Answers To The Most Important Questions About Alzheimer’s
Written By: Anna Kucirkova
Edited By: Cori Hundt
The effects of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are an ever growing concern for the aging, caregivers, and those in the medical profession. The disease causes pain and agony for the sufferer and can be equally as distressing for those who see their loved one lose their memory and ability to function.
The 5.5 million sufferers of Alzheimer’s, including 200,000 or more with early onset variety, are a growing segment which the medical and research community is increasingly tasked with serving.
There are a number of questions and misconceptions related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and we’re going to walk you through the how, what, and why of Alzheimer’s and dementia, Alzheimer's symptoms, and Alzheimer's stages, tests, and treatments.
Can You Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?
Much is still unknown about Alzheimer’s and dementia, including exact causes and mechanisms. Therefore, no exact preventative measures are proven to be successful. Theories that certain mental or physical activities, or, dietary regimes may prevent Alzheimer’s have produced discrepant results.
Really, it’s general healthy living measures that probably reduce the most risk.
One of the strongest connections to lowering risk is not smoking, as that is often shown to reduce risk factors. In some studies, taking part in mental games and mentally challenging study is correlated to lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. However, none of these measures can prevent the development with any certainty.
Can Eating Certain Foods Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?
Certain diets have shown a correlation of reduced or increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Mediterranean diets that include fish, olive oil, and other such foods are related to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Caffeine, cocoa, or red wine have also shown some degree of possible protective correlation.
Many other specific diets and foods have been studied without consistent enough results to conclude a relationship. However, always keep in mind, that correlation doesn’t imply causation. Future areas of research may provide better guidance on the complex role of diet on Alzheimer’s.
Is Alzheimer’s Disease Genetic?
Genetics appears to be the largest factor in Alzheimer’s disease, but not exclusively so. The exact causes and mechanism of action of Alzheimer’s is not clearly understood at this time.
Alzheimer’s is generally considered to be primarily genetic, with a yet-to-be-determined complex interaction with lifestyle and environmental factors. It is a combination of factors including: genes, lifestyle, environment, and unknown other factors.
One variant of Alzheimer’s, the early onset familial version, is linked to changes in certain genes and is strongly genetic. It is theorized that mutations may cause disruption of processes and cause growth of amyloid in the brain. However, this type is exceptionally rare.
What Are The Symptoms Of Alzheimer’s?
Many people may themselves wonder if they are beginning to develop Alzheimer’s. Additionally, caretakers may be curious to determine if a loved one’s symptoms are related to developing Alzheimer’s disease or simply with getting older.
The most common and characteristic symptom is trouble with short term memory. The disease may or may not also affect medium or longer term memory. The most common type of memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s is short term loss that affects daily routines. Walking out the door and forgetting where you are or forgetting who you are talking to may be examples.
Other executive functions such as speaking, writing, or speaking may also be diminished. Alzheimer’s sufferers may become confused as to where they are or what day or time it is. They may not be able to complete simple daily tasks or routines. Higher order problem solving will also likely be affected.
Some degree of these symptoms may be attributed to stress, normal aging, other forms of dementia, or other factors, making it challenging for a person to self-diagnose Alzheimer’s. If you or someone you care for exhibits some of these symptoms, consult a medical professional who can help determine their seriousness and cause.
What Are The Different Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease?
The progression of Alzheimer’s disease can be broken into either three or seven stages depending on the level of detail. In general, there are mild, moderate, and severe stages.
Mild Alzheimer’s entails preclinical time, very mild decline, and mild decline. During this stage, symptoms progress from no symptoms, to minor memory loss. By the end of mild decline, friends or family members may notice some of the degeneration as the afflicted person begins to forget, lose items, or show noticeable troubled planning.
Moderate Alzheimer’s disease includes moderate and moderate-severe decline. This is when short term memory loss becomes quite noticeable and a person may no longer be able to complete functions on their own in daily life. Personality changes are often noticed.
By the end of this stage, the sufferer can still complete basic functions of eating, sleeping, and basic hygiene by themselves, but any more complex tasks are beyond reach. The moderate-severe will often forget details of short and long term, as well as how to perform functions around the house.
Severe and very severe patients show very advanced symptoms. These individuals lose most or all ability to function. Memory loss is extensive and mood changes are unpredictable. By the most severe stage, the patient is unable to respond to any stimuli.
Since this progression is not able to be halted, care must focus on comfort of the patient and not cure. Additionally, thought should be given to caretaker well being during this process which can be so difficult and emotionally taxing.
What Is The Treatment For Alzheimer’s Disease?
Sadly, there is currently no cure or effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease available. The main medical practice is to provide palliative care, try medications which can have sporadic effects, and provide support for the caregivers. There are a few recommendations to help slow some of the symptoms, but unfortunately not the cause, are available.
What’s The Difference Between Dementia and Alzheimer’s?
The terms Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are often utilized synonymously, but this is not the correct interpretation. Dementia is a much broader term that encompasses almost any disease of the brain which causes memory symptoms.
Dementia is not an exact single diagnosis at all. It can be conceived of a syndrome or description of one or more processes that are affecting one’s cognition. Often dementia is when the pervasive symptoms include memory, executive functioning, and similar deficiencies or degerations. Dementia can be caused by Alzheimer’s, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, prior diseases, or other causes.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, and is a degeneration of the brain which causes dementia symptoms when amyloid plaques and tangles cause damage in the brain.
Between 50% and 75% of dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer’s. Sadly, Alzheimer’s disease is irreversible unlike some causes of dementia.
Can Young People Have Alzheimer’s?
It has been recorded periodically, though this age is exceptionally rare. Cases under age 40 are very rare. However, it is possible for the beginning and preclinical stages to start in the 30s or earlier. Much is still unknown about the exact causes and development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Improved brain imaging and enhanced study is beginning to shed light on the earliest stages of the disease. It is possible that future developments will help detect possible sufferers at earlier ages.
Since Alzheimer’s is a disease considered predominantly in those who are elderly, anyone below age 65 who develops the disease is considered to be early onset. Though it’s a small percentage, there are many thousands of people in their 40s and 50s who develop the disease. Therefore, remember to bring any symptoms to the attention of your physician regardless of your age.
Early dementia can be affected by infectious disease, prions, vascular disease, or autoimmune conditions. Though it is very unlikely that symptoms at young ages are Alzheimer’s, these other dementia disorders are possible. A physician should be consulted if you are worried.
Some emerging research has seen possible precursors of Alzheimer’s in younger ages. Amyloid proteins in the brain were observed in subjects in the early 20s. Amyloids are almost always found built up in Alzheimer’s patients, and scientists hypothesize these observations show the beginning of the build up. Replicating and interpreting this emerging finding may be a new area of research that helps illuminate the earliest onset of Alzheimer’s disease or its precursor.
Bottom Line: Consult Your Doctor
You cannot determine if you have early onset Alzheimer’s on your own. It can be very difficult to attribute any changes in cognitive function to any particular disease. However, you or those around you may have noticed some changes in your memory, mental state, or other concerning changes. These conditions can’t immediately be attributed to Alzheimer’s, but should get your attention to act.
Most importantly, if you are suffering from changing mental symptoms, consult a physician. Many conditions which may or may not be serious cause some of the same symptoms. Only a doctor can provide professional diagnosis or perform an Alzheimer’s test.
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The original article can be found here.
