What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s Disease is a disease of the brain that is characterized by impairment of the memory and later on cause a distortion in a person’s ability to think, plan, and understand his language,  A plethora of scientists believe that Alzheimer’s disease is a result of an increase in the production of beta-amyloid protein in the brain that leads to the death of nerve cells.

The possibility of having Alzheimer’s disease increases substantially after a person has reached the age of 70.  But that is not to say that the Alzheimer’s disease is a normal part of the aging process.it is absolutely not. there many old men an women who have never been diagnosed of the disease.

Facts about Alzheimer’s disease:

it is good to note the following facts about Alzheimer’s disease

• The main risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is related to the aging process.
• Genetic factors solidifies the possibility in a person to get the disease.
• Alzheimer’s disease is by far the most common cause for dementia in the United States and in many countries of the world.
• Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain slowly . It deteriorate’s with time and eventually  leads impairment of memory and poor thinking, planning, language, and perceptive ability.

Symptoms of Alzheimer disease:

the following are typical symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease-

• Difficulty in performing tasks that you were familiar with; imagine forgetting how to prepare your usual morning cup of green tea or coffee.
• Easily misplacing items, or do not recall where you left them.
• Mood or behavior swings.; this moment you are happy, but in the next, you could break someone’s head.
• Loss of interest in your usual daily activities
• Difficulty writing or speaking,
• Loss of orientation to time and place,
• Poor judgment.

image from www.doctors-advice.com

Cause of Alzheimer’s disease:

The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not yet known. But, the accumulation of the protein amyloid in the brain is suspected to play a behind-the-scene role.

Factors that increase the chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease:

Ø  Genetics

It cannot be doubted that there are genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. Even though most  people who have Alzheimer’s disease got it after the age of 70,  nearly half of these early onset patients have inherited gene mutations associated with their Alzheimer’s disease. This simply summarizes that fact that the child of a patient with early onset Alzheimer’s disease who has one of these gene mutations has nearly 55% chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Ø  Age

This factor cannot be overemphasized, and will never be. It cannot be doubted that the major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is increase in age. From the age of 65, a person becomes at risk of getting the disease.

Ø  Estrogen

Many studies have found that women have a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease than men. Though one of the reasons was that women live longer than men, still age alone does not seem to explain the increased frequency in women. The apparent increased frequency of Alzheimer’s disease in women has led to considerable research about the role of estrogen in Alzheimer’s disease. Recent studies suggest that estrogen should not be prescribed to post-menopausal women for the purpose of decreasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, study is still ongoing to come to understand fully, the role of estrogen in Alzheimer’s disease.

Other risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease include:

• High blood pressure (Hypertension)
• Heart disease
• Diabetes

Treatment and prevention:

There are absolutely drugs on earth now, that can cure Alzheimer’ but a new study details the creation of an implantable capsule that researchers say could stop the condition in its tracks. No practical has been done. But some drugs may reduce its symptoms. There drugs are classified as cholinesterase inhibitors. They are-

• Donepezil (brand name Aricept)
• Alantamine (Reminyl)
• Rivastigmine (Exelon)
• Tacrine (Cognex).

Finally, the following lifestyles will prevent Alzheimer disease:

• Eat more fruits and vegetables
• Increased your intake of Omega-3 fatty acids
• Take more berries
• Take folic Acid supplements
• Eat Mediterranean foods
• Take a glass of red wine occasionally

Good health to you!

Source:

MedicineNet.com