Although there is still a lot to be learned about Alzheimer’s disease, it is now easier to work with individuals who suffer from it, said Rebecca Davis, registered nurse and independent social worker at Ohio State University Medical Center.Davis spoke to a small group Tuesday at Wexner Heritage Village in Bexley. As people age, the odds of getting Alzheimer’s increases.”We’re now living longer so (Alzheimer’s) is more prevalent,” Davis said. Most cases happen sporadically rather than passing through generations, she said.Although it is common for older adults to have the disease, Davis has a few patients at the medical center in their 40s and 50s. This is rare, she said.Women have a greater chance of getting the disorder because they live longer, Davis said. She urged women to take estrogen because it has protective benefits, which include improving the health of nerve cells in the brain.Alzheimer’s is a neurological condition that can only be diagnosed by looking at brain tissue under a microscope, Davis said. The brain tissue looks tangled together.Common symptoms of the disorder include memory loss, an inability to reason and perceive space, incorrect word use and personality changes, Davis said.Currently, there are two drugs on the market, Cognex and Aricept, which are commonly used on patients with Alzheimer’s, Davis said. Aricept is usually more effective than Cognex because it is less irritable to the stomach.”I have to stress to families that these drugs do not stop the progression of Alzheimer’s,” she said.Cynthia Huhn, director of activities at Wexner Heritage Village, said the disorder is an individual disease and affects each person differently.”There isn’t a lot of treatment available,” Huhn said.Huhn recommends trying to find various activities to occupy patients to keep their minds working.”For me personally, it’s a fun challenge trying to find what motivates the residents,” she said.