Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by gradual memory loss, which can eventually lead to the impairment of simple every day tasks for an individual. It is also the leading cause of dementia in elderly individuals, which highlights the importance in finding an effective treatment method for the disease. The increasing prevalence of AD in our society has made it a common household name. What is important though, is for individuals to thoroughly understand the disease and step away from the common misconceptions that come with the name.
- Yes, AD and dementia are NOT the same thing.
According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), dementia is a brain disorder that affects communication and performance of daily activities and AD is a form of dementia that specifically affects parts of the brain that controls thought, memory and language. While dementia is used as an “umbrella term”, AD constitutes one of the very many causes that leads to dementia. Therefore, it is important for one to understand that there is in fact a difference between the two terms.
2. Memory loss comes with aging.
While memory loss does in fact happen with aging, the type of memory loss that comes with AD is quite different. Occasionally forgetting to take out the trash or call a friend is normal as a person ages, but forgetting names of people or not remembering a location that was once dear to an individual is a more severe form of memory loss. This type of memory loss is not normal to exhibit during old age. Being able to distinguish between “normal” memory loss and more severe memory impairment is critical to understand in order to take proper action in helping an individual exhibiting signs of AD.
3. Alzheimer’s is only meant for old people.
Yes, the elderly make up 5.2 million Americans with AD, but 200,000 individuals under the age of 65 also exhibit Alzheimer’s. This is termed early onset Alzheimer’s, which is caused by inheritance of certain genetic factors. The most common risk factor for early onset AD is a chromosomal mutation which induces incorrect folding of a protein called APP. APP is a very important protein in signaling pathways involved with memory formation.
4. Aluminum leads to AD.
One of the common myths, that has since been disproven, is that aluminum can contribute to the formation of AD. After extensive studies, it has been proven that aluminum does not have any negative effects which contribute to the development of the disease.
5. Alzheimer’s does NOT lead to death.
Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. The loss of synapse formation and increase of plaque formation within the brain can contribute to death from AD. Also, memory loss can lead to a loss of nutrient intake or may also increase risky behavior which can put an individual at risk for death.
These are just a few of the common misconceptions of AD. It is very important to thoroughly understand the basics of Alzheimer’s not only to be well-educated on the disease, but also to be able to properly care for someone who has been diagnosed with the disease.
