dementia of the Alzheimer type

dementia /de·men·tia/ (dĕ-men´shah) a general loss of cognitive abilities, including impairment of memory as well as one or more of the following: aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, or disturbed planning, organizing, and abstract thinking abilities. It does not include decreased cognitive functioning due to clouding of consciousness, depression, or other functional mental disorder.

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Alzheimer's dementia  see under disease.

dementia of the Alzheimer type  dementia of insidious onset and gradually progressive course, with histopathological changes characteristic of Alzheimer's disease, categorized as early onset or late onset depending on whether or not it begins by the age of 65.

arteriosclerotic dementia  multi-infarct dementia as a result of cerebral arteriosclerosis.

Binswanger's dementia  see under disease.

boxer's dementia  a syndrome due to cumulative cerebral injuries in boxers, with forgetfulness, slowness in thinking, dysarthric speech, and slow uncertain movements, especially of the legs.

dialysis dementia  see under encephalopathy.

multi-infarct dementia  vascular d.

paralytic dementia , dementia paraly´tica general paresis.

dementia prae´cox  (obs.) schizophrenia.

presenile dementia  that occurring in younger persons, usually age 65 or younger; since most cases are due to Alzheimer's disease, the term is sometimes used as a synonym of dementia of the Alzheimer type, early onset, and has also been used to denote Alzheimer's disease.

senile dementia  that occurring in older persons, usually over the age of 65; since most cases are due to Alzheimer's disease, the term is sometimes used as a synonym of dementia of the Alzheimer type, late onset.

subcortical dementia  any of a group of dementias thought to be caused by lesions particularly affecting subcortical brain structures, characterized by memory loss with slowness of information processing and of the formation of intellectual responses.

substance-induced persisting dementia  that resulting from exposure to or use or abuse of a substance (e.g., alcohol, sedatives, anticonvulsants, or lead) but persisting long after exposure ends, usually with permanent and worsening deficits.

vascular dementia  that with a stepwise deteriorating course and a patchy distribution of neurologic deficits caused by cerebrovascular disease.

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dementia of the Alzheimer type,

dementia occurring in Alzheimer disease, being of insidious onset and gradually progressive course, with histopathologic changes characteristic of Alzheimer disease that are not due to other central nervous system, systemic, or substance-induced conditions known to cause dementia. It is characterized as early onset or late onset depending on whether or not it begins by the age of 65.

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Patient discussion about dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Q. how do you know if you have early onset of alzheimers? i'm 47. i do have extreme tremors at times and memory l i was told this could be what i have by a psychiatrist. What else can cause me to have these symptoms at my age and how do i know?

A. Some early signs of Alzheimer's disease are:
Trouble remembering recent events.
Problems remembering namesof people and places.
Trouble solving simple math problems.

Alzheimer's disease usually affects people over 60. There are some illnesses and problems that may look like Alzheimer’s, but are caused by other problems.
These include:

Bad reaction to certain medicines
Depression
Not eating enough healthy foods, or too few vitamins and minerals in your body
Brain tumors
Blood vessel disease
Thyroid problems

Some of these illnesses can be treated. Once treated, your confusion and memory loss should go away. The point is to get checked out by your doctor. Don’t let fear stop you from seeing your doctor. You can get help.

Q. Can you tell me more about Brain games? There are many new brain games now advertised by Nintendo and others. Are they doing anything to delay Alzheimer’s

A. This is a question that is often asked by individuals that are tuned in to innovations. Indeed, many of the software programs marketed today are designed to exercise a broad range of thinking and information processing brain skills. They provide an opportunity to activate different areas of the brain that people typically do not use in their routine daily life. It is important to seek out opportunities for mental challenge and stimulation. When looking for such a program, look for a program exercising a broad set of skills and check that the company has a strong scientific advisory board behind it. Also, try the exercises to see that you are having fun while exercising. Otherwise, you are unlikely to continue to do them. I liked My Vigorous Mind because it was very easy to use, they have many activities and it is fun. Lumosity is another fun program and MindFit is interesting as it tailors a training program for each user.

Q. I want to improve my memory. I do a Sudoku every day and crossword puzzles. Do I need to do anything else?

A. I often encounter this question, and I wanted to share it with you. These are very good activities that stimulate the brain. You want to engage in additional mental activities that require other types of thinking in order to engage more of your mental capacity. Most importantly, maintaining brain health also depends on other components of healthy life style, such as being physically active, keeping a healthy diet, and reducing stress levels.