Overview
Alzheimer’s disease is an advancing degeneration of brain tissue which mainly affects people over age 65. It causes gradually increasing detonation of logical and analytical functions like memory, rationalization and speech. It is the most widespread reason behind dementia and is characterized by an extreme drop in mental levels.
Simple calculations become tough and attention goes off leading to a miserable situation. The usual daily activities become more and more difficult leading to confusion and disillusionment. Exaggerated mood swings cause panic attacks, outbreak of anger, and phases of extreme lethargy. Gradually, it leads to certain physical troubles like decreased coordination or gait. The patient loses way to communicate and becomes completely helpless physically and mentally.
Alzheimer's disease can cause death in short term or it might run over a time of as long as 20 years. Women are more prone to this ailment as compared to men.
Symptoms
The symptoms of this disease advance at a slow pace. The common symptoms are:
- Ruined memory and messed up thoughts: The individual is not able to remember things and in advanced stages, the person looses personal memory also. It is impossible to understand or follow any information.
- Losing things: The person cannot find daily use stuff like keys, glasses etc.
- Confusion: The people with this disease cannot keep a track of the way and generally get lost. They cannot remember known places. They do not know the time or date and remain confused.
- Hazy thoughts: These people tend to forget alphabets and numbers. They think in a vague manner and find any type of task quite tough. They cannot perform day-to-day activities and normal thinking gets impaired.
- Personality change: This disease makes the person strangely agitated, bad-tempered or impatient. The behavior becomes fearful and shown strange traits.
- Reduced communication skills: The person is not able to use normal language skills. They cannot recall simple names and cannot identify with common words.
- Diminished evaluation: People with Alzheimer's disease cannot make proper judgment even in simple tasks. They might lose sense of dressing that is they might wear summer clothing on a cold winter day.
- Weakened visual and spatial proficiency: The individual loses the potential to judge shapes and sizes. They cannot place organize things in specific order or recognize shapes.
- Problems in biological clock: The person might sleep the whole day and be awake during night.
Types of Alzheimer's disease
There are three types of Alzheimer’s disease:
Early origin Alzheimer's: This is an uncommon type of Alzheimer's disease where people are detected with the ailment prior to 65 years of age. These people go through premature aging and get the disease in late 40s or early 50s. People with Down syndrome are more prone to Alzheimer's disease.
- Late onset Alzheimer's: It occurs after age of 65 and accounts for more than 90% of cases. Dementia occurring after age of 65 is also called sporadic Alzheimer's disease.
- Familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD): This type of Alzheimer's disease is known to be completely inherited. Tough rare, it has an early onset and runs in family.
Diagnosis
Generally, the signs of Alzheimer's disease are mistaken as the conventional results of aging. But with the systematic testing and “method of elimination," it is possible to diagnose Alzheimer's disease accurately.
The following things may be used to help make a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease:
- Patient History: Initially, the doctor needs detail information about patient’s history. It aids in diagnosing the exact medical problems, planning treatment, and observe the patient's health. The doctor asks many questions that include:
- Patient's categorizing information.
- Problems faced in daily living.
- Any kind of current symptoms.
- Current medications
- History of present problem.
- Past history of any ailment.
- Family history
- Social Information like marital status, sexual history, major life events etc.
- Any signs of psychiatric problem like anxiety.
Physical Exam: The physical examination aids the doctor in judging the general physical condition of the patient. This allows the doctor to determine a suitable plan of treatment.
Mental State Examination: The doctor performs this test to access problem solving ability, memory and attentiveness. It’ll help the doctor to know about different areas of brain.
Causes
The exact causes of this disease are not known. It is found that the gradual decline of brain activity is mainly because of two types of nerve damage:
- Nerve cells develop neurofibrillary tangles
- Protein deposits called plaques develop in the brain
Studies point towards a routinely present blood protein called ApoE (for apolipoprotein E) that is needed to transport fatty substances in the body. The kind of ApoE is genetically determined as there are several types present. It is seen that some forms are linked with higher risk of Alzheimer's disease as they cause nerve damage. This protein works in combination with other chemicals to form plaques. Moreover, genes play a major role in causing Alzheimer's disease. Though controversial, a theory indicates that small particles of aluminum might cause Alzheimer's disease. Around 1% cases of the Alzheimer's disease is caused due to hereditary factors. Another research states that elevated cholesterol levels and high blood pressure can increase the risk of this disease. People with Down syndrome have a higher risk of developing this disease in their 30s or 40s. Some major head injury can also cause Alzheimer’s disease.
Treatment and Cure
There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease and no established cure that can decline its advancement. There are a lot of medications to perk up the mental state of people with this disease. Proper exercise, adequate nutrition and social communication are vital to aid the person with Alzheimer's disease
Depending on the patient’s age, health, history and the extent of the disease, the doctor can advice medications to the patient.
Some common medications used in the ailment are Aricept, Exelon and Razadyne, Namenda, Cognex.
Nutrition
A person with this ailment needs to eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet. The person must eat a range of foods from each food group. They should maintain their weight through an appropriate balance of exercise and food. They must drink proper quantity of water and limit their usage of sugar and salt.
These persons must eat foods rich in fibers like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You should have apt quantity of bran cereal and yogurt. Proper eating habits will help in preventing constipation. You must take adequate supplements to avoid malnutrition.
Coping with Daily Life
Alzheimer’s disease can cause a major transformation your life and that of your family in different ways. In order to cope with memory problems, you must always write notes to track significant data such as phone numbers, names, ideas, address etc. You should place short notes in the house to remember things. You should do tings you feel comfortable with. If things get too confusing, you should take a break. You should ask for help whenever you need it.
You need to take proper steps for caring for Alzheimer’s patients. The environment must be safe for the people suffering from the disease. The things need to be reorganized and the house must be made accident proof. The kitchen controls should be safely manageable and sharp objects must be kept out of reach.