Dementia is now a major problem amongst retired people especially the type known as Alzheimer's disease; currently the most common form of dementia among older people. Alzheimer's disease primarily affects the memory centers of their brain with ten percent of over 65 year olds affected; the problem in the past has been the accuracy of diagnosis which has gradually improved and is now up to 94 percent accurate. Discovered in 1906 by German physician Alois Alzheimer, the world's focus on this disease is only about 30 years old; it is a complex disease that is not yet fully understood.

Studies into the disorder have shown you have a grater chance of acquiring Alzheimer's the older you become. Many people experiencing the first signs of Alzheimer's are unwilling to admit to themselves or others that there is anything wrong; until this happens it is hard to start any form of treatment.

As far as treatment is concerned, Alzheimer's disease is treated in the same manner as other types of dementia. Despite the studies, there is no permanent treatment for the condition but there are a number of drugs which can help with the condition. At the moment, three drugs are used routinely to treat sufferers of Alzheimer's, all of which have been approved by the FDA - Donepezil, Tacrine, and Rivastigmine; they can improve the mental faculties of patients with this condition by up to 26 weeks.

A new drug, Memantine is helping to slow down the mental decline during the later phases and is similar to the anti-influenza treatment Amantadine; patients with mild to severe Alzheimer's who are already receiving Donepezil are now given Memantine as an alternative. Memantine side effects are minimal but it is the first treatment to show a distinct effect on patients with a serious condition; because four fifths of it is passed out in urine unchanged by the kidneys, patients do not risk having their bodies retaining it in large quantities.

The average age of a person living in the industrialized world is increasing which is making Alzheimer's disease a major health issue to be looked into; it is already the fourth largest killer in the United States. The economic cost of treating and providing care for those with this type of aging disease another issue to be addressed; there is already 40 billion American dollars spent every year on treatment and this amount is set to rise. According to the National Institute on Aging, nearly half of its annual budget is spent on research into this awful condition; scientists worldwide are seeking a treatment for the disease with a large number of compounds being tested.

One way to help lower the risk of dementia and one that you can have responsibility for is to change how you live by eating healthily and taking regular exercise. Although not full proven yet, researchers studying Alzheimer's patients have noticed that those who stay healthy and cheerful have slowed down the rate of decline. At the moment, the disease is still primarily affecting the aged; unfortunately it has started to claim the occasional younger victim.

Of all the different types of dementia that affect the elderly, it is Alzheimer's disease which causes the most concern; currently the most prevalent type of age related dementia affecting the elderly today. Alzheimer's is estimated to affect 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 causing problems with the memory centers of the mind; the diagnosis of the disorder has managed to reach an accuracy of up to ninety four percent. Discovered in 1906 by German physician Alois Alzheimer, the world's focus on this disease is only about 30 years old; even though it has been scientifically studied for many years, knowledge surrounding this disease is minimal.

According to studies, it is advancing age that is the greatest risk to developing Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, the person experiencing the early symptoms of Alzheimer's will know something is wrong but won't admit it to others or even to themselves; this often cause delays in the diagnosis.

Alzheimer's disease is currently treated exactly the same as other forms of dementia. Some drugs can now slow down and sometimes improve the symptoms but so far no treatment has been discovered that can cure the disorder. The mental abilities of an Alzheimer's disease sufferer can be improved with the use of prescribed medication like Donepezil, Tacrine, and Rivastigmine; all of these have been shown to improve the cognition by about half a year.

Memantine is a new drug that slows deterioration during the later stages and is a derivative of the decades old anti-influenza drug Amantadine; this drug slows down the mental deterioration so those already prescribed Donepezil with severe symptoms are now prescribed Memantine instead. Fortunately, Memantine has few side effects and so far it is the only drug that has proved to be of real benefit to patients with severe symptoms; as 80 percent of the drug is passed in urine unchanged there is very little left to cause any harm.

The average age of a person living in the industrialized world is increasing which is making Alzheimer's disease a major health issue to be looked into; it is a major cause of death in America. There is also an economic aspect of caring for patients to consider, something that will affect governments everywhere; there is already 40 billion American dollars spent every year on treatment and this amount is set to rise. Another large body, the National Institute on Aging spent almost half of its yearly research fund into the condition; currently there are over 300 different compounds at various stages of development for its treatment.

The only way to improve the risk of not developing dementia is to adjust the way you live and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Studies have also indicated that a number of Alzheimer's patients have reduced their rate of decline by staying healthy and happy. At the time of writing this condition primarily affects men and women over sixty years of age; incidents of younger victims contracting the condition do occur, although these are rare.