Therapeutic Interventions in Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer disease (AD), was first recognized in the early 1900’s by Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist and neuro pathologist and named after him (Fig.1). Auguste Deter, in 1902 is a reported patient of Dr. Alois (Fig.2). AD is the most common form of dementia affecting millions of the geriatric population worldwide, mostly those above 65-85 yrs of age. Women are more commonly affected than man [1]. Alzheimer currently afflicts about 5.2 million Americans and with the rapid escalation of the prevalence of the disease, the figure is expected to double by 2020. According to WHO, there are about 18 million people worldwide with AD, the figure will be projected to nearly double by 2025 to 34 million. Developing countries like India and China will be among the countries worst hit by AD due to ageing of the population and likely some genetic factors. In 2000, India had 3.5 million Alzheimer patients, however with the fast graying of population and growth rate being fastest in the 80+ segment of the society, the number of Alzheimer patients have been growing at a phenomenal rate [2]. This neurodegenerative fatal brain disorder generally begins in late life and disease progression is gradual and continuous, the longevity of a patient is about 8-10 yrs after symptoms appear. The disease conditions range from mild, moderate to severe; in mild conditions patients have some functional impairments, in moderate conditions there’s a dependence on care givers for some important daily activities, in severe conditions there is complete neuronal and memory loss, motor impairment making the patient absolutely dependent on care givers. Age related behavioral changes and symptoms of Alzheimer should not be confused.