Alzheimer's Disease
Do you know someone with these symptoms? Seek help now.
Good morning. This is Dr. Joe Cincotta. If I mention Alzheimer's Disease it is likely that most of you have heard about this problem, know someone who has it, or have a family member with it. Alzheimer's is a member of a broad category of conditions called Dementia. There are several causes for dementia. Some can be treated more effectively than others. For Alzheimer's type of dementia much work remains to be done to find effective treatment. All types of dementia show the common feature of a progressive loss of memory and loss of intellectual functioning. The memory loss must be differentiated from the more common forgetfulness that most of us experience from time to time, and which does not indicate any serious problem. Often the patient does not recognize these memory problems early in the course of the illness and may resist seeking help.
The progressive loss of these abilities results in severe consequences for not only the patient but also for the patient's family. The increase in the number of people affected with this illness is also taking a toll on our overall health care system. As our population ages, we will learn more and more about this difficult challenge. Much research is being done, and much remains to be done to help patients and families touched by this serious illness.