11-10-09

Alzheimer’s Disease

More than 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.   It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain that results in impaired memory and thinking.  Ron Zec, associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says it usually starts begins with abnormal memory loss.

SOUND BITE: “. . . that forgetfulness will progress to more severe memory impairment and people commonly refer to this type of memory impairment as short-term memory impairment. . . (1:23   ) . . .  (1:49) Other types of aspects of intellectual functioning also become affected and progressively affected. -- your ability to think and reason, language, visual/spatial ability, etc.”

Zec, who is with SIU’s Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, says the biggest risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease are age and family history.  Most of the people who are diagnosed with the disease are over age 65, but it can occur in younger people.   Although there is no cure, some medications can slow its progression.  He describes some of the medications used in treating the disease.

SOUND BITE: “. . .  the current treatments fall into two categories that are FDA approved.  The cholinesterase inhibitors, of which there are three drugs used and I will just mention one of them because people have heard of it….Aricept, and two other drugs like that that inhibit the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter. (11:19) . . . (11:33)  And then the other drug is Namenda, also known as Memantine.”

If someone you know is suffering from serious memory problems and needs help, contact your family physician or call the Alzheimer’s Center at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield at 1-800-342-5748.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.