CBH CMO Dr. Charles Altman Shares 21 Things To Know About Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are devastating conditions that affect millions of people across the United States. Many of us have witnessed our own loved ones suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia, which may rob the individual of memory, alter their personality, and make it difficult for them to remain comfortably and safely in their home.

In recognition of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, Charles Altman, M.D., MBA, Chief Medical Officer at CBH, shares 21 facts about Alzheimer’s and dementia to help raise awareness about these unrelenting illnesses.

1. By 2050, approximately 15 million Americans will suffer from Alzheimer’s dementia as the U.S. population ages and life expectancy generally increases over time.
2. Alzheimer’s is the 3rd leading cause of death for people aged 65 and older.
3. It has been stated that women have a higher incidence of Alzheimer’s, but this may be due to the fact that women generally outlive men.
4. Higher education and greater levels of social interaction may help protect against dementia.
5. Not all dementia is Alzheimer’s. In fact, there are several recognized types of dementia outside of Alzheimer’s, including vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, alcoholic dementia, AIDS-related dementia, and dementia related to Parkinson’s. Additionally, many individuals suffer from multiple types at the same time (mixed dementia).
6. Memory loss is a hallmark sign of Alzheimer’s. Those with the disease may recall with great clarity remote events that happened 50 years ago but may not remember what they’ve eaten for breakfast. In the later stages of illness, sufferers of Alzheimer’s may no longer recognize close family members.
7. Not all dementia primarily involves memory loss. For example, frontotemporal dementia affects personality, leading someone to behave in ways uncharacteristic of their former (healthy) selves.
8. There are three well-known stages of Alzheimer’s. The first stage (early) is when memory loss becomes noticeable, but independent functioning and social interactions are still generally good. The second (middle) stage involves worsening memory and decreased ability to handle everyday tasks such as driving, managing finances, or following directions. The third stage (late) usually involves the inability to communicate or severe physical symptoms, including poor eating, poor ambulation, and incontinence, ultimately leading to death. The duration of each stage is variable; some people live a decade or more with symptoms of dementia.
9. Auto accidents and becoming lost while driving on familiar roads are often the earliest signs of dementia in the elderly. It can be challenging to decide when to take the car keys away from a loved one experiencing early signs of dementia.
10. There is currently no cure for dementia. However, in some cases, early diagnosis and treatment may slow the progression of the disease, at least for a while.
11. Over the past three years, new treatments for Alzheimer’s have been introduced, which may be most likely to help those who are diagnosed at the earliest stages of illness.
12. Pseudodementia is a condition that mimics dementia but is actually reversible. Pseudodementia may be caused by depression in the elderly, affecting their ability to think clearly. When the depression is recognized and adequately treated, thinking and memory return to normal.
13. Those with later-stage dementia often have a disruption in their day-night cycles. They may sleep all day and remain awake all night, putting them at risk of wandering away from the home while other family members are asleep.
14. There are individuals, especially those with a strong family history of dementia, who may develop the illness as early as their 50s.
15. Dementia may run in families, and there are several identified genes that increase one’s risk of developing dementia. There are tests to detect these unfortunate genetic variations well before the disease even starts.
16. The underlying changes to the brain that are suspected to lead to Alzheimer’s (“plaques and tangles” in the brain) likely begin 20 or more years before there are any noticeable clinical signs of the disease.
17. Uncontrolled, unmanaged high blood pressure in middle age can lead to vascular dementia when one is elderly.
18. Concussions or traumatic brain injury may lead to a higher risk of developing dementia later in life.
19. There are also environmental causes of dementia, such as smoking, exposure to lead/heavy metals, and even “mad cow” disease (eating tainted meat). Lacking appropriately functioning hearing aids can hasten symptoms of dementia in those with age-related hearing loss.
20. Dementia is not a normal part of the aging process. While we may all become a little more forgetful as we age (called mild cognitive impairment), the majority of people over the age of 90 do not meet the diagnosis of dementia.
21. Delirium, a temporary condition caused by medical illness or medications, is very different from dementia, which has a permanent, downward course.

For more information about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, please visit the Alzheimer’s Association website.

REFERENCES

1. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2005; 76 (supple V).
2. Dementia Prevention, Intervention, & Care. Lancet 2020; 396: 413–46.
3. N Engl J Med 2015; 372:2533-2540.
4. BMJ 1995; 310: 951.
5. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment , Volume 7 , Issue 1 , January 2001 , pp. 24 – 31.

The information provided in this blog post is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical advice or treatment for a medical condition. Please consult your healthcare provider about any questions or concerns you may have regarding a medical condition.