What is the relationship between aging and memory loss?
Memory loss is a very common, if not universal, part of aging. The inability to recall a name or details of a recent event as we get older is a frustrating but frequent occurrence for most of us. Additionally, it is well recognized that the ability to acquire new information, or learn, declines with age.
What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the single most common cause of dementia. Dementia is a sustained decline in cognitive (thinking) function, including memory loss, and at least one other area of deficit in great enough degree to interfere with social or occupational activities.
Other important skills that may be impaired include language, complex motor activities, perception and organizational skills. Though there is no one test for Alzheimer's disease, it can be diagnosed with a high degree of accuracy by following a strict set of standards. These standards include:
- Taking a detailed medical history
- Performing general and neurological examinations
- Completing specific tests that measure cognitive skills
- Performing certain blood studies
- Taking pictures of the brain
Who is at risk for AD?
While it has been suggested that everyone might develop dementia if he or she lives long enough, it should be emphasized that Alzheimer's is a disease and not simply an exaggeration of normal aging. Age is clearly a risk factor for developing AD, but there are other risk factors that have been identified, including:
- Family history
- Possible prior head injury
- Lower level of education
- Down syndrome
- Presence of a specific gene for a lipid-carrying blood substance called apolipoprotein E
The number of cases of Alzheimer's disease increases dramatically with age. At 65 years, 1 percent of the population is affected; at age 85 years, the figure is in the range of 30 to 50 percent. The economic and social burden of AD is enormous; it is estimated that 80 to 100 billion dollars are spent annually on the care of AD patients and the cost per family is over $200,000 for each affected patient. Caregivers spend an average of 70 to 100 hours per week providing care and are more likely to require medical care themselves, including treatment for depression.
What can be done for AD patients?
There is no cure, as yet, for AD. Nonetheless, there are many ways of helping in the management of both the cognitive and the behavioral aspects of AD, as well as resources available for support of caregivers and the therapeutic environment. A variety of non-drug and medical approaches are used for the non-cognitive symptoms, which may include agitation and restlessness, apathy, suspiciousness, wandering, disordered sleep, verbal or physical assaults and hallucination.
Five drugs (tacrine, donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine) are currently on the market for improving cognitive functions in AD and, hopefully, more effective medications are on the way. Support services, from multiple health care professionals as well as agencies such as the Alzheimer's Association, can also be called upon for valuable assistance.
For more information, contact:
Alzheimer's Association, National Chapter
919 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 100
Chicago, IL 60611-1676
1 (800) 272-3900
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 6/3/2005
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