21st September, Alzheimer´s World day

Alzheimer's Disease
Also called: AD

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities.

AD begins slowly. It first involves the parts of  the brain that control thought, memory and language. People with AD may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know. A related problem, mild cognitive impairment(MCI), causes more memory problems than normal for people of the same age. Many, but not all, people with MCI will develop AD.

In AD, over time, symptoms get worse. People may not  recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush  their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care. This can cause great stress for family members who must care for them.

AD usually begins after age 60. The risk goes up as you get older. Your risk is also higher if a family member has had  the disease.

No treatment can stop the disease. However, some drugs may help keep symptoms from getting worse for a limited time.

NIH: National Institute on Aging

Tasks:

1.  Add True or False, quoting the evidence from  the text. No points are given for only True or False.

1.  AD only affects old people´s memory.

2.  People suffering from AD can  take care of themselves and do their  normal   activities.

3.  Thanks to a treatment people with AD recover .

4.  Anxiety and  aggressiveness are the only troubles of  the illness in  the long term.

5.  MCI is always a first step to AD.

 2. Watch the video about Alzheimer´s World day and complete the sentences with information given in it:

1. September 21, 2010 marks the annual world _________________.

2. Alzheimer´s Disease International is a group made up of 73 individual organizations whose aim is to create ___________________.

3. According to the report on the global economic impact of dementia, the estimated     world rise cost of this desease amounts to_______________________.

4. There are currently______________________ living with dementia and the number is expected to rise to ____________________  by 2030.

5. Nearly 70% od Alzheimer´s patients are cared home by___________________.

6.Some  countries including ___________,____________and_____________are creating national ___________________plans.

7. There is currently no  _____________and _____________.

8. Scientist continue to test drugs and treatments that may help with ______________.