Alzheimer's Disease Cause, Detection and Treatment

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that results in the degeneration and death of brain cells. It is characterised by memory loss and cognitive dysfunction. While Alzheimer's disease usually affects people over the age of 60, it has also been known to occur in patients in their 30s, 40s, and 50s (early-onset Alzheimer's disease).

According to the India Ageing Report 2017, about 1.4 per cent of the Indian population was reported to be suffering from Alzheimer's disease in 2011. The report also said that over 2 million elders are expected to be affected by the disease by 2030. Over 4.6 million Indians are expected to suffer from Alzheimer's disease by 2050.

Alzheimer's Disease And Brain Function

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. It is a progressive disease that first affects the hippocampus in the brain's temporal lobe, which is responsible for recording new memories. Slowly, it also affects other brain parts that control functions such as speech and linguistic abilities, mood, and behaviour regulation. These can cause memory loss, impaired judgement, loss of motor skills, aggression, apathy and depression. The damage can be found in the form of plaques, tangles, and cell degeneration.

Alzheimer's Disease Signs and Symptoms

Alzheimer's Disease cause the following signs and symptoms.

Loss of Memory

One of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease is the inability to recall events and make new memories. This becomes progressive, and the patient fails to recall significant events and people.

Lack of Reasoning

Alzheimer's disease is characterised by a loss of reasoning and judgement. This makes it challenging to assess situations, form spatial and temporal judgements, and recognise letters and numbers. It can also lead to confusion and aggressiveness over time.

Linguistic Confusion

Alzheimer's disease also leads to loss of linguistic ability. This may lead to difficulty in finding the right words and even speaking. The patient may even have difficulty understanding words or written letters.

Behaviour Modification

Alzheimer's disease may cause mild mood disorders to start with, and as the disease progresses, it leads to irritability, anger, hysteria, depression and fits of insane behaviour.

Alzheimer's Disease Causes

According to doctors and researchers, there are specific genetic changes in at least 5 per cent of people who have Alzheimer's disease. This is determined as Alzheimer's Disease cause. Having a family history of Alzheimer's is believed to put a person at increased risk of developing the disease. Head injury and sleep apnea are also known risk factors.

Recent studies have suggested that lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and diabetes could also increase the chances of developing Alzheimer's disease. So lifestyle disease is yet another Alzheimer's Disease cause.

Alzheimer's Disease Treatment

A lot of research is being conducted on Alzheimer's disease treatment. The manifestation of Alzheimer's disease can be complex and can vary from person to person. There is no permanent cure for the disease, and no one drug or treatment can successfully treat it.

Alzheimer's disease treatment includes a combination of various medications and therapies used to slow down the progression of the disease. Early detection and regular screening help in managing the disease. Eating a balanced and healthy diet, exercising regularly, and being socially active can significantly help control the disease's progression.

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