Alzheimer

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder that causes waste (degenerate) and death of brain cells. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia: a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that interrupts a person's ability to function independently.

The first signs of the disease may forget recent events or conversations. As the disease progresses, a person with Alzheimer's will develop severe memory impairment and will lose the ability to perform daily activities.

Current medications for Alzheimer's can temporarily improve symptoms or slow the rate of decline. These treatments can sometimes help people with Alzheimer's disease maximize their function and maintain independence for a period. Several programs and services can help support people with Alzheimer's and those who care for them.

Symptoms

Memory loss is the major symptom of Alzheimer's disease. An early sign of the disease is usually the difficulty in remembering recent events or conversations. As the disease progresses, memory deficits worsen and other symptoms occur. In the beginning, a person with Alzheimer's may be aware that they have difficulty remembering things and organizing their thoughts. A family member or friend may notice how the symptoms get worse.

Brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease increase problems with:

Memory

Each has occasional memory fluctuations. It is normal to lose track of where you put the keys or to forget the name of an acquaintance. But memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease persists and worsens, compromising the ability to function at work or at home.

People with Alzheimer's may:

• Repeat statements and repeated questions
• Forget conversations, meetings or events and don't forget them later
• It usually replaces products, often taking them to illogical places.
• Lose yourself in familiar places
• Finally, forget the names of family members and everyday objects

Problems finding the right words to identify objects, expressing thoughts or starting conversations

Thought and Reasoning

Alzheimer's disease causes concentration and thought difficulties, particularly on abstract concepts, such as numbers. Multitasking is particularly difficult and it can be difficult to manage finances, check checkbooks and pay bills on time. These difficulties can turn into an inability to recognize and process numbers.

Making Decisions

The ability to make decisions and reasonable judgments in everyday situations will decrease. For example, a person can make poor or unusual choices in social interactions or wear inappropriate clothing at the moment. It may be more difficult to respond effectively to everyday problems, such as burning food on stoves or unexpected driving situations.

Planning and Implementation of Familiar Tasks

Routine activities that require sequential steps, such as planning and cooking a meal or playing a favorite game, become a battle as the disease progresses. Finally, people with advanced Alzheimer's may forget how to perform basic tasks, such as dressing and bathing.

Changes in Personality and Behavior

The brain changes that occur in Alzheimer's can affect moods and behaviors. Problems may include the following:

• Depression
• Apathy
• Social withdrawal
• Changes to the provision
• Distrust of others
• Irritability and aggression
• Changes in sleep habits
• Wandering
• Loss of inhibitions
• Delusions

Causes

Scientists believe that for most people, Alzheimer's is caused by a combination of different factors such as genes, lifestyle and environment that affect the brain over time.

Less than 1 percent of the time, Alzheimer's is caused by specific genetic changes that virtually guarantee that a person will develop the disease. These rare events usually lead to the onset of the disease in middle age.

The exact causes of Alzheimer's disease are not completely understood, but inside there are problems with brain proteins that do not function normally, interrupt the activity of brain cells (neurons) and trigger a series of toxic events. Neurons are damaged, lose connections and eventually die.

Deterioration begins more often in the region of the brain that controls memory, but the process begins years before the first symptoms. Neuron loss spreads in a somewhat predictable pattern in other brain regions. In the advanced stage of the disease, the brain had decreased significantly.

Researchers are focusing on the role of two proteins:

Plaques

Beta-amyloid is a residual fragment of a larger protein. When these fragments are clustered, they appear to have a toxic effect on neurons and interrupt cell-cell communication. These groups generate larger deposits called amyloid plaques, which include other cellular debris.

Tangles

Your proteins play a role in the internal support and transport system of a neuron to transport nutrients and other essential materials. In Alzheimer's disease, proteins change shape and are organized in structures called neurofibrillary tangles. Fences disturb the transport system and are toxic to cells.

Stages of Alzheimer

The stages do not always fit in precise boxes and the symptoms can vary - but they can be a guide and help you plan the care of your friend or relative.

Stage 1: Normal External Behavior

When the loved one is in this nascent phase, he will have no symptoms that you can observe. Only a PET scan, an imaging test that shows how the brain works, can reveal whether you have Alzheimer's. 

As you follow the next 6 steps, your friend or relative with Alzheimer's will see more and more changes in his way of thinking and thinking.

Stage 2: Very Mild Changes

You may not notice anything despite the behavior of your loved one, but it may be possible to consider small differences, things that not even a doctor understands. This could include forgetting a word or replacing objects. At this stage, the subtle symptoms of Alzheimer's do not interfere with the ability to work or live independently. Keep in mind that these symptoms may not be Alzheimer's at all, but only normal changes due to aging.

Stage 3: Mild Decline

At this point you begin to notice changes in the thinking and reasoning of your loved one, such as:

• Forget something he had just read
• Always ask the same question
• He has more and more problems planning or organizing
• I don't remember the name when you meet new people

You can help by being the "memory" of the loved one for him, making sure that you pay the bills and arrive at appointments on time. You can also suggest to relieve stress by retiring from work and sorting out your legal and financial affairs.

Stage 4: Moderate Decline

During this period, the problems of thought and reasoning observed in phase 3 become more evident and new problems appear. Your friend or family could:

• Forget the details of himself
• You are having trouble putting the correct date and amount on a check
• Forget what month or season it is
• You have problems with cooking meals or even ordering from a menu

You can help him in his daily activities and in his security. Make sure you don't drive anymore and that someone isn't trying to take advantage of it financially.

Step 5: Moderate to Severe Decline

The lover can start to lose track of where he is and what time it is. He may have difficulty remembering his address, phone number or place where he went to school. It could be confusing as to what type of clothes to wear during the day or season. You can help by wearing his clothes in the morning. It can help him to dress himself and maintain a sense of independence.

If you repeat the same question, answer with a uniform and reassuring voice. They could ask the question less to get an answer and more simply to know that you are there. Even if your loved one cannot remember facts and details, he may still be able to tell a story. Invite him to use his imagination in those moments.

Stage 6: Severe Decline

As Alzheimer's progresses, a loved one can recognize faces but forget the name. He could also be mistaken for someone else, for example, believing that his wife is his mother. Scams can occur, such as the thought that you have to go to work, even if you no longer have a job. You may need to help him go to the bathroom. It can be difficult to talk, but you can still connect with your senses. Many people with Alzheimer's love listening to music, reading or watching old photos.

Stage 7: Very Serious Decline

During this time, many basic skills for a person with Alzheimer's, such as eating, walking and staying, are fading. You can get involved by feeding your loved one with soft, easy-to-swallow food, helping them use a spoon and making sure they drink. This is important because many people at this stage can no longer say when they are thirsty.

Risk Factors

Age

Aging is the largest known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is not part of normal aging, but as we age it increases the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease.

One study, for example, found that each year there were two new diagnoses for 1,000 people aged 65 to 74, 11 new diagnoses per 1,000 people aged 75 to 84 and 37 new diagnoses. to 1,000 people aged 85 or over.

Family History and Genetics

The risk of developing Alzheimer's is slightly higher if a first degree relative - your parent or brother - has the disease. Most genetic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease among families remain largely unexplained and genetic factors are probably complex.

A better understood genetic factor is a form of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene. A change in the gene, APOE e4, increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease, but not everyone with this gene variation develops the disease.

Down Syndrome

Many people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer's disease. This is probably related to the presence of three copies of chromosome 21 - and subsequently of three copies of the protein gene that leads to the creation of beta-amyloid. Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's tend to occur 10 to 20 years earlier in people with Down syndrome than in the general population.

Bad Sleep Patterns

Research has shown that bad sleep patterns, such as difficulty sleeping or falling asleep, are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's.

Lifestyle and Heart Health

Research has shown that the same risk factors associated with heart disease can increase the risk of Alzheimer's. These include:

• Lack of exercise
• Obesity
• Smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes

These factors can all be changed. Therefore, changing your lifestyle can change the risk to some extent.

Complications

A person with Alzheimer's may not be able to:

• Report pain, for example due to a dental problem
• Report the symptoms of another disease
• Follow a prescribed treatment plan
• Observe or describe the side effects of the medicines

As Alzheimer's disease progresses in its final stages, changes in the brain begin to affect physical functions, such as swallowing, balance and control of the intestine and bladder. These effects can increase the vulnerability to further health problems, such as:

• Inhalation of food or fluid in the lungs (aspiration)
• Pneumonia and other infections
• Falls
• Fractures
• Bedsores
• Malnutrition or dehydration

Prevention

Alzheimer's disease is not a preventable disease. However, many lifestyle factors can be modified for Alzheimer's. Evidence suggests that changes in diet, exercise and habits - measures to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease - can also reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's and other dementia-causing disorders. The healthy lifestyle options for the heart that can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's include:

• Do regular sports
• Follow a diet based on fresh produce, healthy oils and low-fat foods
• Follow the treatment instructions to manage high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol
• If you smoke, ask your doctor for help to stop smoking