Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimers is the most common type of dementia, and the one most people have heard about.  It is important to realise that Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease and is not reversible. People may have Alzheimer's disease for many years, usually between two and twenty years, with seven to ten years being the most usual. Often people have had the disease for many years before being diagnosed.

In Alzheimer's disease increasing numbers of nerve cells in the brain become damaged and die, and the chemicals needed to assist messages to pass between nerve cells become less effective.

This damage causes a gradual memory loss, a declining ability to perform routine tasks, a reduction in thinking and intellectual pursuits and making judgements becomes more difficult.

Progressive decline in abilities experienced by the person with Alzheimer's disease is usually a gradual process. It does appear to speed up as the disease progresses because the losses and changes seen in a year are added to those experienced in the previous year.

It is still not known what causes Alzheimer's disease.

There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but there is support and advice in managing the effects of the disease.

There are four drugs available which may slow the progress of Alzheimers and related dementias. At present none of these are subsidised by the goverment and the results vary from person to person.