Well, I am former president and California governor, Ronald Reagan. I died in 2004 from Alzheimer’s Disease. You might say I’m the world’s most famous victim of that terrible disease. So, let’s start by forming into small groups and listing what you know about Alzheimer’s Disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease is a brain disorder named for German disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in first described it in It is a progressive and fatal brain disease brain disease > 5 million Americans > 5 million Americans Destroys brain cells Destroys brain cells Causes problems with memory, thinking and Causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior behavior Worsens over time; is fatal Worsens over time; is fatal 7 th leading cause of death in USA 7 th leading cause of death in USA

Most common form of dementia (general term for loss of memory and other (general term for loss of memory and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.) with daily life.)

No current cure Current treatments can make life better make life better Parts of cells’ “factories” stop running well stop running well Scientists not sure what causes the cells to causes the cells to malfunction malfunction Eventually the cells die

Two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles are prime suspects in damaging and tangles are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells. killing nerve cells. Plaques: build up between nerve cells Plaques: build up between nerve cells Tangles form inside dying cells Tangles form inside dying cells Most people develop some plaques and Most people develop some plaques and tangles as they age; but those with tangles as they age; but those with Alzheimer’s tend to develop far more Alzheimer’s tend to develop far more While scientists aren’t exactly sure what While scientists aren’t exactly sure what roles plaques and tangles play in the disease, roles plaques and tangles play in the disease, most believe they block communication most believe they block communication among nerve cells and disrupt activities that among nerve cells and disrupt activities that cells need to survive. cells need to survive.

Risk factors: Greatest: age Greatest: age Likelihood of developing the Likelihood of developing the disorder doubles every 5 disorder doubles every 5 years after 65; after 85, the years after 65; after 85, the risk is 50% risk is 50% Family history—evidence that Family history—evidence that it may be hereditary it may be hereditary Genes are involved Genes are involved Strong link between serious head injury and Strong link between serious head injury and a future risk of developing Alzheimer’s a future risk of developing Alzheimer’s New (2011): link with Type II Diabetes New (2011): link with Type II Diabetes Strong evidence linking brain health to heart Strong evidence linking brain health to heart health health

Ten warning signs of Alzheimer’s 1.Memory Loss 2.Difficulty performing familiar tasks 3.Problems with language (forget simple words) 4.Disorientation to time & place 5.Poor or decreased judgment 6.Problems with abstract thinking 7.Misplacing things 8.Changes in mood or behavior 9.Changes in personality 10.Loss of initiative

In medicine, sundowning, also known as sundown syndrome, is a medicine syndromesyndrome involving the occurrence or increase of one or more syndrome abnormal behaviors in a circadian rhythm. Sundowning typically circadian rhythmcircadian rhythm occurs during the late afternoon, evening, and night, hence the name. It occurs in persons with certain forms of dementia and dementia psychosispsychosis, such as seen in Alzheimer's disease. Although not Alzheimer's disease psychosisAlzheimer's disease widely surveyed, sundowning is estimated to occur in 45% of persons diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. A person who is sundowning may exhibit mood swings, become abnormally demanding, suspicious, upset or disoriented, and see or hear things that are not there in the late afternoon and evening. After wandering, sundowning is the second most common type wandering of disruptive behavior in institutionalized persons with dementia. Sundowning often co-occurs with wandering, and the combination of these two syndromes is an important contributing factor to an emergency situation: elopement at night. The cause of elopement sundowning is unknown, but may be related to disturbed circadian rhythmcircadian rhythm. circadian rhythm