Alzheimer’s disease on many levels is daunting. Partly because we don’t fully understand it, but mostly because it leads to such a profound loss for people living with the disease and those that love them. Each day, we get one step further in our understanding of Alzheimer’s. We believe in a future where we can detect the disease and stop its progression, a future where living with Alzheimer’s still means living a full life. Show
Alzheimer’s is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease and the most prevalent form of dementia.1,2,3,4 It often results in a gradual decline in memory, language, and other thinking skills as well as changes in mood and behavior. Today, more than 55 million people worldwide5 are living with dementia, with over 10 million new cases diagnosed each year – or one new case every 3.2 seconds – making it an enormous and growing public health challenge.6 Want to learn more about the signs, symptoms, and management of Alzheimer’s? Take this quiz to test your current knowledge about the disease. 1. Who is at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease?People aged 65 and older People who have a parent, brother or sister with Alzheimer’s People of color and traditionally underserved communities All of the above Anyone can develop Alzheimer’s and there is no one cause. It can develop based on a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.7 However, some people are at increased risk.
2. Scientists have no idea what may cause Alzheimer’sTrue False Alzheimer’s is a complex condition that involves multiple disease-causing pathways and processes influenced by genetics, environmental, and lifestyle factors.7 However, scientists believe the major cause is the build-up of two toxic proteins in the brain, amyloid and tau. Over decades, the buildup of toxic versions of these proteins leads to the loss of nerve cells (neurons), which ultimately impacts a person’s ability to think and carry out daily functions.9 3. Which of the following could be a symptom of Alzheimer’s?Memory loss Poor judgment Misplacing items All of the above; these can all be symptoms of Alzheimer’s Memory loss, challenges solving problems, difficulty completing familiar tasks, losing track of dates or times, changes in judgment, and misplacing things are some of the most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s. These are often confused with signs of normal aging. It is important to know the difference.10
4. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s may not become noticeable until after changes in the brain occur.True False Alzheimer’s develops slowly and may take up to 25 years for symptoms to become noticeable from the time changes in the brain become apparent.11 It generally progresses in multiple stages.
To learn more about the progression and symptoms of Alzheimer’s, check out The Science of Alzheimer’s Explained. 5. What impact can Alzheimer’s have on a person’s independence?People living with the disease may find it hard to complete daily tasks People living with the disease may feel confused, suspicious or depressed People living with the disease may have difficulty following or joining a conversation People living with the disease may have to rely on care from partners, spouses, family members, and/or support services All of the above Over time, Alzheimer’s can impact people’s ability to live independently and do things that give life meaning. People living with the disease may:14
Alzheimer’s can also have a heavy toll on people who care for someone living with the disease. It can become overwhelming and often distressing, as the role of the care partner evolves over time, and the emotional, physical, and financial pressures eventually consume daily life. 6: How can Alzheimer’s be diagnosed?Laboratory tests Memory tests Brain imaging or scans All of the above Today, memory tests as well as tests to exclude other diseases are often the first step to receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Doctors may ask a person experiencing symptoms to complete exercises related to problem solving, attention, counting and language.15 Because these symptoms can be confused with signs of normal aging16, doctors will commonly perform brain imaging or scans, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET), to confirm an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.15 Globally, up to 75% of people with dementia have not been diagnosed, and those who have, often report a long and drawn-out process.17,18 Among the many barriers to receiving an early diagnosis is stigma, which can prevent honest communication within families and stop people from seeking medical treatment when symptoms first become noticeable. Some doctors are also hesitant to diagnose people due to insufficient knowledge about the disease and lack of treatment options. Scientists are working to develop faster, less invasive and widely accessible biomarker-based testing using brain scans and blood tests. Broad access to these tests would enable doctors to determine whether Alzheimer’s could be the cause of a person’s symptoms – and transfer them to a specialist for further tests to confirm a diagnosis. In the future, it may even support screening for the disease before symptoms become noticeable. 7. Is Alzheimer’s treatable?Yes Not currently All fully FDA-approved available treatments for Alzheimer’s address symptoms rather than the underlying cause, which means the disease continues to progress over time. At Genentech, we are exploring multiple molecules that may address key pathways of Alzheimer’s – including amyloid-beta and tau – as we pursue our goal of delivering new hope for all people at risk for living with the disease, their care partners and families. Did you enjoy this story? Sign up to receive updates about our perspectives in Alzheimer's Disease. SUBSCRIBE References |
Which of the following is one of the earliest symptoms of alzheimer disease?
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