What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's
disease (or Alzheimer's) is a slowly-developing disease of the brain and nerve
tissues that leads to a decline in the cognitive and behavioural functions of a
person. Symptoms may take up to a few years to appear, which leads to a gradual
deterioration in mental capabilities, but in some cases, the onset of symptoms
and loss of cognitive function occurs rapidly (may even be less than a year).
Alzheimer's
is the most common cause of dementia (loss of memory and behavioural changes),
and it is more common among people over 65 years. As much as this is the case
with most patients who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, there's been a few
reported cases of this type of dementia in individuals younger than 65 years
old (usually 40-50 years old). There's a possibility that this may present in
even younger age groups.
What is the cause of Alzheimer's?
The exact
cause of Alzheimer's disease remains unknown, but multiple factors that increase
the risk of development of Alzheimer's have been identified. The most common
risk factor is age. Older individuals over 65 years are at greater
risk of developing Alzheimer's than those younger. Other risk factors include:
- Family history of Alzheimer's.
When a family member -mother, father or sibling- has Alzheimer's, there's
increased risk for other family members. It may be due to genetic or environmental factors.
- Head injury
- Cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes
mellitus, high cholesterol, stroke, etc. Damage to the heart and blood
vessels increases the risk of vascular or Alzheimer's dementia.
- Other medical conditions such
as chronic infection by Herpes and Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme
disease), increases the risk of Alzheimer's.
- Lack of good social and
emotional support promotes unhealthy ageing, which can result in dementia.
- Past history of depression has
also been associated with an increased risk of dementia.
Early-onset
Alzheimer's develops before the age of 65 years (commonly from 40-50 years
old). The exact cause is not fully understood. It is estimated that some cases
of Early Onset Alzheimer's may be attributed to inherited rare genetic
mutations, and in this case, more than one family member is affected. Other
causes may be due to lifestyle and environmental factors.
What are the symptoms?
The onset of
symptoms of Alzheimer's is due to the build-up of plaque and tangles in the
brain. These plaques are made of insoluble proteins, which inhibit the
transmission of signals from one neuron to another. This leads to changes in
the way the patient perceives and processes information as well as behavioural
changes.
The most
noticeable early symptom of Alzheimer's is a loss of short-term memories.
The individual is unable to remember recently details of recent events but can
remember past events. In advanced cases of Alzheimer's, the patient may begin
to re-enact past events.
Changes in
cognition and behaviour is another common presentation of Alzheimer's. In the early phase of
the disease, the patient experiences changes such as mood swings,
depression, anxiety, confusion, forgetfulness, changes in the ability to
concentrate and attention. Patients during the course of the disease tend
to neglect personal hygiene. In most cases, it is people around the
patient who notice these behavioural changes.
Over time,
as the disease progresses, the patient begins to experience difficulty with
speech, remembering names of everyday objects and even problems with movement.
In severe
Alzheimer's disease, patients suffer weight loss, increased sleeping, skin
and other infections and lack of bowel & bladder control.
Patients may experience periods of lucidity, where they regain orientation of whom they are, what time it is and where they are. During this period, they can recognize those around them and can understand that they're seriously ill. The lucid period may last from a few minutes to a few days.
How Can We Manage Alzheimer's?
Currently,
there's no cure for Alzheimer's disease, and there is no medication to stop the
progression of disease either. The medications are available for Alzheimer's
only help to slow down the rate of deterioration and manage other symptoms.
Early diagnosis is the key to maintaining good cognitive function with
medications.
Prevention.
Research
into Alzheimer's has shown that there is a possible link between certain heart
& cardiovascular metabolic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, and
the development of Alzheimer's disease. Although this connection is not fully
understood, a healthy lifestyle, good diet and proper control of blood pressure
have shown to be helpful in the prevention of Alzheimer's.
Certain
lifestyle choices which have shown positive outcome include:
- Regular physical activities
such as running, hikes, swimming, etc.
- A healthy diet which is high in
vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish, poultry, seeds, beans, and low in sodium,
red meat, sugary drinks and sweets
- Intellectual activities such as
word games, puzzles, etc.
- Social connections like meeting
up with friends and family and spending quality time with people who
foster positive moods, as these activities help to keep mentally active,
and reduce cognitive decline as people age.
- Protection of the head from
physical trauma by helmets during sports and biking and use of seat belts
while driving.
The Future
of Alzheimer's Disease
Although
there is still no cure for Alzheimer's, there are a number of promising
research and trials, which gives a bit of hope for the future of humanity with
regard to this disease, and one day, it would no longer be a burden for the ageing
mind, but rather it'd be a thing of the past.
Article By: Tamara Odiki