Alzheimer's disease is a progressive fatal neurodegenerative diseases, the clinical manifestations of the cognitive and memory function deteriorate, daily living skills progressive decline, and have all kinds of neurological and psychiatric symptoms and behavior disorders. Prevalence study shows that the United States in 2000 years of alzheimer's cases for 4.5 million cases, aged five years every increase, alzheimer's disease patients will rise by 2 times the percentage of, that is, 60 people prealence was 1%, and the 85-year-old prealence was 30%.
Currently accepted pathogenesis basically has two kinds: First, the defect in protein component leaks out cell membranes, and cause neurons fiber tangles and cell death. Gene is located in no. 21 chromosomes. Second, it is related with apolipoprotein E (APO-E4 gene. The increase of APO-E4 against APO-E2 or APO-E3 function. APO-E4 can make nerve cell membranes-E4 stability reduced, cause neurons fiber tangles and cell death. For now, there is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death. We can only use medicine to slow the progress of the disease.
In Chinese medicine, there are some different treatments for AD. They found that deficiency of the kidney, turbid phlegm and blood stagnation are main reason which cause AD. Therefore, by reinforcement for these part and coordinating with food can slow the progress of the disease. Besides, acupuncture and moxibustion can also slow the progress of the disease.
I found two website of AD organiztion. There are lots of information about AD. ADI is one of the most professional organization in the world.
http://www.alz.co.uk/ Alzheimer Disease International
http://www.alz.org/ Alzheimer's Association
Alzheimer's is a very interesting, awful, and sad disease. Watching my grandma go through it was one of the worst things I have ever experienced. After she was diagnosed she lived another 8 years in which she deteriorated to the point where she did not remember how to speak or use almost any emotions. She had completely forgotten everyone who had ever been a part of her life. The cures are interesting and staying mentally active through tricky games is supposed to delay its effects.