What causes it?
While scientists know that Alzheimer’s disease involves the failure of nerve cells, why this happens is not known. However, they have identified certain risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s. The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s is increasing age. Most individuals with the disease are 65 and older, although it can affect people in their 40’s and 50’s.

Another risk factor is family history. Research has shown that those who have a parent brother or sister with Alzheimer’s are two to three times more likely to develop the disease. There also appears to be a strong link between serious head injury and future risk of Alzheimer’s.

How does it affect my job?
Some early warning signs of Alzheimer’s that may be identified in the workplace include forgetting recently learned information, difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with abstract thinking, such as performing calculations, misplacing things and loss of initiative.

If an employee is caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, he or she may be fatigued, and overwhelmed with the responsibility. The employee may need to take time off work for doctor’s appointment, or when arrangements for the care of the person with Alzheimer’s are not working. He or she may need to cut back on the number of hours worked to accommodate caregiving responsibilities.

Can it be prevented or treated?
Currently there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, and no way to stop the underlying death of brain cells. But drugs and non-drug treatments may help with both cognitive and behavioral symptoms.

Many new approaches to treatment are under investigation worldwide and scientists say that with the necessary funding, the outlook in excellent for breakthroughs in the near future.

Significant progress in prevention is also on the horizon. Some of the most exciting research in this area suggests that there are steps people can take to maintain brain health, and possibly even reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Eating a low-fat diet, exercising regularly, and staying mentally and physically active may all help protect the brain.

Some of the strongest evidence links brain health to heart health. It’s especially important for people to do everything they can to keep weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar within recommended ranges to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.