ANSWERS -- Get the facts about Alzheimer's disease
1. b. German doctor Alois Alzheimer first diagnosed the fatal brain condition in a female patient in her 50s in 1906. The disease was eventually named for him in 1910.
2. d. Though memory loss is the most well-known result of the disease, the deterioration of brain cells affects all manner of thinking, including communication, reasoning, learning and behaviour.
3. a. Most cases of Alzheimer's begin to appear in people over the age of 60, but early-onset Alzheimer's has been known to occur in people in their 30s.
4. c. Scientists have found protein deposits -- nicknamed "plaques" and "tangles" -- in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.
Plaques form between brain cells, and tangles form within dying brain cells. Though all adults have some degree of these protein deposits, they are much more severe in Alzheimer's disease patients.
5. c. While loss of motor function occurs in the very late stages of Alzheimer's disease, muscle spasms are not an indicator of the disease. Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include memory loss, disorientation, decreased judgment, mood swings and changes in behaviour, misplacing things (e.g., putting the remote control in the freezer), and problems with language.
6. d. It's estimated that more than 26 million people around the world have some form of Alzheimer's disease, but that number is expected to quadruple by 2050.
7. a. Research has shown that head injuries can contribute to the development of Alzheimer's, so protecting your noggin with a helmet when cycling -- or participating in sports -- is important.
8. b. Alzheimer's disease progresses over years, in varying degrees of severity, eventually leading to death. There are seven stages, ranging from no impairment (stage one) to very severe debilitation (stage seven).
9. d. There are a number of myths floating around, but scientists have found no evidence that any of the myths about aluminum, amalgam fillings or the flu shot are true.
10. b. Men and women are at equal risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. But the disease is more likely to develop in those over 65, those with family members who also have Alzheimer's disease, and those carrying the APOE-e4 risk gene.
Learn about advances in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
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