{"id":14,"date":"2011-09-22T12:04:57","date_gmt":"2011-09-22T19:04:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lsfisher.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=14"},"modified":"2018-12-17T16:57:43","modified_gmt":"2018-12-17T23:57:43","slug":"what-is-alzheimers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/lsfisher.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=14","title":{"rendered":"What Is Alzheimer’s?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alzheimer\u2019s Is a Brain Disorder and Not Normal Aging<\/strong>
\nLS Fisher, Alzheimer’s Journey<\/p>\n

Alzheimer\u2019s is more than occasional memory lapses; it is a brain disorder and not a normal part of aging. Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a psychiatrist and neuropathologist, identified the characteristic plaques and tangles more than 100 years ago. Once considered a rare disease, more than five million Americans now have Alzheimer\u2019s, and it is the sixth leading cause of death. In the top 10 causes of death, Alzheimer\u2019s is the only disease without effective prevention or cure.<\/p>\n

Treatment<\/strong>
\nFew advances were made in the treatment of Alzheimer\u2019s for 87 years until the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug was marketed under the brand name Cognex. Since then, the FDA has approved other drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer\u2019s that delay symptoms of the disease for six months to a year. Until researchers develop drugs that slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer\u2019s, current drug therapies and alternative treatments can improve quality of life for those living with Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Symptoms<\/strong>
\nShort-term memory loss is the most common warning sign of Alzheimer\u2019s disease. In addition to forgetfulness, Alzheimer\u2019s causes personality and mood changes, poor judgment, disorientation, language difficulties and other symptoms. These symptoms will worsen as the disease progresses and disrupt your daily life.<\/p>\n

Risk Factors<\/strong>
\nResearchers have not identified a cause for Alzheimer\u2019s disease other than the rare familial form. Aging is the No. 1 risk factor for developing Alzheimer\u2019s, and one out of every eight individuals 65 and older will develop the disease. After 85, the chances of developing Alzheimer\u2019s increases to nearly one out of every two people.<\/p>\n

The aging baby boomer population has created urgency to find an effective Alzheimer\u2019s treatment. Beginning January 1, 2011, about 10,000 baby boomers a day will turn 65, the age when the risk for developing Alzheimer\u2019s disease begins to increase. Ten million baby boomers are expected to develop the disease. Without a cure, one person in the United States will develop Alzheimer\u2019s every 33 seconds by 2050.<\/p>\n

Other risk factors:<\/p>\n