Last updated on June 29th, 2017 at 10:23 am

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease of the brain that causes dementia.  It is caused by protein build up in the brain that leads to connections between nerve cells being lost and the eventual death of the nerve cells and loss of brain tissue.

2 out of 3 people who suffer from dementia do so as a result of the Alzheimer’s.  More than 520,000 people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease in the UK.

What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?

Everyone’s symptoms can be different.  They can be mild at first and can build up.  Symptoms include:

• forgetfulness
• becoming repetitive; doing tasks over and over or asking the same question more than once
• losing things or misplacing items
• being uncertain about the date or time
• getting lost or being unable to find your way
• difficulty describing things or remembering the right words
• mood changes and changes in behaviour, such as aggression
• delusions/hallucinations
• difficulty in eating, walking or doing everyday things

Who does Alzheimer’s disease affect?

Generally people over the age of 65 are affected by the disease, but it can affect younger people too.  Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease affects over 40,000 people in the UK.

Twice as many women over the age of 65 are affected by the disease than men, although it is not known why.

It is often thought that Alzheimer’s disease is inherited, but that fact has not been proved and scientists are still investigating this factor.  People with Down’s syndrome are more at risk of developing Alzheimer’s. You can find out more about the genetics of dementia on the Alzheimer’s Society’s website.

What other risks are there?

Some conditions are known to increase the risk of Alzeimer’s, such as:

• diabetes
• strokes
• heart problems
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• obesity in mid life
• depression

It is thought that leading a healthy lifestyle in mid life can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Diagnosis

Anyone who feels they may have Alzheimer’s – or any other type of dementia – should visit their GP as early as possible as early diagnosis has benefits such as getting treatment quickly and preparing for the future.  Where a GP is unable to diagnose Alzheimer’s or any other illness that may be causing similar symptoms, the patient will be referred to a specialist, who will carry out extensive tests and assessments – which may include a brain scan.

According to alz.co.uk only 20-50% of dementia patients have received a diagnosis, which means many people suffer with the disease but don’t have access to the right treatment or support. Alzheimer’s can be a very lonely and isolating disease. Sufferers may feel like they are losing themselves or their identity. The more support they have, the better. It is therefore essential that a diagnosis is made as soon as possible.

Treatment

Whilst there is no cure for Alzheimer’s at present, there are options to help enable a person who is suffering from it to live well.  This can include drugs and other care such as support and taking part in exercise and activities.

Help and support

Please note that this is a very brief overview of Alzheimer’s disease.  More help and information can be found on the Alzheimer’s Society’s website.

You can also contact your GP for help and advice.

Many of our staff are Dementia Friends so if you, or friend or family member need legal help, we are here to help and understand the particular difficulties that people with dementia encounter.   Please contact us now to find out how we can help.

By Nikki Yavari, medical negligence solicitor.