Based on current research, Alzheimer 's disease, a progressive deterioration of neurological function capabilities, seems linked to vascular changes, in particular, atherosclerosis. The rate of development is variable. Survival from diagnosis to death may be between 2 and 10 years or longer. Some writers speculate the disease is similar to a reversal of the stages of development of a child.
History
The disease is named for Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915), a doctor at the Frankfurt asylum. However, Alzheimer never claimed ownership of the condition as a new entity. Dementia, particularly senile dementia, was known for centuries. Dr. Alzheimer did present a case of a 51-year-old woman who was suffering from conditions now associated with Alzheimer's. Dissection of her brain after death found the plaques now characteristic of Alzheimer's. Another doctor, Emil Kraepelin, with whom Alzheimer was working, named the condition "Alzheimer's Disease" (AD) in 1910.
Types
Alzheimer's is one of a cluster of more than 70 diseases called dementias. All lead to a deterioration of brain cells, first in areas that affect memory and later in other parts of the brain. There are two types of Alzheimer's---early onset and late onset. Early onset often appears between 45 and 60 years of age, while the late type may show up at any time after 60.
Time Frame
In 1901, Dr. Alzheimer studied a 51-year-old female named Auguste D. who exhibited many of the symptoms now associated with the disease. In 1906, he published the results of his histological analysis of brain changes. Dr. Kraepelin named the disease in 1910. From then through the 1960s, researchers generally ignored the condition. In the 1970s, several important organizations were formed, including The National Institute of Health/National Institute on Aging, and The Alzheimer's Association. From the 1980s on, both medical and public interest began to focus on Alzheimer's. By 2000, some drugs were approved for limited treatment.
Identification
Memory deterioration in older people is the first indication for a possible diagnosis of Alzheimer's. However, there are other forms and causes of cognitive impairment that may mimic AD, including drug reactions. There is no absolute proof of AD short of an autopsy. Blood tests of certain "markers" and radiologic/MRI imaging now can achieve a predictive accuracy ranging from 60 to 85 percent. One of many reports on these advances is an article by S. Kloppel, et al., titled "Accuracy of dementia diagnosis---a direct comparison between radiologists and a computerized method," published in "Brain"---a Journal of Neurology, October 3, 2008.
Theories/Speculation
There is still uncertainty about the cause of AD. There is a genetic component that may increase the likelihood of the disease, specifically the type of a lipoprotein called Apo E. Three types of this lipoprotein exist: e2, e3 and e4. Those with e4 type tend to develop Alzheimer's more often and younger, while people with e2 appear to be protected against the disease. The e3 variety neither protects nor is a risk factor for AD. The best evidence for a cause indicates AD is associated with atherosclerotic changes and the Metabolic Syndrome. There also may be some association between aluminum exposure and the changes in the brain that lead to Alzheimer's. Numerous studies have found an increased risk with increasing exposure to aluminum. Whether this is definitively causative is still an open question.
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