Alzheimer's disease. There is no known cause. There is no cure.

But there is hope. Researchers are making great strides in understanding the disease and identifying risk factors. New medications—like Aricept and Namenda—slow the progress of Alzheimer's and more are being developed.

Daniel Tranel, PhD, UI neuropsychologist, says counseling and practical things like managing activities, keeping things familiar, and keeping reminders of time and place easy to see so people stay oriented help minimize early Alzheimer's symptoms, making it easier for both the person and the care providers to cope.

Alzheimer's is a disease characterized by a steady deterioration of the brain, eventually causing permanent confusion and memory loss and affecting language and rational thinking. The leading risk factor for Alzheimer's is age. "After 65, the incidence of Alzheimer's increases," says Tranel. "The memory is the first to go—that's classic. Early warning symptoms include inability to recall recent events, to make decisions, to manage routine chores, to express thoughts, process what others say, or handle tasks like balancing a checkbook."

Where do you go if someone you love begins to show these early symptoms? The Memory Disorders Clinic at UI Hospitals and Clinics offers multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment for Alzheimer's disease and other age-related neurological conditions that affect memory.

For information call 319-356-0872.