The National Institutes of Health defines Alzheimer's disease (AD) as a progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized in the brain by abnormal clumps (amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (neurofibrillary tangles) composed of misplaced proteins. Age is the most important risk factor for AD; the number of people with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. Three genes have been discovered that cause early onset (familial) AD. Other genetic mutations that cause excessive accumulation of amyloid protein are associated with age-related (sporadic) AD. Symptoms of AD include memory loss, language deterioration, impaired ability to mentally manipulate visual information, poor judgment, confusion, restlessness, and mood swings. Eventually AD destroys cognition, personality, and the ability to function. The early symptoms of AD, which include forgetfulness and loss of concentration, are often missed because they resemble natural signs of aging.
What If It's Not Alzheimer's
© 2003 by Lisa Radin and Gary Radin
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Chapter 1
Pages 35-36
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Association of Frontotemporal Dementia (Website) |
No information was found on this website about this topic. |
Pick's Disease Support Group (Website) |
No information was found on this website about this topic. |
University of California, San Francisco (Website) |
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Family Caregiver Alliance (Website) |
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National Institutes of Health (Website) |
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