Alzheimer's Disease - an Overview

What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain cells with dementia being the marked symptom in the early stages. It makes the brain cells to degenerate or die. Dementia is when a person forgets recent events or the conversations he or she had. It also affects a person’s thinking, behavior, and social skills.

As Alzheimer’s progresses, the patient develops severe memory loss and loses the ability to perform daily activities. The medications used nowadays for Alzheimer's disease can temporarily improve or slow the progression of this disease. There are various programs and services that help Alzheimer’s patients and their family members.

As of now, there is no medication available that cures Alzheimer's or changes the way this disease affects the brain. Due to a severe loss of brain function in advanced cases, death can result from infections, malnutrition, and dehydration.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease?

The signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s include:

1) Memory problems:

• It starts with the inability to keep track of your things or forgetting names.

• Forgetting meetings, appointments, and conversations.

• Repeating the same question again and again.

• Often misplacing things that you use every day.

• Not able to remember the right words for an object or to express thoughts.

2) Difficulty in thinking, logical reasoning, and processing information.

3) Finding multitasking difficult.

4) Inability to make decisions about everyday situations.

5) Routine activities, such as cooking a meal or gardening, become difficult to perform.

6) Personality changes:

• Depression.

• Mood swings.

• Social withdrawal.

• Irritability.

• Aggressiveness.

• Sleep disturbances.

• Delusions.

7) In more advanced stages, even bathing and dressing independently poses a challenge.

What Are the Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease?

1. Mild:

• There is forgetfulness.

• Asks questions repeatedly.

• Cannot recall the names of people and places.

2. Moderate:

• Forgets information about self.

• Fails to remember the date, month, and year.

• Cannot order food by self.

3. Moderately Severe:

• Loses track of current place and time.

• Blank about own address.

4. Severe:

• Fails to recognize loved ones.

• Confuses one family member for another.

• Delusions.

• Hard time going to the bathroom.

In the final stages, they are in bed all day and need the utmost care.

Who Gets Affected?

Two distinct types have been noticed, namely, early-onset, and late-onset.

• Early-onset is a rare-type seen in people aged 30-40 with a family history of Alzheimer's. But this type is responsible for only 5 % of the total cases.

• Late-onset is the more common type which is seen in persons aged 65 and above. There is a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors involved.

Risk Factors:

• Age: Increasing age is a known risk factor. There is a significant increase in risk after the age of 65.

• Genetics: Genetic mutations have been found in those with a family history of Alzheimer's.

• Down syndrome: Commonly seen in people with Down syndrome.

• Sex: The number of females affected are more than males.

• Severe and repeated head injuries: People who have had trauma in the past.

• Social withdrawal: Being aloof and unsocial for various reasons significantly increases one's risk.

• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) - MCI is when a person’s memory and thinking skills decline when compared to their age, but it does not interfere with their ability to function.

• Sleep problems - Poor sleep pattern has been linked to this disease.

• Obesity, lack of physical activity, hypertension, and high cholesterol also increases the risk of Alzheimer’s.

What Causes Alzheimer's Disease?

It is still unclear why a person without a genetic factor would suddenly develop Alzheimer's. But, certain studies are guiding us towards finding the cause. When brain tissues were observed in the case of Alzheimer's, two distinct changes were observed.

1. Deposits of beta-amyloid protein were seen to be present outside the brain cells.

2. Twisting of tau proteins in the brain cells, causing a breakdown in the nutrient supply system.

How Is Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosed?

There is no single test to diagnose Alzheimer's. Doctors use a combination of medical history, physical and neurological examinations (for balance and reflexes), imaging tests (MRI), and questionnaires to assess cognitive functioning. Imaging and other tests are used to rule out other conditions that can result in similar symptoms. The diagnostic tests include:

1. Neurological exam - Here, the doctor checks your reflexes, muscle tone, muscle strength, sight, hearing, balance, and coordination.

2. Blood tests - It is done to rule out other potential causes such as thyroid problems or nutritional deficiencies.

3. Brain imaging - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) are used.

4. PET scan - Positron emission tomography (PET) is used to get images of disease processes. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET scans, amyloid PET imaging, and Tau Pet imaging are included in this.

How Is Alzheimer's Disease Treated?

Going by current treatment modalities, Alzheimer's cannot be cured. There are no disease-modifying agents available as well. But, some drugs help reduce symptoms:

1. Cholinesterase inhibitors - (Donepezil, Rivastigmine) They preserve a chemical messenger in the brain that gets depleted by Alzheimer's disease, as they boost the levels of cell-to-cell communication.

2. Memantine - This also works on the brain cell communication system.

3. Antidepressants - To help with the behavioral symptoms.

It is important to understand that palliative care and the support of family and friends are the utmost necessity. It is to be ensured that they can maintain their sense of independence and quality of life.

Prevention:

• Exercise regularly to keep yourself active.

• Have fresh food consisting of fruits and vegetables.

• Stay positive and mentally active.

• Quit alcohol and smoking.

Simply put, this disease is the result of progressive brain cell death. Keeping yourself active, cheerful, and engaged in stimulating tasks every day is the key to keeping this disease at bay. For more information, consult a neurologist online now!