What Is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys memory and thinking skills.ultimately, the ability to complete the simplest tasks. In most people with the disease - a late-onset type of symptom - the symptoms first appear in their mid-60s. Early onset Alzheimer's occurs in a person's mid-30s and 60s and is very rare. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults.
The name of the disease is Dr. Eloise is named after Alzheimer's. In 1906, Drs. Alzheimer's saw changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. Her symptoms included memory loss, language problems, and unexpected behavior. After she died, she examined her brain and several abnormal clumps (now called amyloid plaques) and broken bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillary or tau, tangles).
These plaques and complications in the brain are still considered some of the main features of Alzheimer's disease. Another feature is the loss of connection between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Neurons send messages between different parts of the brain and muscles and organs from the brain to the body. Several other complex brain changes are also believed to play a role in Alzheimer's.
This damage initially occurs in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that is essential in creating memories. As neurons die, additional parts of the brain are affected. By the late stages of Alzheimer's, the damage is widespread, and brain tissue has decreased significantly.
13 Early symptoms alzheimer's disease
Memory loss that disrupts daily life can be a symptom of Alzheimer's or other dementia. Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. There are 10 warning signs and symptoms. If you notice any of them, do not ignore them. Seek an appointment with your doctor.
1.Memory loss
This is the most common symptom. Do you easily forget the information learned? Do you lose track of important dates, names and events? Do you forget the big things too? Do you ask the same information over and over again? Do you rely too much on memory aids like Post-It Notes or Reminders on your smartphone?
2. Thinking and reasoning
Alzheimer's disease causes difficulty concentrating and thinking, especially regarding abstract concepts such as numbers.
Multitasking is particularly difficult, and it can be challenging to manage finances, balance checkbooks, and pay bills on time. These difficulties can lead to an inability to recognize and deal with numbers.
3. Making judgemental and desions
Appropriate judgment and decision-making ability in everyday situations will decline. For example, a person may make bad or unnatural choices in social interaction or wear clothes that are unsuitable for the weather. It can be more difficult to respond effectively to everyday problems, such as burning food on the stove or unexpected driving conditions.
4. Planning and performing familiar tasks
One-time routine activities require gradual steps, such as planning and cooking meals, or playing favorite sports, struggling as the disease progresses. After all, how can people with advanced Alzheimer's forget basic tasks like dressing and bathing.
5.Personality and behavior changes
Brain changes in Alzheimer's disease can affect mood and behavior. Problems may include the following:
depression
Indifference
social withdrawal
mood swings
Desolation in others
Irritability and aggression
Change in sleep habits
Roam
Loss of barriers
Confusion, as if believing something was stolen
6. Skill preservation
Many important skills are preserved for a long time even when symptoms worsen. Protected skills may include reading or listening to books, telling and memorizing stories, singing, listening to music, dancing, drawing, or crafts.
These skills can be preserved over a long period of time as they are controlled by parts of the brain affected later in the course of the disease.
7.Confusion with time or place
People living with Alzheimer's may lose track of dates, seasons and passage of time. If something is not happening immediately, they may have trouble understanding something. Sometimes they forget where they are or how they got there.
8. Trouble in understanding visual images and spatial relationships
For some people, vision problems are a sign of Alzheimer's. This can cause difficulty in balance or difficulty reading. They may have problems determining distance and determining color or contrast, which can cause problems with driving.
9. New problems with words in speaking or writing
People living with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or engaging in a conversation. They may stop in the middle of the conversation and do not know how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with terminology, have trouble naming a familiar object, or use the wrong name (for example, "Watch" is called "Hand-Clock").
10.Difficulty determining time or place
Losing track of dates and misunderstanding the passage of time as these are also two common symptoms. Planning for future events can be difficult as they do not occur immediately.
As symptoms progress, people with AD may become forgetful about where they are, how to get there, or why they are there.
11. vision loss
There may also be vision problems. This can be as simple as increased reading difficulty. You or a loved one may also have a problem with distance and determining contrast or color while driving.
12. Difficulty finding the right word
It may appear difficult to initiate or join a conversation. The conversation can be interrupted randomly, as you or someone you love may forget how to end a sentence.
Because of this, repetitive interactions may occur. You may have difficulty finding the correct words for specific items.
13. Misuse of items often
You or someone you love may start placing items in unusual places. It can be more difficult to revert the steps to find any lost items. This may lead you or a loved one to think that others are stealing.
When to see a doctor
In many conditions, including treatable conditions, memory loss or other dementia symptoms may occur. If you are concerned about your memory or other thinking skills, talk to your doctor for a deeper evaluation and diagnosis.
If you are concerned about the skills of thinking about a family member or friend, talk about your concerns and ask about going to a doctor appointment together.
Cause of alzheimer's disease
Scientists believe that for most people, Alzheimer's disease is caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that affect the brain over time.
In less than 1 percent, Alzheimer's is caused by specific genetic changes that virtually guarantee a person's development of the disease. These rare events usually result in the onset of the disease in middle age.
The exact causes of Alzheimer's disease are not fully understood, but at its core are brain protein problems that fail to function normally, disrupt the function of brain cells (neurons), and toxic events. Raises a chain. Neurons are damaged, lose connection to each other and eventually die.
Damage most often begins in the region of the brain that controls memory, but the process begins before the first symptoms. The loss of neurons propagates in a somewhat predictable pattern to other areas of the brain. By the late stages of the disease, the brain has shrunk significantly.
Researchers focus on the role of two proteins:
Plaques - Beta-amyloid is a remnant of a large protein. When these fragments cluster together, they exert toxic effects on neurons and disrupt cell-to-cell communication. These clusters form large deposits called amyloid plaques, including other cellular debris.
Tangles- Tau proteins play a role in a neuron's internal support and transport system to carry nutrients and other essential materials. In Alzheimer's disease, tau proteins change shape and organize themselves into structures called neurofibrillary tangles. Tangents disrupt the transport system and are toxic to cells.
alzheimer's disease stages
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease, which is slowly and gradually worsening, usually over a period of several years. It affects memory, thinking, language, problem-solving and even personality and movement as the disease progresses. While not everyone will experience the same symptoms, and the disease may progress at a different rate for each person, there is a similar trajectory that most people follow as the disease progresses. The specific progression of Alzheimer's disease can be broken down into three, five or seven stages.
Before diagnosis: no insanity
In the first three stages of the seven-step model, an individual is not considered dementia, as symptoms are typically associated with specific aging and are usually not noticeable by healthcare providers or family members. It is also known as Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease.
Stage one: no harm
In the first stage, a person with Alzheimer's disease has no obvious symptoms of dementia. At this stage, Alzheimer's disease is uncertain. This condition is sometimes called the No Cognitive Decline.
Stage Two: Very Mild Cognitive Decline
At this stage, a person with Alzheimer's disease experiences a general amnesia associated with aging. They may forget where they left their car key or their purse. These symptoms are usually not seen by the person's family members or physician.
Stage three: mild cognitive decline
Individuals with this stage experience a slight difficulty with attention or concentration, along with amnesia. These symptoms may result in decreased work performance for those in the workforce, or those who are not out of employment may experience underperformance in simple household tasks such as cleaning or paying bills. They may get lost or start struggling to find the right word in communication.
In stage three, amnesia is increased and performance is likely to be seen by the individual's family members. The average duration of stage three before the onset of dementia is about seven years.
Risk factors of Alzheimer's disease
Age
Increasing age is the biggest known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is not a part of normal aging, but the likelihood of Alzheimer's disease increases as you get older.
For example, one study found that there were two new diagnoses per 65 people age 65 to 74 per year, 11 new diagnoses per 1,000 people aged 75 to 84, and 37 new diagnoses per 1,000 people age 85. And there were more than that.
Family History and Genetics
Your risk of developing Alzheimer's is somewhat higher if a first-degree relative - your parents or siblings - has the disease. Most genetic mechanisms of Alzheimer's among families are largely unclear, and genetic factors are potentially complex.
A better understood genetic factor is a variant of the apolipoprotein E gene (apoE). A variation of the gene, APOE e4, increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease, but not everyone develops the disease with this variation of the gene.
Scientists have identified rare mutations in three genes that virtually guarantee a person who inherits one of them will develop Alzheimer's. But this mutation occurs for less than 1 percent of people with Alzheimer's disease.
Gender
There seems to be little difference in risk between men and women, but, overall, there are more women with the disease, as they generally live longer than men.
alzheimer's disease prevention
Alzheimer's disease is not a preventable condition. However, many lifestyle risk factors for Alzheimer's can be modified. Evidence suggests that changes in diet, exercise, and habits - steps to reduce the risk of heart disease - can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other disorders that cause dementia. Heart-healthy lifestyle options that can reduce Alzheimer's risk include the following:
exercise regularly
Eat fresh products, healthy oils and foods low in saturated fat
Follow treatment guidelines to manage high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol
If you smoke, ask your doctor for help in quitting smoking.
Studies have shown that preserved thinking skills later in life and a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease are associated with participating in social events, reading, dancing, playing board games, making art, playing a game, and other activities Which requires mental and social engagement.
alzheimer's disease diagnosis
A key component of the clinical assessment is self-reporting about symptoms, as well as information that a close family member or friend can provide information about symptoms and their impact on daily life. Additionally, the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is based on tests conducted by your doctor to assess memory and thinking skills.
Laboratory and imaging tests can detect other possible causes or may help the doctor better characterize the disease that causes dementia symptoms.
The entire set of diagnostic tools is designed to detect dementia and determine with relatively high accuracy whether Alzheimer's disease or any other condition is the cause. Alzheimer's disease can be diagnosed with certainty after death, when microscopic examination of the brain reveals characteristic plaques and tangents.
alzheimer's test
The diagnostic work-up will include the following tests:
Physical and neurological examination
Your doctor will perform a physical examination and assess overall neurological health by performing the following tests:
Alertness
Muscle tone and strength
Ability to get up from a chair and walk across the room
Ability to see and hear
Coordination
balance
Lab test
A blood test can help your doctor detect other possible causes of memory loss and confusion, such as thyroid disorder or vitamin deficiency.
Mental status and neuropsychological tests
Your doctor may perform a brief mental status test or a more comprehensive test to assess memory and other thinking skills. Longer forms of neuropsychological testing may provide additional details about mental function when compared to people of a similar age and education level. These tests are also important to establish a starting point for tracking the progression of symptoms in the future.
Future clinical trials
Researchers are working on tests that can measure biological evidence of disease processes in the brain. These tests can improve the accuracy of diagnosis before the onset of symptoms and enable earlier diagnosis.
Genetic testing is generally not recommended for the evaluation of Alzheimer's disease. The exceptions are those who have a family history of early Alzheimer's disease. Before any test it is advisable to have a meeting with a genetic counselor to discuss the risks and benefits of genetic testing.
alzheimer's disease treatment
Current Alzheimer's medications can help with memory symptoms and other cognitive changes over time. Currently two types of drugs are used for the treatment of cognitive symptoms:
Cholinesterase inhibitors. These drugs work to increase the level of cell-to-cell communication by preserving a chemical messenger that is eliminated in the brain by Alzheimer's disease. The improvement is minor.
Cholinesterase inhibitors may also improve neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as agitation or depression. Commonly prescribed cholinesterase inhibitors include daidazyl (Aricept), galantamine (razadine) and rivastigmine (Exelon).
The main side effects of these medicines include diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite and sleep disturbances. In people with cardiac conduction disorders, severe side effects may include cardiac arrhythmias.
Mementine (Nmenda). This drug works in another brain cell communication network and slows the progression of symptoms with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. It is sometimes used in combination with cholinesterase inhibitors. Relatively rare side effects include dizziness and confusion.
Other medications, such as antidepressants, can sometimes be prescribed to help control the behavioral symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Creating a safe and supportive environment
Adopting a living situation to the needs of a person with Alzheimer's disease is an important part of any treatment plan. For someone with Alzheimer's, establishing and strengthening regular habits and reducing memory-demanding tasks can make life a lot easier.
You can take these steps to support a person's well-being and ability to work continuously:
Always keep keys, purses, mobile phones and other valuables in one place in the house, so that they are not lost.
Keep medicines in a safe place. Use a daily checklist to keep track of the dose.
Manage finances on automatic payments and automatic deposits.
Carry a mobile phone with location capability so that a caregiver can track their location. Important phone number program in phone.
Ensure that regular appointments can take place at the same time on the same day.
Use a calendar or whiteboard at home to track the daily schedule. Make a habit of checking finished items.
Alternative medicine
Various herbal remedies, vitamins, and other supplements are widely promoted as preparations that can support cognitive health or prevent or delay Alzheimer's. Clinical trials have produced mixed results with little evidence to support them as effective treatments.
Some of the recently studied treatments include:
Omega-3 Fatty Acid- Omega-3 fatty acids in fish or in supplements may reduce the risk of developing dementia, but clinical studies have shown no benefit for treating Alzheimer's disease symptoms.
Curcumin-This herb comes from turmeric and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can affect chemical processes in the brain. Until now, clinical trials have not found any benefit for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Ginkgo- Ginkgo is a plant extract that has many medicinal properties. A large study funded by the National Institutes of Health found no effect in preventing or delaying Alzheimer's disease.
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