Text Size:
Is Alzheimer's Disease a New Disease?
By Alan Dengiz, MD
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia in individuals over the age of 65. At the beginning of the 20th century, a woman by the name of Auguste D in her early 50s, was admitted to the hospital because of increasingly odd behavior. Her symptoms were memory problems and strong feelings of jealousy, accusing her husband of infidelity. She had episodes of disorientation and was hiding objects. When she was examined by Dr. Alzheimer, a prominent German psychiatrist, he noted that she was unable to remember her husband's name, the year, or how long she had been at the hospital. She was able to read the words on the page but did not seem to understand what they meant. She also accentuated the words in an unusual way. She had episodes of agitation and hallucinations as well as irrational fears.
Auguste D died in 1906. An autopsy of the brain showed several unusual features. It was shrunken in size compared to most brains of individuals at that age. Two other findings, which are now the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, were clumps of protein called plaques and fibers that were tangled up inside the nerve cells. Symptoms such as those of Auguste D had been described in the elderly for thousands of years and were referred to as senile dementia, but since Auguste D was much younger, Dr. Alzheimer thought he was seeing and describing something different. In his classic article and presentation to his colleagues he believed he had discovered a new illness which he coined as pre-senile dementia. It was later to be called Alzheimer's disease.
Auguste D’s symptoms include many of the classic symptoms seen in individuals with Alzheimer's disease today. Her autopsy findings are now considered the diagnostic findings in Alzheimer's disease.
We now know that Dr. Alzheimer had not found a new disease but had found a younger person with a disease that becomes progressively more common with age. Since we are all living longer, (average life expectancy 100 years ago was about 45 years of age and is now about 78 years of age) we are likely to see more and more individuals in this country develop Alzheimer's disease. In the population of individuals over the age of 85, approximately half will have Alzheimer's disease or some other dementia.
Although the vast majority of people with Alzheimer's disease are over the age of 65, some younger individuals can develop the disease in their early 40s.
Alan Dengiz M.D. CMD
Since 1984, Alan Dengiz M.D. has been Director of Geriatric Medicine at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and Health System in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is also Medical Director of Glacier Hills Retirement Community and Huron Woods Alzheimer's Residential Care Center. He previously served on the faculty of The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor Michigan and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Dr. Dengiz received his medical degree and training at the University of Michigan Medical School. He is Board certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine and is a Certified Medical Director. He has a major interest in the diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Dr. Dengiz has been involved in clinical research in Alzheimer’s Disease and other areas of Geriatric Medicine. He has lectured nationally on topics such as Alzheimer's disease, Dementia, Osteoporosis, and Successful Aging.
Most recently Dr. Dengiz has appeared in the in the PBS series “Second Opinion” which focused on caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease. He also did a national media tour with actor, Hector Elizondo to raise awareness of caregiver stress in caring for those with Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Dengiz was recognized by “HOUR Detroit Magazine” as a top Geriatric and Alzheimer's diagnostic physician (2000-2008) and was named among the best Geriatric and Internal Medicine physicians in the “Best Doctors in America” (2001-2008). He was also honored as the Michigan Geriatrician of the Year and received the Outstanding Geriatric Community Service Award.
Leave your comment
You must be an icarevillage member to comment on this article.
Join today
to take advantage of this service or
Sign In
if you are already a member.
