On this page, you will find everything you are looking for regarding Alzheimer's disease.
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer's is a form of dementia—a progressively developing disease that gradually and slowly affects the parts of the brain responsible for memory and thinking until the patient loses the ability to perform even the simplest daily tasks.
What Are the Symptoms of Alzheimer’s?
Symptoms and their severity vary as the disease progresses over several years, and not all symptoms necessarily appear at the same time or the same stage. They include:
Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as forgetting places and getting lost in familiar places, repeating questions, and forgetting (time, date, words, speech, and language).
Difficulty dealing with numbers, money, or bills.
Difficulty completing simple daily tasks.
Difficulty making decisions and planning.
Misplacing items and having difficulty remembering their locations.
Changes in mood, behavior, or personality.
Inability to recognize family members or friends.
Difficulty learning new things.
Hallucinations and confusion.
Anxiety.
Aggressive or impulsive behavior.
What Causes Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer's disease occurs due to changes in the brain, alongside the loss of connections between nerve cells in the brain, affecting the neurons’ functions and leading to their death.
The primary cause of these changes is still unclear, but there are factors that may increase the risk of developing the disease.
These include:
Age, 65 and above.
Family medical history and genes.
Environmental factors.
Lifestyle factors such as nutrition, smoking, and physical activity.
Head injuries.
Cognitive impairment.
How Is Alzheimer’s Diagnosed?
A doctor will take the patient’s medical history and perform a physical examination. Additional procedures may be requested as necessary, such as:
Tests measuring cognitive abilities (memory, problem-solving, concentration, language).
Laboratory tests.
MRI scans.
CT scans.
PET scans (which show brain activity).
What Are the Treatments for Alzheimer’s?
Currently, there's no treatment that completely stops Alzheimer’s, but treatment options include:
Drug therapy.
Medications to control symptoms.
Medications that manage behavioral symptoms.
Drugs that delay disease progression.
Cognitive stimulation therapy sessions.
Cognitive rehabilitation sessions.
What Are the Ways to Prevent Alzheimer’s?
Currently, there is no definitive prevention for Alzheimer’s, but there are ways that may help improve brain health, decrease the risk of cognitive impairment or dementia, such as:
Quitting smoking. For more details, here is the guide to quitting smoking.
Prevention and control of high blood pressure.
Prevention and control of high cholesterol.
Managing diabetes. For more details, here is the diabetes healthcare guide.
Maintaining an ideal weight through a healthy diet and exercise. For more details, here is the guide to Move for Life.
Mental stimulation activities, such as reading or learning a new language.
Getting enough sleep. For more tips on sleep, here is the guide to Sleep is King.
Engaging in community activities.
Trying to maintain brain health.
What Are the Complications of Alzheimer’s?
Vision problems and visual field disturbances.
Difficulty completing daily tasks.
Anxiety or depression.
Unintentional weight loss.
Swallowing problems.
Seizures.
Infections.
Poor bladder and bowel control.
Delirium.
Stroke.
When Should You See a Doctor?
It is advised to visit a doctor if symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to develop Alzheimer’s at an early age?
In very rare cases, it can begin between the ages of thirty and mid-sixties.
What is the relationship between aging and Alzheimer’s?
The natural changes and problems of aging do not necessarily cause Alzheimer's. A person can reach the age of 90 without having dementia or Alzheimer's. However, age and brain changes that may occur due to aging, such as atrophy of certain brain parts, inflammation, and blood vessel damage, are factors in developing the disease.
