A Brief Synopsis of Alzheimer's Disease

**Quick Links** (Introduction)
Myasthenia Gravis	Multiple Sclerosis	Parkinson's Disease	Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease is a progressively degenerative neurological disorder leading to increasing mental confusion, emotional instability, and premature death.

Etiology & Incidence

Postmortem examination reveals the presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles which are the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease.

age 65 and over -- 10%
age 85 and over -- 50%

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Prognosis

A progressive disorder leading to increasing mental confusion, emotional instability, and premature death.

**Median Life Expectancy**
	Age of Disease Onset/Diagnosis
	age 65 to 74	age 75 to 84	age 85 & over
Alzheimer's Patients	5.7 years	4.2 years	2.8 years
Age-Matched Controls	13 years	7 years	5 years
Source: Christina Wolfson et al. (2001), New England Journal of Medicine

Treatment

There is no effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three cholinesterase inhibitors which can produce some symptomatic relief for many patients. Psychiatric medications (e.g., antidepressant, antipsychotics) are often used to manage the psychological disturbances produced by the disease. Some investigators have suggested that everything from vitamins E and C to ginkgo biloba and even nicotine can slow the disease's progression. Despite the sense of national urgency, there has been very little progress in developing effective treatments for this disease.

Notable Cases

Ronald Reagan

Online Resources

THE MERCK MANUAL, Sec. 14, Ch. 171, Delirium And Dementia

National Institute on Aging: Progress Report on Alzheimer's Disease 2000

Alzheimer's Association

Revised 12 November 2001 16:51 EST

Report technical problems to: bozarth@buffalo.edu