In Alzheimer’s disease there is degeneration of healthy brain tissue resulting in a steady decline in memory and mental abilities of affected individuals. The effect of the disease on the brain is well understood but the causes are not.
No single factor is responsible for Alzheimer’s disease. It is believed that a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors play a role in the beginning of the disease. However, what has been commonly observed is the prevalence of two types of brain cell (neurone) damage in people who have Alzheimer’s.
I) Plaques - Clumps of beta-amyloid protein, normally harmless, may interfere with communications between brain cells probably due to abnormal processing of beta – amyloid protein.
II) Tangles – A protein called ‘Tau’ is responsible for internal support structure for brain cells. In people with Alzheimer’s disease this protein undergo alterations to get twisted resulting in neuronal damage leading to neuronal death.
Alzheimer’s is rarely seen in people below 40 years of age; however, the risk increases as we grow older. There is 50 percent increased risk of being an Alzheimer beyond 85 years of age.
Risk of developing Alzheimer's appears to be slightly higher if a first-degree relative — parent, sister or brother — has the disease.
People having memory problems are more prone to Alzheimer’s disease later in life. High cholesterol, high blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes are the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.
Misplacing things, keeping things in illogical places, forgetting conversations, forgetting appointments, repeating the things, forgetting names of family members, loss of sense of time and dates, forgetting how to do daily activities in general eventual loss of memory are some of the symptoms.
Other symptoms include: having problem with numbers, lost in familiar environment, difficulties in expressing thoughts, difficulty in making decision and judgment even in simple things and difficulty in doing known familiar jobs.
People with Alzheimer’s exhibit mood swings, increased stubbornness, distrust in others, increased anxiety or depression or aggressiveness, eventually may become a socially withdrawn.
Doctors diagnose the Alzheimer’s disease on the basis of history.
To differentiate it from other memory related diseases blood tests may be done to rule out vitamin deficiencies and thyroid disorder. Thinking and memory skill assessments may be done but they are helpful in early stages of the disease. Computerized Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) are some of the tests carried out to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease.
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Drugs are given to treat the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s. Cholinesterase inhibitors and Memantine are given individually or in combination.
As the disease is difficult to diagnose it is diagnosed at the stage when daily living activities are compromised. It is not possible for the Alzheimer’s patient to live independent life. Life expectancy is reduced, normally seven years after the diagnosis.
In advanced state of the disease, people with the disease lose the capability to care for themselves, which make them more prone to infections like pneumonia.
Urinary incontinence may be seen. For this catheters need to be placed which increase the risk of urinary tract infections. As these people lose the sense of surrounding, they may fall and fractures or head injuries may be caused. This becomes an additional problem, especially if there is bleeding in the brain due to head injury.
Forgetting simple things is normal but if loss of memory is seen with advanced age to an illogical extent then it is better to call the health care provider.
At present there are no preventive measures available for Alzheimer’s disease. Being mentally active in life especially in later stages of life is protective from Alzheimer’s disease. Preventing heart diseases can only delay the onset of the disease. Living healthy life can prevent or postpone the disease. As the disease is more prevalent above the age of 80 years, if the onset is delayed, people die due to other reasons before the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, consumption of olive oil than saturated fats, consumption of fish and chicken than red meat, consumption of bread made up of whole grains and cereals and consumption of beans, seeds and nuts may prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Body and brain exercise are helpful for prevention.
