Understanding dementia, senility and
Alzheimer’s disease
What is dementia?
Dementia is the permanent, relentless, progressive loss of many
intellectual functions. The word “dementia” comes from the Latin
words “de men,” meaning out of mind. Dementia is caused by death
of nerve cells. If a nerve cell dies, it cannot be replaced. Its function
may be lost. Nerve cell death or dementia is caused by:
• Alzheimer’s disease 60-70%
• Multiple small strokes 15%
• Multiple other causes 10-15%
Five to 20 percent of elderly patients who appear demented have
treatable diseases, for example:
• Hormonal imbalance (hypothyroidism)
• Drug/medication-induced confusion
• Depression
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one type of dementia; it is often used
synonymously with dementia. In 1906, German physician Alois
Alzheimer described the disease in a brain specimen autopsy. There
is no clear consensus of why the nerve cells die in the brains of
Alzheimer’s disease patients. Inheritance plays some role:
• 5% clearly inheritable (autosomal dominant)
• 20-60% may have a genetic predisposition
How many people are affected?
Approximately 4 million Americans are afflicted with Alzheimer’s
disease. In Alabama, about 57,000 people have dementia.
AD is the fourth leading cause of death among adults in America.
Approximately 10 percent of the population over 65 years of age have
AD. Forty-seven percent of those over the age of 85 have dementia.
This is the fastest growing segment of the population in the United
States. Dementia afflicts both men and women in all racial, religious
and socioeconomic groups. Sixty percent of all nursing home patients
are demented.
www.sarcoa.org 19
ALZHEIMER’S
& DEMENTIA
RESOURCES
Alzheimer’s Resource Center
1314 Westgate Pkwy., Suite 2
Dothan, AL 36303
334-702-2273
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Help Line
1-800-457-5679
GLOBAL TRACKING
BRACELETS
Alabama State Troopers
Association
334-265-2782
Coffee Co. Sheriff’s Department
334-894-5535
Dale Co. Sheriff’s Department
334-774-2335
Houston Co. Sheriff’s Department
334-677-4882
/www.sarcoa.org