Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia, due to which a person experiences memory loss problems. It affects the parts of brain cells that are responsible for thinking and behavior. Alzheimer’s affects more and more nerve cells in the brain as time passes.
As time passes, it affects the ability of a person to perform daily routine tasks. While Alzheimer’s disease is typically observed in older people aged 65 or older, It is not guaranteed that it won’t affect young people.
In fact, the term young onset Alzheimer’s or early onset Alzheimer’s is used for people who are living with Alzheimer’s under the age of 65. Memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s is not similar to memory fading due to natural aging.
What causes Alzheimer’s?
Although the exact cause of Alzheimer’s is not known, experts believe that multiple factors may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s, such as a poor lifestyle, genetics, and yes, the environment. However, that doesn’t mean that every person with these factors will develop Alzheimer’s.
It is caused when two types of proteins, beta-amyloid and tau, increase abnormally in the brain. Beta-amyloid forms protein deposits between neurons; tau creates tangles within the neurons that lead to the death of these nerve cells. Researchers are still trying to figure out what causes this imbalance of protein in brain cells.
Symptoms and Signs of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s doesn’t affect every person in a similar way; its progression is different for different people. For some people, it may progress faster than others.
Initial symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can be confused by the normal aging process, but as they progress to a milder or later stage, they become more intense.
- Memory problems
- Difficulty in talking
- Doubts about location and time details
- Misplacing items
- Trouble in problem solving
- Trouble completing a familiar task
- Changes in behavior and emotions
- Poor judgment
- Difficulty with images
- Social withdrawal
- Repeating things
Who is at Risk of Alzheimer’s?
Although anybody can develop Alzheimer’s, there are some risk factors that may increase the chance of developing Alzheimer’s.
- Age: Age is known as the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s. People over the age of 65 are more likely to develop it.
- Smoking: While smoking increases the chances of developing Alzheimer’s, it doesn’t mean every person with a smoking history will develop Alzheimer’s.
- Excessive use of alcohol: Similar to smoking, alcohol also increases the chances of developing Alzheimer’s, but that doesn’t mean every alcohol consumer will develop Alzheimer’s.
- High blood pressure: High blood pressure is also considered an Alzheimer’s risk factor. High blood pressure may lead to damage to blood vessels, or a mini stroke can develop it.
- Diabetes: Diabetes is also listed as a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s. The common key link between Alzheimer’s and diabetes is insulin resistance.
- Head Injury: A severe head injury that may cause damage to brain parts or cells can also be a factor in Alzheimer’s.
- Social isolation: Being socially isolated is considered a major risk of Alzheimer’s disease, increasing the chance of developing it by 60%.
- Unhealthy lifestyle: An unhealthy lifestyle, such as being lazy and not contributing to physical activities, may increase the chances of developing Alzheimers.
- Poor diet: Poor eating habits and not consuming a balanced diet also increase the chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
- Untreated depression Depression also affects the brain’s regions that are important for memory and cognitive functions.
The Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
If you see someone experiencing the above-mentioned symptoms or if you experience them yourself, it is highly recommended that you consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Doctors will try to find out the reason for the symptoms, which may be caused by some underlying disease such as depression, anxiety, diabetes, a deficiency of some vitamins or minerals, or a hormonal imbalance.
Doctors would run a series of blood and other tests; they may also perform head scans or heart tests. Following the lab test, the doctor may request getting some cognitive testing: like short-term memory tests such as time, date, and location, naming objects, remembering and repeating some piece of information, etc.
Once a doctor is sure there are no other causes of the symptoms, they will refer the patient to a neurologist specialist, where specialized doctors may run more detailed brain tests.
It may take several months to diagnose Alzheimer’s. It is suggested that if someone is facing memory issues, they should take a friend or a family member with them to better explain the symptoms or behavior changes.
Alzheimer’s is Fatal
Alzheimer’s is becoming more common and fatal. The number of patients who died from Alzheimer’s disease from 2000 to 2019 was double that of the previous decade in the US. See the below chart for reference.
One reason for the increased death rate because of Alzheimer’s is that the population continues to grow older than 65 years. As discussed earlier, age is a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is becoming more common day by day.
More than 750,000 people are currently living with Alzherimers in Canada. On a daily basis, more than 350 people are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s Treatment
Currently, there is no known treatment that completely cures Alzheimer’s. However, there are medications available to slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s symptoms, and they can play an important part in helping people cope with the disease and live a better life. Medical specialists can provide exact medications depending on the symptoms, stages, and condition of a diagnosed person.
Conclusion
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that worsens with time. It affects the cognitive functioning of the brain, including thinking, remembering, and talking. It is more common in older people aging above 65 years, but it can also develop in young people.
People can now study the common symptoms and signs associated with the disease. It is still recommended to seek professional health care for the diagnosis of the disease. There are various risk factors identified that increase the chances of developing Alzheimer’s.
It is not guaranteed that they contribute 100 percent to the cause of disease. Some of the risk factors (also mentioned above) are preventable; others are not.
While there are now some medications available to slow down Alzheimer’s progression, it is still not curable or even preventable.
Legal Disclaimer
This blog is solely intended for informational and educational purposes; any information used in the blog should not be considered medical advice. In case of any health concerns, it is advised to urgently seek medical help.
