Alzheimer's disease is a fatal brain disease that has no known cure---the most common form of dementia. It causes loss of memory and problems with thinking and behavior by destroying brain cells. There is no cure, but there are treatments that can slow its progress (``What''). Progress finding information about the disease has been exceptional in the last few years (``2007'').

According to the Center for Disease Control, ``The disease usually begins after age 60, and risk goes up with age. About 5 percent of men and women ages 65 to 74 have Alzheimer’s disease, and nearly half of those age 85 and older may have the disease.'' (``Aging''). Researchers say ``that genetics may play a role in developing Alzheimer's disease.'' (``Aging''). The number of American's with Alzheimer's is 5.1 million (``Alzheimer's''~5).

People with Alzheimer's often die of unrelated diseases---the top being pneumonia. However, their bodies may have been weakened by Alzheimer's. Eventually the person dies when all body systems fail. The average time to live after diagnosis is four to six years, but it has been reported over twenty years (``Alzheimer's'' 8). According to the Center for Disease Control, ``From 1979 through 1987, AD was listed as the underlying cause of death for 46,202 persons in the United States. The age-adjusted annual death rate increased from 0.4 per 100,000 persons in 1979 to 4.2 per 100,000 persons in 1987.'' (``Mortality'').
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Alzheimer's gets worse as it progresses. Symptoms in the mild stage include getting lost, repetitive conversation, poor judgement, misplacing things, and changes in mood. In the moderate stage, these symptoms get worse and problems with speech, reading, and writing may arise. A person with Alzheimer's is not safe alone. In the severe stage, ``people may lose their ability to feed themselves, speak, recognize people, and control bodily functions, such as swallowing or bower and bladder control. Their memory worsens and may become almost non-existent.~\ldots Constant care is typically necessary.'' (``Symptoms'').

The causes of Alzheimer's disease are not fully understood. It has been proven that it develops due to a complex series of conditions in the brain (``Causes''). According to the Alzheimer's Association, ``Plaques build up between nerve cells. They contain deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid.~\ldots Tangles form inside dying cells. Though most people develop some plaques and tangles as they age, those with Alzheimer’s tend to develop far more. The plaques and tangles tend to form in a predictable pattern, beginning in areas important in learning and memory and then spreading to other regions.'' (``What''). Researcher's also believe that ``certain lifestyle factors, such as a nutritious diet, exercise, social engagement, and mentally stimulating pursuits, might help to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and AD.'' (``Causes'').

There is no known cure for Alzheimer's, but there are treatments that prolong the time before symptoms appear (``Treatments''). Vitamin E is sometimes prescribed to treat Alzheimer's. Scientists believe it helps because it is an antioxidant, which may protect nerve cells from damage. However, the doses needed to help are very high, which may interact with other medications (``Vitamin E'').

Alzheimer's is known to cause changes in sleep. People with Alzheimer's may experience drowsiness during the day and failure to sleep at night. Medication does not improve sleep quality, but it may increase falls. If medication is used, their use should be stopped once a regular sleep pattern in established. To improve sleep, experts recommend maintaining regular wake-up times and getting sunlight exposure early in the morning (``Sleep'').

There are two types of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's. The Alzheimer's Association says, ``Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger important for learning and memory'' and ``Memantine (Namenda) works by regulating the activity of glutamate, a different messenger chemical involved in learning and memory.'' (``Standard''). There are also non-drug treatments. They include recognizing that the person is not just acting mean, understanding the cause of Alzheimer's, and changing a person's enviroment to resolve challenges and attain ease of mind (``Standard''). Other treatable conditions include drug side effects, physical discomfort, and problems with hearing or vision (``Standard''). There are no drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat any form of dementia (``Standard'').

Alzheimer's disease is fatal. There are treatments available that can prolong time before syptoms appear (``Treatments''). Patients with Alzheimer's often die of unrelated diseases (``Alzheimer's''~8). There is no known cure, but experts say that research is fast (``2007''). Patients with Alzheimer's must be closely monitored (``Symptoms'').