is the most common form of dementia

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, which describes the loss of mental abilities, such as memory and reasoning. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition, meaning it will continue to get worse as it develops. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the condition, although there is treatment that can slow down the development.

Early stages of the condition

may begin with minor memory problems and difficulty saying the right words. These symptoms can then lead to frustration and mood swings.

Symptoms change as the condition develops, and it may lead to confusion, personality changes and a total change in behaviour.

Age plays a large part in the development of Alzheimer's disease, although it is not the only cause. It is most common in people over the age of 65, affecting around one person in 20. The risk increases with age, and people over 80 years old are thought to have a one in five chance of developing the condition.

It is rare for the condition to affect people below the age of 65, although it does occur in around one in every 1,000 people aged 65 or under. It is estimated that around 417,000 people in the UK have Alzheimer's disease. If you have Alzheimer's disease, it may have implications for driving. See the 'useful links' section for how to inform the DVLA about medical conditons.

Common symptoms of mild Alzheimer's disease include: confusion poor memory and forgetfulness, mood swings, and problems with speech. These symptoms are a result of gradual loss of brain function. The first section of the brain to start deteriorating is often the part that controls the memory and speech functions.

As Alzheimer's disease develops into a moderate stage, it can also cause: hallucinations, delusions, obsessive or repetitive behaviour, thinking you have done or experienced something that never happened, disturbed sleep, and incontinence.

Someone with Alzheimer's disease in its severe form may seem very disorientated and show signs of major confusion. This is also the stage where people are most likely to experience hallucinations and delusions. They may think they can smell, see or hear things that are not there, or believe that someone has stolen from them or attacked them when they have not. This can be distressing for friends and family, as well as the person with Alzheimer's disease.

As Alzheimer's disease becomes severe, it can cause other symptoms, such as:

difficulty swallowing, difficulty changing position or moving from place to place without assistance, loss of appetite or loss of weight, increased vulnerability to infection, and complete loss of short-term and long-term memory.

One feature of Alzheimer's disease is that it affects a person's ability to look after themselves when they are ill, so a condition can develop rapidly if left untreated. A person with Alzheimer's may also be unable to tell someone if they feel unwell or uncomfortable.

Alzheimer's disease can shorten lifeexpectancy. This is often due to developing another condition, such as pneumonia, as a result of having Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, Alzheimer's may not be the only cause of death, but it may contribute towards it.

It is still unknown what actually causes the deterioration of brain cells, although there are several factors that are known to make an impact on the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Age is the greatest factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease. The likelihood of developing the disease doubles every five years after the age of 65. However, it is not just older people who are at risk of developing the condition.

Alzheimer's disease can also be inherited, although the risk is only marginally higher than that of someone who has no family history of the condition. If Alzheimer's disease is inherited, symptoms may start at a relatively early age (between the ages of 35 and 60).

People with Down's syndrome are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. This is because people with Down's syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21, which contains a protein that is found in the brain of those with Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, people with Down's syndrome have a higher-than-average amount of the protein, which could contribute to developing Alzheimer's disease.

Aluminium is a naturally occurring substance that can be found in food and plants. It can also be added to products, such as pans, packaging and medicines. The body only absorbs a minimal amount of aluminium, which often leaves the body in urine. It was suggested that aluminium could be a possible cause of Alzheimer's disease as research discovered that the 'plaques' and 'tangles' in Alzheimer's disease contained aluminium. However, further research has failed to prove a link between aluminium and Alzheimer's disease.

The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease can be similar to the symptoms of other health conditions; for example: vitamin deficiency, thyroid problems, infection, anxiety, brain tumour and depression.

Therefore, diagnosis usually involves ruling out other conditions, as there is no basic test for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. Your GP may refer you to a specialist to help with the diagnosis. You may have blood tests and a physical examination in order to rule out other medical conditions that could be causing your symptoms. If your GP or specialist suspects Alzheimer's disease, you may be given a memory assessment and possibly a brain scan, which will look for changes in the brain.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, although there are various medications available on prescription that can help delay the development of the condition. Medication that may be prescribed includes: donepezil (brand name Aricept), rivastigmine (brand name Exelon), galantamine (brand name Reminyl), and memantine (brand name Ebixa).

Memantine can be prescribed when Alzheimer's disease is in a more developed form. It works by blocking chemicals that are often released in large amounts in people with Alzheimer's disease. These chemicals can damage nerve cells and block messages getting to and from the brain.
It is likely that you will be monitored by a specialist if any of these medications are prescribed.

Although there is no way of preventing Alzheimer's disease, there are things you can do to avoid the onset. It is recommended that you stop smoking, avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol, and get a healthy balanced diet. You should also aim to get 30 minutes of exercise each day. This improves physical and mental health, as well as having many more benefits. There is current research into the claim that medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) hinder the onset of Alzheimer's disease. This research is continuing.