What Is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. It is a brain disease. Early detection and diagnosis is important because current treatment options are most effective in the early stages of the disease process.
Alzheimer’s is named after German physician, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer described changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. He found abnormal clumps (now called amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillary tangles). These plaques and tangles are now considered the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that impacts the brain, destroying memory and thinking skills and eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks of daily living. It is the most common cause of dementia.
Alzheimer’s usually starts in a region of the brain that affects recent memory, then gradually spreads to other parts of the brain. Although treatment may help manage symptoms for some individuals, currently there is no cure for this devastating disease.
