A Brief Introduction to Alzheimer’s Disease

This article gives a brief overview of Alzheimers Disease, which is the most common condition that causes Dementia, find out more about Dementia at our Public Health Information Session. 2nd Session 'Dementia & Delirium' 7:00pm 16th June 2015.

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Brief History of Alzheimer’s Disease

Emil Kraepelin 

In 1901, a 51-year-old woman, Auguste D, was admitted to the state asylum in Frankfurt, Germany. The patient’s chief medical complaints were: cognitive and language deficits, auditory hallucinations, delusions, paranoia and aggressive behavior.

The patient was studied by Alois Alzheimer (1864–1915), a doctor at the hospital. Alzheimer moved to the Munich medical school in 1903 to work with Emil Kraepelin – one of the foremost German psychiatrists of that era -and when Auguste D died in April 1906, her brain was sent to him for examination. In November 1906, Alzheimer presented Auguste's case at a psychiatry meeting, and he published his talk in 1907. In 1910, Kraepelin coined the term 'Alzheimer's disease.

How Does Alzheimer’s Affects the Brain?

The two most significant physical findings in the cells of brains affected by Alzheimer's disease are neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Another significant factor in Alzheimer's disease is the greatly reduced presence of acetylcholine in the cerebral cortex. Acetylcholine is necessary for cognitive function.

Neuritic plaques, or patches appear in excessive numbers in the cerebral cortex of Alzheimer's disease patients. A protein called beta amyloid occupies the center of these plaques. Surrounding the protein are fragments of deteriorating neurons, especially those that produce acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter essential for processing memory and learning. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transport information or signals between neurons.

Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are twisted remnants of a protein called tau, which is found inside brain cells and is essential for maintaining proper cell structure and function. An abnormality in the tau protein disrupts normal cell activity.

Five Tips for Carers/Family Members of people with Dementia

Caretakers/family members play a crucial role in the quality of life of people with Dementia. There are several things that caretakers/family members can do for their loved ones suffering from this disease, the following are a few suggestions:

1. Keep a sense of structure and familiarity. 
2. Try to keep consistent daily times for activities such as waking up, mealtimes, bathing, dressing, receiving visitors, and bedtime. Keeping these things at the same time and place can help orientate the person.
3. Let the person know what to expect even if you are not sure that he or she completely understands. 
4. Use cues to establish the different times of day
5. Involve the person in daily activities as much as they are able. 

This has been a brief introduction to Alzheimer’s and Dementia. If you found this interesting, be sure to purchase your ticket for our Dementia & Delirium Seminar; hosted on 16th June 2015 at 7:00pm.

Clinical Director, Anneke Bull is providing an in depth presentation about Dementia & Delirium. Anneke Bull spent over 30 years working in the public mental healthcare system; with a specialization in aged care. So if you are a carer or just interested in learning more about Dementia & Delirium, then you won’t want to miss out on this presentation.

Tickets are still available for a limited time, so book now.