Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of brain disorder that causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour. This is a gradually progressive condition.
Urgent medical attention is usually recommended by healthcare providers
May be dangerous or life threatening
Treatments can help manage condition, no known cure
Often requires lab test or imaging
Can last several years or be lifelong
Common for ages 60 and older
More common in females
Family history may increase likelihood
If you or someone you know is exhibiting symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, seek medical attention immediately.
Alzheimer's causes a gradual decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills
Symptoms depend on the stage of the disease:
Early symptoms include:
Memory loss
Misplacing items
Forgetting the names of places and objects
Repeating themselves regularly, such as asking the same question several times
Becoming less flexible and more hesitant to try new things
Middle-stage symptoms include:
Increasing confusion and disorientation
Obsessive, repetitive or impulsive behaviour
Delusions (believing things that are untrue)
Problems with speech or language (aphasia)
Disturbed sleep
Changes in mood, such as frequent mood swings, depression and feeling increasingly anxious, frustrated or agitated
Difficulty in performing spatial tasks, such as judging distances
Agnosia
Later symptoms include:
Difficulty in changing position or moving around without assistance
Considerable weight loss – although some people eat too much and put on weight
Gradual loss of speech
Significant problems with short and long-term memory
Causes
Affected brain tissue contains:
Alzheimer's disease causes shrinkage (atrophy) of the posterior part of the brain.
Amyloid plaques (abnormal deposits of protein) that damage and destroy brain cells.
Neurofibrillary tangles- Brain cells require the normal structure and functioning of a protein called tau. In Alzheimer's, threads of tau protein twist into abnormal tangles inside brain cells, leading to the death of brain cells.
Factors known to increase the risk of developing the condition are:
Age -advanced age
Family history and genetics
Down syndrome
Head injuries
Past head trauma
Mild cognitive impairment
Prevention
Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease has been linked with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
Exercise regularly
Engage in social activities
Have a healthy diet
Get quality sleep
Manage stress effectively
Stop smoking
Maintain a healthy weight-height ratio
Complications
At a later stage, complications may include:
Pneumonia and other infections
Falls and fractures
Bedsores
Malnutrition or dehydration
Sources:
https://www.msn.com/en-ph/health/condition/in-alzheimers-disease/in-Alzheimers%20Disease
