Chapter 1

The Text and Its Source

The Disease That Robs Us of Ourselves

For all whom Alzheimers impact, heres help and hope
By Anita Bartholomew

One day you try to read a book, but cant understand the words. Later, you get lost in
your own neighbourhood. Eventually, you wont recognise those you love. Your nody is still
there but youre gone.
Alzheimers disease was first identified in 1906 by German scientist Alois Alzheimer.
Today , its one of the leading causes of dementia, a disease of the brain that affects cognitive
ability. Other common types of dementia include vascular dementia, Parkinsons disease,
dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. All lead memory loss and
problems with thinking, changed behavior and a loss of ability to perform everyday tasks.
Worldwide there are nearly 35.6 million people living with dementia, according to the
World Health Organisation. Up to 70% of these are thought to have Alzheimers disease. Of
those people with dementia, more than half (58% ) are from low- and middle-income countries.
Alzheimers disease has a huge impact on our society. For those at risk, or already
suffering, or caring for a sufferer, here is information and advice for helping to prevent, delay
and cope with Alzheimers, as well as information about treatments available, now and in the
years to come.
How do you know if its Alzheimers?
Anyone can struggle, at times, to remember the title of an old movie or the name of an
acquaintance. But the first symptoms of Alzheimers disease are more dramatic than occasional
lapses in memory.
People with incipient Alzheimers are unable to do what theyve always done, like paying
bills or counting out money for a purchase. The sense of smell often diminishes before the
disease apparent. Or its onset can make people suddenly suspicious of those they trust.
If you or someone you care for has such symptoms, go to your doctor. Usually they will
test memory using a standard cognitive test. If the patient find the test difficult, the doctor will
probably refer the patient for further test, including a brain scan.
Although not yet widely used, spinal fluid testing is considered one of the most accurate
indicators of the disease. It measures levels of the proteins involved in Alzheimers and, when
combined with a brain scan, offers an 85 to 90% accurate diagnosis, says Kaj Blennow, a
professor of clinical neurochemistry at Swedens Sahlgren-ska University Hospital.
Treating the symptoms
If Alzheimers disease is diagnosed, there are several drugs that treat the symptoms, including
Aricept (done-pezil), Exelon (rivastigmine), and Reminyl (galantamine).
These drugs may improve memory and reasoning symptoms temporarily, say several
experts, but they might not work for everyone. The long-term outcome is not well known, says
Blennow, and the disease will probably catch up in the end. They dont have any significant

effect on slowing the diseases progressions, says drug researcher Dr Kurt Brunden from the
University of Pennsylvania.
Studies suggest that exercise might help slow progression of the illness, even after
symptoms appear, and your doctor might also suggest certain supplements. One recent study
showed that when those with mild cognitive impairment took high doses of vitamins B 12 and B6,
the vitamins slowed the rate of shrinkage of the brain and also slowed their cognitive decline
over two years, says Oxford Universitys Proffesor A. David Smith.
A new medical drink, Souvenaid (made up of several essential nutrients includingomega3 fatty acids), is in clinical trials and expected to be available soon by prescription in Europe and
the US. After 24 weeks, people with mild Alzheimers disease who drank Souvenaid scored
better on memory test than those who drank a placebo. Says Proffesor Philip Sceltens, directors
of the Alzheimer Centre at the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam, The combination
of essential nutrients is better than each of them alone.