Understand Alzheimer's Disease: A deep dive into the Disease
Alzheimer's is an advancing neurological disease that causes memory loss and cognitive impairment. This is not a part of normal aging but rather a condition that can be debilitating. It affects approximately 5,8 million Americans age 65 or older. Alzheimer's is the most prevalent form of dementia and accounts for between 60- 80% all dementia cases in the world. This article provides a complete overview of Alzheimer's disease, including its causes, treatment options, opinions from experts, as well as some prevention or natural remedy tips.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia which affects memory, behavior, and thinking. The symptoms are usually gradual and worsen over time. They can interfere with everyday tasks. The Alzheimer's Association states that in the United States one person gets the disease every 66.6 seconds. This makes it the sixth leading cause of mortality.
After 65, the risk of Alzheimer's disease doubles every 5 years. The risk increases to nearly 50% after age 85. Alzheimer's disease isn't just an old-age illness. Early onset Alzheimer’s affects up to 5 percent . This disease often occurs in people's 40s and 50s.
The Common Causes Of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is not known to have a single cause, but there are several factors that may contribute to its development. These include:
- Increased age: Age is the biggest known risk factor of Alzheimer's.
- Alzheimer's disease is genetically linked with certain genes.
- Families with Alzheimer’s: People who are close to someone suffering from the disease have a higher risk of developing it themselves.
- Heart health: Factors that help protect the heart and brain are linked .
Alzheimer Disease Treatments
The goal of treatment for Alzheimer’s is to improve the quality of your life and slow the progression of this disease. These include:
- Cholinesterase Inhibitors: Drugs such as Donepezil Rivastigmine and Galantamine work by increasing levels of the chemical that is responsible for cell-to-cell communications in Alzheimer's patients.
- Memantine, also known as Namenda (Namenda), is able to slow the symptoms of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's.
- Antidepressants are used to treat mood disorders or behavior symptoms.
The treatments may temporarily improve the quality of life of those who have Alzheimer's disease and their caretakers.
Expert opinions on Alzheimer's
Early diagnosis is the key to treatment for Alzheimer's, according to many experts. Ronald Petersen of the Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center suggests that an early diagnosis can allow patients to plan ahead and potentially take medication that will slow down the progression of Alzheimer's.
Recent research published in Journal of Alzheimer's Disease suggests that lifestyle modifications such as exercise, healthy eating, and mental stimulation can reduce the risk of cognitive degeneration and dementia.
Prevention and Natural Remedies
There is no way to prove that Alzheimer's can be prevented, but you can do some things to improve your health. One study suggests strategies to maintain a healthy brain may also help you age well. The following measures can be taken:
- Weight management: How to maintain a healthy body weight
- Healthy eating
- Getting regular exercise
- Not smoking
- Keep your body and mind active
The Alzheimer's condition is complex, with many factors that contribute to the onset and progress of this disease. Early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease can improve quality-of-life for those living with the condition. As a preventative measure, it's crucial to keep up to date with the most recent research on Alzheimer's and maintain a healthy life style. Alzheimer's disease is important not only for the people who are affected, but for their caregivers and for society at large.
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