A Simple History of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease, which is named after the German psychologist Alois Alzheimer’s, appears to be an illness of the twentieth century but the brain degeneration, cognitive impairment and worrisome behavioral and psychiatric problems which usually characterize the condition have more than likely been about for hundreds of years. A brief lesson in Alzheimer’s disease history shows us that despite the fact that Dr. Alzheimer’s is the disease’s namesake, Alzheimer’s friend Emil Kraepelin played an equally crucial part in the identification of the disease. Kraepelin singled out and grouped together the signs and symptoms of the disorder, hinting that they were a unique disease process, though Alzheimer was the first to have an understanding of what was truly happening within the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers. He observed strange plaques and tangles in the brain of one of his patients, a 50 year old woman who exhibited the symptoms of the disorder discovered by Kraepelin.
Following Kraepelin and Alzheimer’s detection of the disease at the start of the 20th century, Alzheimer’s disease history shows that very few advancements were made in comprehending or treating the disorder, which could only be diagnosed after death by autopsy until the conclusion of the twentieth century. The disease was first diagnosed in patients between the ages of 45 and 65 and tagged as “presenile dementia”. The name Alzheimer’s disease only came into common use during the 70s and 80s as a label for patients over the age of 65. Today the disorder has recognizable and diagnosable symptoms that can show up in people as young as 30. In most cases, an aggressive form of Alzheimer’s disease that arises in individuals under the age of 65 has a known genetic component, whilst the emergence of the disease in patients over 65 has a variety of other factors in regards to its development, such as wellness, job, and natural environment.
The latest innovations in science have resulted in a promising new era in the history of Alzheimer’s disease. Cognex, the first Food and drug administration approved drug~drug approved by the FDA} used to slow the disease process hit the markets in 1990 and three similar drugs soon followed. All the drugs decrease the speed of cognitive impairment in people who have mild or moderate Alzheimer’s disease by elevating depleted levels of acetylcholine in the brain, which are required for the proper operation of neurons. Additional research is being undertaken into ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease from developing. A number of hormones like estrogen and anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin have been found to produce a mediating influence and environmental factors, like mentally challenging jobs, dance and mentally stimulating games have been shown to lessen older people’s chances of developing Alzheimer’s. Even simple things like using a car seatbelt or cycle helmet may be central to preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
Early detection strategies are being perfected to strengthen treatment of the disease. For example, genetic research has discovered markers for familial Alzheimer’s in addition to non-familial Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, advanced technology such as MRIs and PET scans, are now being used to identify structural changes in the brain that may suggest the development of Alzheimer’s before signs and symptoms even start. As the baby boomer generation begins to age, scientists are afraid of the strain which a lot of dementia patients could place upon the healthcare system.
SymptomsOfAlzheimers.org supplies answers to a variety of questions which you may have about Alzheimer’s disease and is the perfect Alzheimer’s resource center for those taking care of family and loved ones suffering from this illness.
