William Penn Life, 2001 (36. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2001-08-01 / 8. szám
Dispelling the myths about Alzheimer’s Disease from the Alzheimer’s Association Over the past 20 years, progress in helping those affected by Alzheimer's Disease has been steady. Hope, formerly nonexistent, is growing. Scientists are slowly solving the disease's mysteries. But, many myths and misconceptions about Alzheimer's still exist among the general public. Dispelling these myths is an especially important step for those who think they, or someone they know, may be facing the onset of Alzheimer's. MYTH: Memory loss is a natural part of aging. REALITY: Yes and no. All of us have forgotten where we parked the car or the name of an acquaintance at one time or another. And many healthy individuals are less able to remember certain kinds of information as they get older. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are much more severe than such simple memory lapses. Alzheimer symptoms affect communication, learning, thinking and reasoning, and can have an impact on a person's work and social life. MYTH: Alzheimer's disease is hereditary. REALITY: Alzheimer's disease occurs in two forms--early-onset and late-onset. The early-onset form of the disease is very rare and mainly affects people in their 30s, 40s and 50s. This form of the disease has been linked to three different genes and has been observed in only 120 families worldwide; individuals who carry one of the early-onset genes will most likely develop Alzheimer's disease. Much more common is the lateonset form of the disease, which occurs after age 65 and accounts for more than 90 percent of all cases of Alzheimer's. It is unclear whether a genetic abnormality, environmental factors or a combination of both causes this form of the disease. What is known for certain is that a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's at any given age appears to increase if he or she has an immediate relative with the disease, such as a brother, sister, or parent. MYTH: Alzheimer's disease is not fatal. REALITY: Alzheimer's disease is a fatal, progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a loss of intellectual function (thinking, remembering and reasoning) so severe that it interferes with an individual's daily functioning and eventually results in death. MYTH: Head injury can lead to Alzheimer's disease. REALITY: Several studies have found that Alzheimer's disease is more common among individuals who have sustained a severe head injury (accompanied by loss of consciousness) during the course of their lives. What remains unclear is whether head trauma is a result of falls during the early stages of Alzheimer's or whether Alzheimer's results from an earlier head trauma. Additional research is necessary to fully understand the association between Alzheimer's disease and head injury. MYTH: Drinking out of aluminum cans or cooking in aluminum pots and pans can lead to Alzheimer's disease. REAL! Y: Based on current research, getting rid of aluminum cans, pots and pans will not protect you from Alzheimer's disease. The exact role (if any) of aluminum in Alzheimer's disease is still being researched and debated. However, most researchers believe that not enough evidence exists to consider aluminum a risk factor for Alzheimer's or a cause of dementia. MYTH: There are therapies available to stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease. REALITY: At this time, there is no medical treatment to cure or stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Four FDA-approved drugs—tacrine (Cognex®), donepezil (Aricept®), rivastigmine (Exelon®), and galantamine (Reminyl® )~may temporarily relieve some symptoms of the disease. HV||| Health Links For more information about Alzheimer’s Disease, services and resources contact the National Alzheimer’s Association 24-hour toll-free nationwide hotline at I -800-272-3900, or visit them on the Internet at www.alz.org William Pena Life, August 2001 5
