alzheimers_presentation_2_.pptx

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia specifically targeting areas of the brain responsible for memory, behaviour and language. Throughout the progression of this disease, neurons lose their ability to properly communicate, causing cell death in these regions. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease where its symptoms accumulate very slowly, and worsen over time (da Silva, 2017). Beginning stages are typically very mild, however eventually individual’s lose the ability to engage in everyday tasks such having meaningful conversation and responding to environmental cues. Though Alzheimer’s is not a normal side effect of aging, its greatest risk factor is age. However, approximately five percent of people between the ages of 40-50 develop early-onset Alzheimer’s (da Silva, 2017).

Alzheimer’s is the most common neurodegenerative disease. Individuals diagnosed with this disease live approximately eight years after symptoms become noticeable (Alzheimer's Association, 2011). This is a result of the progressive nerve cell death and tissue loss within the brain. Consequently, as an individual continues to age the size of the brain drastically shrinks, causing loss of function to almost all areas.

Figure 1 - Brain size comparison between a healthy and advanced Alzheimer’s brain. (Alzheimer’s Association, 2011))

Though there are many signs of early onset Alzheimer’s, five of the major symptoms include:

1. Memory loss: I.e. forgetting important dates or repeatedly asking the same question
2. Difficulty with familiar tasks: I.e. not being able to drive to familiar locations
3. Confusion with time or place: I.e. losing track of dates/seasons
4. New issues with speaking or writing: I.e. trouble following/ joining a conversation
5. Changes in mood and personality: I.e. becoming confused, depressed and anxious

Figure 2 - Common symptoms of Alzheimer’s. (Cephalicvein, 2016)

Key Points:

• Worldwide, nearly 44 million people have Alzheimer’s or a related dementia.
• Only 1-in-4 people with Alzheimer’s disease have been diagnosed.
• Alzheimer’s and dementia is most common in Western Europe (North America is close behind).
• Alzheimer’s is least prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Alzheimer’s and other dementias are the top cause for disabilities in later life. (Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2015)

Figure ## - Projected growth of Dementia in the world in several areas. (Alzheimer's Disease International, 2015)

The incidence of AD is approximately 5–8 for per thousand person, which represents half of new dementia cases each year are AD (Bermejo-Pareja et al, 2008). One of the primary risk factor for AD, where there is a correlation of the incidence rate of every five years after the age of 65, the risk of acquiring AD approximately doubles (Di Carlo et al, 2002). Furthermore, there is also higher incidence rates in women compared to men of developing AD particularly in the population older than 85 (Andersen et al, 1999). In the United States, Alzheimer prevalence was estimated to be 1.6% in 2000 both overall and in the 65–74 age group, with the rate increasing to 19% in the 75–84 group and to 42% in the greater than 84 group. (Hebert et al, 2003) Prevalence rates of AD is less in developed countries compared to developing countries (Ferri et al, 2006). AD accounts to 50-70% of all forms of dementia, making it the leading cause of this neurodegenerative disease (7). Furthermore, due to the rapid increase of dementia, individuals would also be at increased risk of AD. Another study estimated that in 2006, 0.40% of the world population were afflicted by AD, and that the prevalence rate would triple and the absolute number would quadruple by 2050. (Brookmeyer et al, 2007)

Figure ## - Deaths due to Alzheimer's in 2012 (Red indicating larger number of deaths compared to orange). (Wikipedia, 2013)

Figure ## - The prevalence and incidence rates in various areas compared to an age category. (Qiu, Kivipelto & Strauss, 2009)

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