Overview
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological condition in which the death of brain cells causes memory loss and a decline in memory and thinking skills, eventually impacting your ability to function in everyday tasks. The disease affects around 5 million people in the United States, with estimates suggesting that this number will almost triple by 2060. The disorder typically affects people aged 65 years and over, with only 10% of cases happening in people younger than this.
Signs and symptoms
The initial signs of Alzheimer’s include forgetting recent events or conversations. Some of the major symptoms of the disease include:
• Increased memory loss and muddle.
• Inability to learn new things.
• Difficulty with language and problems with reading, writing, and working with numbers.
• Difficulty forming thoughts and thinking rationally.
• Reduced attention span.
• Difficulties coping with new situations.
Causes
While it’s not exactly understood why the disease happens, but at an elementary level, brain proteins fail to work normally, which upsets the work of brain cells and causes a spate of deadly events. Neurons are destroyed, lose contacts to each other and finally perish.
Researchers believe that for most people, the disease is caused by a blend of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that impact the brain over time. Less than 1% of the time, Alzheimer’s is caused by specific hereditary changes that practically guarantee an individual will develop the disease. These rare incidents typically result in disease onset in middle age.
Diagnosis
The disease is diagnosed with a person experiencing memory loss, cognitive decay, or behavioral changes that hinder their ability to perform everyday tasks.
No single test for Alzheimer’s disease exists. If a doctor suspects something fishy, they will ask the person — and occasionally their family or caregivers — about their symptoms, experiences, and medical history. The doctor may also conduct the following tests:
• cognitive and memory tests, to evaluate the person’s capacity to think and remember
• neurological function tests, to test their balance, senses, and impulses
• blood or urine tests
• a CT scan or MRI scan of the brain
Prevention
Although Alzheimer’s disease is not preventable, several lifestyle risk factors for the condition can be modified. Evidence indicates that changes in diet, exercise and habits may also reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions that cause dementia. Heart-healthy lifestyle choices that may decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s include:
• Regular exercise
• Eating a diet of fresh produce, healthy oils and foods low in saturated fat
• Following treatment plans to manage hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol
• Cessation of cigarette smoking
Research and progress
In 1906, German physician Dr. Alois Alzheimer first discovered “a peciliar disease” that we now know as Alzheimer’s.
Today, the disease is at the vanguard of biomedical research. Researchers are working to expose as many facets of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias as possible. Some of the most amazing progress has underscored how the impacts the brain. It’s hoped that this better appreciation will lead to new treatments. Many potential methods are currently under way all over the world.