All you should know about Alzheimer's Disease
An overview: Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder.
Changes in the brain that result in deposits of particular proteins define it.
The brain shrinks and brain cells eventually die from Alzheimer's disease. The
most common cause of dementia, which is a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behavior,
and social skills, is Alzheimer's disease. A person's capacity to function is
affected by these changes.
Alzheimer's disease affects approximately 6.5 million people in
the United States who are 65 or older. More than 70% of them are over the age
of 75. It is estimated that between 60% and 70% of the approximately 55 million
people worldwide with dementia have Alzheimer's disease.
The disease's earliest symptoms include forgetting recent
conversations or events. It progresses to severe memory issues and the loss of
the ability to perform everyday activities over time.
Symptoms may be improved or slowed down by medications. People
with the disease and those who care for them can benefit from programs and
services.
Alzheimer's disease cannot be cured with medication. In advanced
cases, severe brain function loss can result in infection, malnutrition, or
dehydration. Death is possible as a result of these issues.
The most prominent symptom of Alzheimer's disease is memory loss.
Trouble remembering recent conversations or events is one of the early warning
signs. However, as the disease progresses, memory declines, and additional
symptoms appear.
At first, a person with the disease might be aware that they have
trouble thinking clearly and remembering things. A friend or family member
might be more likely to notice the problems as they get worse.
Alzheimer's disease-related changes in the brain led to an
increase in problems with:
Memory Everybody has memory lapses from time to time, but
Alzheimer's disease memory loss lasts and gets worse. Memory loss affects one's
ability to work and live independently over time.
Alzheimer's disease patients may:
·
Incessantly repeat statements and inquiries.
·
Put aside conversations, events, and
appointments.
·
Items are misplaced and frequently placed in
illogical locations.
·
In places they used to know well, get lost. eventually,
forget the names of household items and family members.
Concentration and thinking are affected by Alzheimer's disease,
particularly when it comes to abstract ideas like numbers.
It is especially challenging to complete multiple tasks
simultaneously. It might be hard to keep track of money, keep checkbooks in
balance, and pay bills on time. A person with Alzheimer's disease may
eventually lose the ability to recognize and handle numbers.
Decisions and judgments Alzheimer's disease makes it harder to
make sound decisions and judgments in everyday situations. A person may, for
instance, dress inappropriately for the weather or make poor choices in social
settings. It might become harder for someone to solve problems that come up
every day. The individual might not be aware of how to deal with food that is
burning on the stove or how to make decisions while driving.
Organizing and carrying out routine tasks It can be challenging to
complete sequential tasks. Playing a favorite game or planning and preparing a
meal are examples of this. People with advanced Alzheimer's disease eventually
lose their ability to bathe and dress.
Personality and behavior shift Alzheimer's disease-related brain
changes can have an impact on mood and behavior. The following are possible
issues:
Depression:
·
A decline in activity enthusiasm.
·
Social isolation.
·
Mood changes
·
Distrust of other people
·
Aggression or anger.
People with Alzheimer's disease are able to retain some skills
even as their symptoms get worse, despite significant changes in memory and
skills. Reading or listening to books, telling stories, sharing memories,
singing, dancing, drawing, or making crafts are all examples of preserved
skills because they are controlled by brain regions affected later in the
disease, these skills may last longer.
When to see a doctor Memory loss and other dementia symptoms can
be caused by a variety of conditions. There are treatments for some of those
diseases. Talk to your doctor if you're worried about your memory or other
thinking abilities.
Talk about your concerns and ask about going together to talk to a
provider if you are concerned about the thinking skills of a friend or family
member.
Opens a pop-up dialog box Causes of neurofibrillary tangles and
amyloid plaques in the brain Healthy brain and brain with Alzheimer's disease
The exact causes of Alzheimer's disease are unknown. However, brain proteins do
not function normally on a fundamental level. This causes a series of
occurrences and disrupts the function of brain cells, also known as neurons.
Damage to the neurons causes them to lose connections to one another. They end
up dying.
For the majority of people, Alzheimer's disease is thought to be
brought on by a combination of environmental, genetic, and lifestyle factors
that have an effect on the brain over time. Alzheimer's is almost always
brought on by specific genetic mutations, which account for less than 1% of
cases. The disease typically begins in middle age in these instances.
The disease begins years before the first symptoms appear. Most of
the time, damage begins in the part of the brain that controls memory. The loss
of neurons spreads to other parts of the brain in a pattern that is somewhat
predictable. The brain has significantly shrunk by the disease's end.
The role that two proteins play in Alzheimer's disease is the
focus of research by scientists attempting to determine its cause:
Plaques. A smaller component of a larger protein is beta-amyloid.
It appears that these fragments have a toxic effect on neurons and disrupt
cell-to-cell communication when they clump together. Amyloid plaques are larger
deposits made up of these clumps and other cellular debris.
Tangles. Tau proteins are involved in the internal support and
transport system of a brain cell, which carries nutrients and other necessary
materials. Tau proteins take on new shapes and form structures called
neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease. The tangles harm cells and
disrupt the transport system.
Risk factor.
Age.
Genetics and family history
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