Alzheimer's Info
What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's is a disease of the brain that causes a steady decline in memory. This results in dementia loss of intellectual functions (thinking, remembering, and reasoning) severe enough to interfere with everyday life. Today, Alzheimer's disease it the most common cause of dementia, affecting 10 percent of people 65 years old, and nearly 50 percent of those age 85 or older. An estimated 4 million Americans have Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's disease usually begins gradually, causing a person to forget recent events and to have difficulty performing familiar tasks. How rapidly the disease advances varies from person to person, causing confusion, personality and behavior changes, and impaired judgment. Communication becomes difficult as the person with Alzheimer's struggles to find words, finish thoughts, or follow directions. Eventually, persons with Alzheimer's become totally unable to care for themselves.
What causes Alzheimer's disease?
Scientists are still not certain what causes the disease. Age and family history with Alzheimer's disease are identifiable risk factors for the disease. Scientists are exploring the role of genetics in the development of Alzheimer's, focusing on chromosome 19 (Rarer forms of the disease, which strike people in their 30's and 40's, often run within families and appear to be related to chromosome 1, chromosome 14, and chromosome 21). Many researchers and physicians are coming to believe that Alzheimer's is a complex disease, probably caused by a variety of influences.
Does Alzheimer's disease occur in younger adults?
Yes. The disease can occur in people in their 30s, 40s and 50s, however, most people diagnosed with Alzheimer's are older than 65. This is called "early-onset" and represents less than 10 percent of Alzheimer cases. When a younger adult has Alzheimer's disease, the issues related to care, financial planning, work, family, children, etc., can be very different than with older adults with the disease.
Why is the Cook-Off a fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Association?
The Smith Ranch Chili Cook-Off is held every year in honor of Susie Smith, our wife and mother, who was diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease 7 years ago at the age of 52. We are thankful for all of the support that our family has received from the Alzheimer’s Association and we are hopeful that there will be a cure for Alzheimer’s in the next 20 years. To learn more about Alzheimer’s Disease and the Alzheimer’s Association visit the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California web site.
