoms for some folks. There are some promising developments in the search for a vaccine, but it will probably be years before these are ready to use on people.   Diagnosis   Early diagnosis is very important, to allow the person to be involved in decisions about the future and to start Alzheimer’s Medications.   Alzheimer’s disease is identified by the plaques and tangles found in the brain at autopsy. Doctors use a combination of medical history and verbal tests to ascertain cognition, memory and reasoning. Brain scans usually detect changes in the brain. These changes are non-specific at early stages and may even be present in normal elderly individuals. After all physical tests eliminate other possible causes for the dementia, the diagnosis will be “probable” or “possible” Alzheimer’s disease. The combination of these tests by experienced diagnosticians have shown to be about 90% accurate. Sometimes for subtle or early symptoms detailed neuropsychiatric tests performed by trained psychologists can help determine if the memory loss is Alzheimer’s or another problem such as depression.   Other common dementias are Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Syndrome, the latter exhibits hallucinations.   Progression Alzheimer’s disease begins with a loss of short-term memory, progressing through confusion, difficulty communicating and loss of cognitive function to a complete loss of all bodily functions. These disorders usually progress very slowly, so nothing is going to change drastically in Mom’s condition anytime soon. In the meantime the best approach is to work on a change in lifestyle. Above all, don’t panic. Following the ideas in this book can help improve life for both of you.     Causes Researchers have identified multiple factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease, among them genetic connections, biochemical changes, and environmental factors, such as head trauma in the patient’s past, alcohol abuse, and toxins. However the basic cause, if there is just one, remains elusive.   The Heart Connection. Studies are showing that people with heart disease, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol are at a considerably greater risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.   The Stroke Connection. Ministrokes, also known as TIAs, damage the blood vessels in the brain and often lead to multi-infarct dementia, which mimics and may eventually lead to Alzheimer’s disease.   The Genetic Connection. Three chromosomes have been identified as being responsible for early onset Alzheimer’s (people in their 30s to 50s.) Together these three chromosomes account for only about 5% of all Alzheimer’s cases. A fourth, apoE4, shows up in 65% of all Alzheimer’s patients studied. This particular gene helps carry cholesterol in the blood. It comes in different forms. One appears to prevent a person from Alzheimer’s, while another seems to make a person more susceptible to developing the disease. However many people with apoE4 don’t develop Alzheimer’s disease.   At this point, there are no explanations for why some people develop the disease and others don’t. Even if your parent has Alzheimer’s disease linked to genetic causes there’s no guarantee that you’ll get it.   The Protein Connection. Numerous studies show an unusually high accumulation of amyloid beta protein in Alzheimer’s brains as well as another protein named Tau. Researchers point out that amyloid beta protein occurs naturally in large quantities in the brain. It enters the cell plasma and decomposes. When this protein doesn’t break down properly it accumulates, destroys the cells, and causes neurological damage. The greater the degree of dementia, the higher the levels of these proteins. These are important discoveries in the search for more accurate tests, vaccines, and antidotes for the disease once it has set in.   The Folate and Choline Connections. There is a correlation between a deficiency in folic acid (folate) and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s often found in connection with a deficiency of vitamin B12. Unfortunately this condition is not reversible once the disease has developed. Folate is found in legumes, salmon, tuna, citrus fruit, and root vegetables. (Cooking destroys folate.) Vitamin B12 is found only in animal foods such as milk, eggs, and most meat, especially liver. Dementia can also develop due to a vitamin B12 deficiency, but this is different from Alzheimer’s dementia.   Choline is crucial to the health of nerve transmitters in the brain and other organs. Some research is showing that serious choline deficiency is common in Alzheimer’s victims. Choline deficiency impairs the nervous system and brain function as well as the digestive system and blood pressure. Choline is found in meat, egg yolks, legumes, soybeans, and whole grain cereals.   The Aluminum Connection. Four times the normal amount of aluminum deposits is found in Alzheimer’s brains upon autopsy. There’s disagreement among researchers as to the significance of this. You may want to take precautions anyway and avoid excessive exposure to the metal. Avoid storing foods in aluminum containers, especially acidic juices.   Environmental Toxins. There appears to be correlation between the use of herbicides (weed killers) and insecticides (bug sprays) and the development of Alzheimer’s. Another study shows that Alzheimer’s is more prevalent among persons who have been exposed excessively to household cleaners.   Tests A person showing symptoms of dementia should undergo a thorough physical, including basic blood tests to detect possible deficient levels of folate, B12 and thyroid secretions. Once it has been ascertained that the dementia is not caused by a reversible condition, the next step is tests by a neurologist or psychologist, who will use verbal memory tests and likely order an MRI or a CAT scan. Researchers are working on simple skin and urine tests.