Alzheimer’s Disease – An In Depth Study

Many people today, particularly those who are included under the senior demographic, have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease or AD. This is a kind of mental illness that causes the person to lose his mental functions, thus resulting to poor memory in everything that he has learned. From knowing how to use a spoon to recognizing his loved ones, all of these things will soon be forgotten making it very difficult for the person to live.

If you know someone that has this deadly disease, it is extremely crucial that you make time and effort into completely understanding this illness. This way, you will know what to expect and you will be aware on the proper steps on how to care for a person with Alzheimer’s. Read on to learn more.

Definition
Alzheimer’s Disease is a kind of brain disorder that causes the brain cells to deteriorate and eventually die. Mysterious as it is, it is rather surprising to know that this is the most common type of dementia (a group of brain disorders that is characterized by degeneration of mental functions). According to research and studies, one out of eighty-five million people will have AD by 2050.

This kind of mental disease is progressive. However, the development varies from each person. AD can be described as something that disables the person from doing even the simplest of things such as talking, writing, and eating. The progress is mostly slow but all patients will always end up forgetting everything that they have learned in life, most especially the basic ones which is the main cause why these individuals die.

Terminology
Alzheimer’s Disease was named after Alois Alzheimer, a famous German psychiatrist back in the early 1900s. He was trying to figure out one of his patients, an old woman named Auguste Deter on 1902. Her case was most curious because he noticed that her mental abilities are slowly but distinctively deteriorating in a steady manner. He continuously studied her until she finally died on 1906.

He had made a lot of discoveries during his observation with the said patient. It is because of him why the medical field of psychiatry became aware that such disease actually exists. A lot of doctors at the time simply named this disease after Alzheimer since they still have no idea what to make of it. By 1977, the nomenclature for this disease has been made official, thus the name Alzheimer’s Disease is now being used as a legit term for this kind of dementia.

The Causes
As of today, the root of this deadly brain disorder still eludes psychiatrists. However, its dire effect on the human brain becomes clearer and clearer making it blatantly straightforward that this illness has one simple goal. That is to kill the brain cells resulting to an imminent death. The good news is, doctors are still making a lot of effort to find the cure for Alzheimer’s.

They do this by carefully examining the brain that was literally shrunk by the disease. Their findings were phenomenal. They have discovered two abnormalities. Although there are still not enough evidence for these factors to be the cause of AD, it is definitely a good start for all doctors who wish to find out more about Alzheimer’s. The two irregularities, which are both proteins, are as follows:

Tangles. Tangles are characterized as a kind of protein that are essentially needed by the brain because it is responsible for the supporting and transporting bodily nutrients to the cells. Also known as Tau, this protein is twisted in a thread-like manner, resulting to “tangles.” This cuts off the nutrient supply to the brain, killing a lot of brain cells in the process.

Plaques. This is a dangerous kind of protein that is currently considered as the main suspect of what’s causing this disease. It can be aptly described as clumps of protein that can easily damage the brain cells. It also has the power to disconnect these cells from each other, causing a lot of confusion in the process.

Who’s at Risk?
It is also important that you are aware of the factors that can make someone prone to this kind of disease. This way, you can try your best not to aggravate the matter by learning to live healthy and fit.

Age. People who are over forty years old will have an increased chance of acquiring Alzheimer’s Disease. However, this does not necessarily mean that AD is a normal part of ageing. The older that you get, the higher chances that you will get this disease due to frayed old brain cells.

Genetics. If you have a family of history of Alzheimer’s, then you will have a greater chance of getting it when you get older. This goes especially to those who are related in the first degree (e.g. mother, father, brother, sister, child). If both of your parents have suffered with AD, then you will definitely inherit it as well.

Women. Sex plays a factor when it comes to getting this mental illness. Studies show that women are more susceptible to AD mainly because they live longer than men.

Memory problems. Individuals who have been experiencing mild memory problems that are a bit unusual for their age can later develop dementia, and eventually Alzheimer’s.

Lifestyle and health. People who have heart problems will have a higher chance of having AD. As for the lifestyle, many evidences have shown that smoking, physically unfit, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes can give you an increased possibility of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.

Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s will start to become noticeable as the person starts to age. The patient will become forgetful about so many things. More often than not, you will find him repeating his statement over and over again. The person will also miss a lot of appointments and events. He will forget where he had put his stuff like the keys or mobile phone. Concentration and his thinking abilities will become impaired, making it very difficult to maintain a sensible conversation. Soon, he will forget the names of his family and friends and doing familiar and easy things such as reading or eating will be forgotten as well. A more detailed description for each level of Alzheimer’s will be explained on the different stages of this disease.

Different Stages
Alzheimer’s disease is classified under four, very important stages. These levels are patterned based on the cognitive and mental disabilities of the person concerned.

Pre-Dementia. The first symptoms of AD starts here, when the person is not yet diagnosed with Alzheimer’s but you can already see a budding problem when it comes to memory and thinking abilities. The person will have a mild memory loss, always forgetting something that he just did or have learned. He will also have difficulties focusing on his tasks while planning and abstract thinking will become increasingly hard for them to do and fathom.

Early Stage. The patient has been diagnosed by this time and is already suffering from noticeable memory lapses. His vocabulary will significantly shrink and learning new things will become very difficult to handle. Although most of his mental abilities are still functioning properly, he may need to be supervised when he is required to challenge his brain with complex actions such as problem solving and analysis.

Moderate Stage. By this time, the patient will have difficulty expressing himself because his known language has escaped him. He simply cannot remember the words anymore. Reading and writing will start to become alien to him and long-term memory will gradually become lost. He will start to become cranky and aggressive, often resisting the care of others, which can cause a lot of stress to the loved one who’s caring for him.

Advanced Stage. This is the last stage of AD wherein the patient is completely dependent on the caregiver. He will not be able to speak anymore however, he can often understand what is being said to him. Exhaustion and apathy is prevalent. He will not be able to do the simplest of tasks without proper assistance. As the disease overwhelms him, he will soon become bedridden. Although AD is a terminal disease, it does not cause death. The person will die due to external causes such as infections, ulcers, or pneumonia.

Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s Disease. Doctors are continuously researching to further understand the disease so they can be able to provide the right kind of treatment that can ultimately prevent the death of brain cells. There are many methods though that can be done to slow down the progress however, it is very important that you consult your doctor so he can provide the proper medication needed to help you manage this disease.

Alternative Remedy
You can also do some home remedies that can help make your memory stronger. You can start by drinking a cup of green tea that is rich in Gingko since this herb is known to effectively sharpen your memory. Since heart problems can increase the chances of having AD, you can regularly drink a capsule that contains fish oil to help fight cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Prevention
There is really no way of actually preventing Alzheimer’s most especially when genetics or old age is concerned. However, you can always try. By living a healthy lifestyle can decrease the chances of AD. You can do this by exercising in a regular manner, eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruits, staying away from processed foods and vices, and constantly engaging yourself in an activity that can challenge your intellectual, mental, and social abilities.