Alzheimer’s Disease: Risk factor is old age

As the population ages, the incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) becomes greater, and one in 10 persons over age 65 and nearly half of those over 85 have the disease.

Dr. Suzanne dela Monte, an expert on Alzheimer’s Disease, said age is the most important known risk factor for AD, stressing that its cause remains largely unknown and may not be linked to genetics.

"If you are not old, you don’t have the disease," Dela Monte told the 112th forum of the Association of Asia Brewery Medical Scholars at the Century Park Hotel. "Dementia can be prevented, delayed or slowed down by taking care of environmental stresses which trigger the disease."

Developing new treatments for AD, she explained, is an active area of research. "It is important to realize that there is no cure yet for AD. But we are pretty sure we have a window of five to 10 years to treat people and prevent AD, slow the disease, or help reduce behavioral symptoms."

The disease attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. Early symptoms may be mistaken by patients, caregivers and physicians as normal aging changes. However, AD and aging are not synonymous.

AD is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German doctor. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness.

The disease’s symptoms include: gradual memory loss, decline in ability to perform routine tasks, disorientation in time and space, impairment of judgement, difficulty in learning, loss of language and communication skills, changes in personality including inappropriate behavior, loss of interest, and changes in mood.

AD is a slow disease, scientists say, starting with mild memory problems and ending with severe brain damage. The course the disease takes and how fast changes occur vary from person to person.

On the average, AD patients live from eight to 10 years after they are diagnosed, though the disease can last for as many as 20 years.

Dela Monte, who earned her medical degree from the Cornell Medical School and residency at the John Hopkins Hospital, said that majority of aging persons would have the so-called benign memory impeirment and deterioration of other brain functions, including the power of reasoning.

She said persons afflicted with the degenerative disease become anxious and aggressive, or wander away from home.