Alzheimer’s disease, which gets its name from the German born psychologist Alois Alzheimer’s, would seem to be a disease of the last century but the brain degeneration, cognitive impairment and distressing behavioral and psychiatric troubles that characterize the condition have most probably been about for centuries. A short lesson in Alzheimer’s disease history informs us that while Dr. Alzheimer’s is the disease’s namesake, Alzheimer’s friend Emil Kraepelin played an equally valuable part in the identification of the disease. Kraepelin isolated and grouped together the signs and symptoms of the disorder, hinting that they were a distinctive disease process, whilst Alzheimer was the first to realize what was really happening within the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. He observed unusual plaques and tangles within the brain of one of his patients, a 50 year old woman who showed the symptoms of the disorder determined by Kraepelin.

Following Kraepelin and Alzheimer’s detection of the disorder at the beginning of the 20th century, Alzheimer’s disease history shows that not many advances were made in understanding or treating the illness, which could be diagnosed only after death by autopsy until the end of the twentieth century. The illness was first diagnosed in sufferers between 45 and 65 and described as “presenile dementia”. The name Alzheimer’s disease only came into common use in the 70s and 80s as a label for sufferers over 65 years of age. Nowadays the disorder has identifiable and diagnosable symptoms which can emerge in people as young as 30. Frequently, an aggressive type of Alzheimer’s that develops in patients under the age of 65 has a known genetic factor, whilst the appearance of the condition in individuals over 65 has several other factors in regards to its development, including wellness, profession, and environment.

Contemporary innovations in science and technology have resulted in an encouraging new time in Alzheimer’s disease history.  Cognex, the first drug approved by the Food and drug administration used to slow the disease process was released in 1990 and three others quickly followed. The drugs slow cognitive impairment in sufferers suffering from mild or moderate Alzheimer’s by increasing reduced levels of acetylcholine in the brain, which are required for the natural operation of neurons. Further research is being performed on strategies to keep Alzheimer’s from developing. A few particular hormones like estrogen and anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin have been shown to provide a mediating influence and environmental factors, like mentally demanding occupations, dancing and mentally stimulating games have been shown to lessen older individuals chances of developing Alzheimer’s. Even something as simple as wearing a car seatbelt or helmet could be significant to protecting against Alzheimer’s disease.

Rapid detection procedures are being perfected to get better treatment of the disease. As an example, genetic research has revealed genetic markers for familial Alzheimer’s and non-familial Alzheimer’s. Additionally, advanced technologies like PET scans and MRIs, are increasingly being used to discover structural changes within the brain which might possibly indicate the development of Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms even start. As the baby boomer generation begins to age, scientists are concerned about the strain that a large number of dementia patients could put on the healthcare and social welfare systems.

SymptomsOfAlzheimers.org gives you answers to lots of questions that you will probably have about Alzheimer’s disease and is a first-rate Alzheimer’s resource center for those people taking care of close relatives and loved ones struggling with this ailment.