Alzheimer's Disease
Symptoms of
Alzheimer's disease usually begin to appear in people over the age of 60.
Alzheimer's affects one in three adults over the age of 85. The outbreak is on
the rise. However, this disease also has some species that have a specific gene
abnormality and can manifest as early as 30 years of age. Alzheimer's disease
often causes a gradual deterioration of cognitive faculties over the course of
7 to 10 years. Finally, nearly all mental processes are affected, including
memory, movement, language, judgment, behavior, and abstract thinking.
Alzheimer's Disease Warning Signs and Symptoms
According to
the Alzheimer's Association, the most common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
are listed below. But everyone can have different symptoms. Some symptoms may
be:
Memory loss that impairs working ability,
especially short-term memory loss
Difficulty doing routine duties
Language creates deviations in time and space
(a) Lack or impairment of judgment
Issues with abstract thinking
Things are getting lost
Changes in mood or behavior
A personality change
Decline in initiative
When the condition becomes severe, a person may
lose the ability to recognize others, even those they know, their children or
spouse.
What Causes Alzheimer's Disease?
Although
many studies have been conducted over the years, the exact origin of
Alzheimer's disease remains unknown. Commonly suspected causes include the
following:
Age and family background some genes
Additional hazards and environmental aspects
Autoimmune disorders
How is Alzheimer's disease diagnosed?
To make sure
Alzheimer's disease and another condition aren't the source of your symptoms,
your doctor will perform several tests.
Your doctor will examine you physically and ask
about your previous health. Your memory and other mental abilities can be
tested by the doctor by having you complete some simple tasks. Your doctor may
check your ability to do daily activities.
Blood tests are often part of the test to rule
out other possible causes of your problems. You may have tests that examine
your brain, such as MRIs and CT scans. These tests cannot definitively
determine whether you have Alzheimer's.
Amyloid
plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are two brain abnormalities that indicate
Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid plaques are abnormal collections of the protein
beta amyloid and corroded fragments of neurons and other cells located in
tissue between nerve cells.
Neurons
include collections of twisted filaments called neurofibrillary tangles. Tau, a
protein, makes up the majority of these tangles. The tau protein aids in the
proper operation of microtubules, which are essential for the structural
support of the cell and transport chemicals all throughout the nerve cell in
healthy neurons. However, tau is altered in Alzheimer's disease in a way that
makes it twist into pairs of helical filaments that clump together to form
tangles. When this occurs, the microtubules are unable to function properly and
break down. This breakdown of the transport mechanism in the neuron may
obstruct nerve cell connection and result in their demise.
Researchers
don't know whether amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are dangerous or
just side effects of the disease process that damages neurons and causes
symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. They know that as Alzheimer's disease
progresses, plaques and tangles in the brain become more frequent.
In the early
stages of Alzheimer's disease, patients may experience memory loss, lapses in
judgment, and minor personality changes. As the condition worsens, memory and
language problems develop, and people begin to struggle with basic daily tasks
like balancing a checkbook or remembering to take their prescriptions. In
addition, they may suffer from visuospatial problems, which can make it
difficult for them to navigate a strange area. They may lose track of space and
time, experience hallucinations (such as the idea that their spouse is cheating
on them or someone is robbing them), and develop aggressive and disruptive
behavior.
In the early
stages of Alzheimer's disease, patients may experience memory loss, lapses in
judgment, and minor personality changes. As the condition worsens, memory and
language problems develop, and people begin to struggle with basic daily tasks
like balancing a checkbook or remembering to take their prescriptions. In
addition, they may suffer from visuospatial problems, which can make it
difficult for them to navigate a strange area. They may lose track of space and
time, experience hallucinations (such as the idea that their spouse is cheating
on them or someone is robbing them), and develop aggressive and disruptive
behavior.
Treatment Options for Alzheimer's Disease
Your doctor
will choose a specific Alzheimer's disease treatment plan depending on:
Age, general health, and medical background
The size of the illness
Your tolerance to special treatments,
operations, or drugs
There are currently no drugs that can prevent or
reverse the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Hope can be found in recent research
findings, and numerous drugs are undergoing clinical trials to see if they can
temporarily boost memory or delay the progression of the condition.
Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease
Currently no
preventive strategy is pursued because the origin of the disease is unclear.
Furthermore, it is not currently possible to reduce the risk of developing
Alzheimer's disease, as it is not clear which risks are within our control.
Cognitive aging can be slowed through exercise, social involvement and
intellectual stimulation.
