Medical Marijuana and Alzheimer's What Is Alzheimer's? Alzheimer’s is classified as a form of dementia, which relates to memory and cognitive loss that interferes with daily life. To put it simply, Alzheimer's disease damages and kills brain cells leading to fewer connections than a healthy brain has. It was originally thought to be a strictly genetic condition, but according to The Mayo Clinic, less than 5% of cases can be linked directly to genetic variables. While the exact cause is still unknown, scientists believe that genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors affect the brain over time, eventually leading to a loss of function. It is estimated that Alzheimer's accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases1. This disease affects 36 million people worldwide2, according to the National Institutes of Health. While Alzheimer's is linked to old age, it is estimated that 200,000 Americans below the age of 65 have an early onset version of the disease3. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that worsens over time with survival ranging from 4 to 20 years. Every Alzheimer's case is slightly different, but there are a few common symptoms: ● Memory problems such as repeating statements or questions and forgetting conversations, appointments, etc. ● Recognition problems such as not recognizing friends or family and getting lost in familiar places. ● Difficulty with speech and finding the right words to describe objects, feelings, places, etc. As the disease develops, other symptoms can become apparent such as ● Changes in personality and behaviour (depression, withdrawal, mood swings sometimes violent ones, irritability, delusions, etc). ● Disorientation such as not knowing where you are.
Current Treatments for Alzheimer's Alzheimer's is currently managed by a variety of different prescription medication options. Some of these work to improve the ability of nerves to transmit messages or block the reabsorption of too much glutamate (a chemical that sends signals between nerves). However, the lifespan of these medications is two to three years, maybe longer. According to the Alzheimer Society of
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https://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp https://www.nih.gov/research-training/accelerating-medicines-partnership-amp/alzheimers-disease 3 https://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp 2