Alzheimer's Association
Nearly 7 million people are living with Alzheimer's
there is approximately 55 million people with dementia
Over 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer's or dementia
70% of dementia caregivers feel stressed
half of them say that navigating Healthcare is difficult
3/5 of them feel less stress and peace of mind are benefits of having a healthcare Navigator
the Alzheimer's Association leads the fight against Alzheimer's and all other dementia
Dementia is an umbrella term for loss of memory and other thing in abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia
Vascular dementia is caused by changes in blood or blood flow
Lewy Body Dementia-is a progressive brain disorder characterized by accumulation of abnormal protein deposits called Lewy Body in the brain
Accurate Dementia diagnosis important because it can provide explanations for characteristics and symptoms that patients are experiencing to the patients or their families
Alzheimer's- the most common form of dementia. causes memory loss that disrupts daily life and problems with thinking and behavior. Risk factors include 65 years and older. People under the ages of 65 can develop it but it is less common; it is called younger onset Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease meaning that symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy- a brain condition associated with repeated blows to the Head. potential signs include problems with thinking and memory personality changes and behavioral changes including aggression and depression. signs may not be present until years or decades after brain injuries occur. a definitive diagnosis could only be made through autopsy.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease-The most common human form of a group of rare, fatal brain disorders known as prion diseases. Misfolded prion protein destroys brain cells, resulting in rapid decline in thinking and reasoning as well as involuntary muscle movements, confusion, difficulty walking and mood changes. Occurs in about one in 1 million people worldwide annually.
Dementia with Lewy bodies- A progressive dementia that leads to a decline in thinking, reasoning and independent function due to abnormal microscopic deposits that damage brain cells. The third most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. Alpha-synuclein protein, the chief component of Lewy bodies, is found widely in the brain, but its normal function isn't yet known.
Down syndrome and Alzheimer's-Down syndrome is a condition in which a person is born with extra genetic material from chromosome 21. Most people with Down syndrome have three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the usual two. The extra gene is thought to be the reason individuals with Down syndrome have a greatly increased risk of developing a type of dementia that's the same as or similar to Alzheimer's.
Frontotemporal dementia FTD- a group of disorders caused by Progressive nerve cell loss in the brain's frontal or temporal lobes. Most people with FTD are diagnosed in their 40s and early 60s. Frontal temporal degeneration are inherited about a third of all cases.
The disorders grouped under FTD fall into three subtypes:
Behavior variant frontotemporal dementia
primary Progressive aphasia
disturbances of motor (movement of muscle) function
Huntington's disease- a progressive brain disorder caused by a defective gene. the defect is dominant, which means anyone who inherits it will eventually develop the disease. symptoms usually develop between ages 30 and 50 but can appear as early as Age 2 or as late as 80.
Korsakoff syndrome- A chronic memory disorder caused by a severe deficiency of thiamine. most commonly caused by alcohol misuse. memory difficulties may be strikingly severe while other thinking in social skills remain relatively unaffected.
Mixed dementia- a condition in which abnormalities characteristic of more than one type of dementia occur simultaneously. In the most common form, the abnormal protein deposits associated with Alzheimer's coexist with blood vessel problems linked to vascular dementia. Alzheimer's brain changes also often coexist with Lewy bodies. In some cases, a person may have brain changes linked to all three conditions- Alzheimer's, vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus- a brain disorder in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain's ventricle, causing thinking and reasoning problems, difficulty walking and a loss of bladder control. it primarily affects people in their 60s and 70s. scientists are in certain how many older adults have a disorder because common symptoms for this disorder are also common in other brain disorders
Parkinson's disease dementia- a decline in thinking and reasoning that develops in many people living with Parkinson's at least a year after diagnosis. As Parkinson's- related brain changes gradually spread, they often begin to affect mental functions, including memory and the ability to pay attention. It's estimated that 50-80% of those with Parkinson's disease eventually experience Parkinson's disease dementia.
Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA)- Gradual and progressive degeneration of the outer layer of the brain located in the back of the head. In many people with PCA, the affected part of the brain shows changes similar to Alzheimer's, but in a different part of the brain. The onset of PCA commonly occurs between ages 50 and 65.
Traumatic brain injury-Results from an impact to the head that disrupts normal brain function.May affect a person's cognitive abilities, including learning and thinking skills. Over the past 30 years, research has linked moderate and severe traumatic brain injury to a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's or another type of dementia years after the original head injury.
Vascular dementia- Occurs from blood vessel blockage or damage leading to strokes or bleeding in the brain. Impaired judgment or ability to make decisions, plan or organize is more likely to be the initial symptom, as opposed to memory loss. May affect a person's cognitive abilities, including learning and thinking skills. About 5% to 10% of people with dementia have vascular dementia alone. It is more common as a part of mixed dementia.