University of Wisconsin - Extension

Dramatic headway is being made in understanding both the causes of Alzheimer's Disease and how to treat the illness, according to the director of Wisconsin's Alzheimer's Institute.

"We now have medications that weren't available even five years ago that can delay the progression of the disorder, in turn reducing the need for nursing home care and caregiver stress," says Dr. Mark Sager, also a professor of medicine at UW-Madison.

"But it's very important to make an early diagnosis in order for treatment to most effective. Instead of treating mild Alzheimer's, we often are seeing people for the first time when they have a more advanced form of the disease."

Sager says when the disease is caught early, treatment can be quite successful. He says some patients at UW-Madison's Memory Clinic who have received treatment for more than two years are still not seeing any signs of deteriorating mental function.

And the future looks even more promising. Sager says new data presented at a recent National Alzheimer's Conference showed that a new vaccine seems to actually dissolve the plaques in the brains of people who have Alzheimer's.

Sager predicts that within three to five years, new research may find something even more beneficial in treating the disease.

Perhaps even more important, Sager says researchers are beginning to understand that Alzheimer's Disease is probably preventable. Just like we inherit certain risk factors for heart disease, we also inherit risk factors for Alzheimer's. And just as heart disease is chronic degeneration of the heart, Alzheimer's is a chronic degenerative disease of the brain.

But like heart disease, people may also be able to reduce their risk factors for Alzheimer's. People who have a family history of Alzheimer's, who have had a head trauma, or who have Down Syndrome are at increased risk of the disease.

Likewise, taking estrogen replacement after menopause in women, taking vitamin E and staying physically and mentally active all reduce the risk of Alzheimer's.

"Reading, crossword puzzles and social interactions all use your brain, and using your brain can preserve your brain," Sager says. "Likewise, moderate, regular physical exercise can help you stay mentally alert."

Sager also encourages people who are having memory problems, even minor ones, to discuss the issue with their doctor. "Any lapses in memory shouldn't be ignored, especially if they affect daily activities, such as the ability to drive or write a check."

Sager says you can request memory testing when you visit your doctor. This can be as simple as a quick screening in the doctor's office, or it can include a full battery of memory tests.