What to know about Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is inevitable and damages brain cells, leading to deteriorating thinking ability and memory. The signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are not indicated in a normal aging process of a healthy individual.
Dr Alois Alzheimer discovered the disease in 1906. He described the two benchmark of the disease: “plaques,” which are infinite tiny, dense deposits scattered everywhere the brain that become lethal to brain cells at excessive levels whereas “tangles,” which intervene with vital processes, ultimately choking off the viable cells. When brain cells decrease and die, the brain considerably shrinks in some regions.
“Plaques” are deposits of a protein called “beta-amyloid,” or A-beta. When A-beta particles clump together in the brain, they form plaques that stop signals from being transported between nerve cells, ultimately causing the cells to expire.
“Tangles” are the fibre clumps of a protein called Tau. These Tau proteins could be present as parallel railroad tracks within the brain. Nutrients and other relevant elements are transported along with those tracks, allowing brain cells to live.
For healthy brain areas, tau proteins make sure that nutrients can reach their destination.
In weak brain areas, the tau protein collapses and twists, forming tangles that prevent nutrients from reaching brain cells, resulting in cell death.
The impact of Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disorder that eventually affects all perspectives of a person’s life – the way they think, feel, and react. Each individual is affected uniquely. It is challenging to foretell symptoms, the order in which they would appeara and how rapidly they will progress.
The following are some of the differences you may expect as the disease advances:
Cognitive and functional abilities: An individual’s ability to understand, think, remember, and communicate will be affected. It could affect a person’s ability in decision making, perform easy tasks, or a drop in the ability to have a complex conversation. Sometimes people forget their way or experience confusion and memory loss, to begin with for recent events and gradually for long-term events.
Emotions and moods: A person may appear unconcerned and lose enthusiasm in favourite hobbies. Some people become less expressive and withdrawn. They lose confidence and may completely avoid people.
Behaviour: A person may have responded that seem out of the original style. Some common reactions could be repeating the same action or word, hiding possessions, physical outbursts, and anxiety.
Physical abilities: The disease can harm a person’s coordination and mobility, affecting their ability to perform routine tasks such as eating, bathing and getting dressed and all daily activities.
Treatment
Several medications can help with signs and symptoms like memory loss, changes in language, ability to think, and motor skills. Even though there is no remedy yet for Alzheimer’s disease, those who respond to these treatments can improve their condition and quality of life for many years.
Resources
- Different stages of Alzheimer’s disease – learn about the progression of the disease
- Ten warning signals – know the signs and symptoms.
- What is Alzheimer’s disease-
- Risk Factor – know how we can reduce the risk
- Shared experiences – taking advice from people living with Alzheimer’s disease
1 out of 3 aged people die because of Alzheimer’s disease. Being well-informed about the disease is an important long-term strategy. Programs that educate families about the various stages of Alzheimer’s and about ways to deal with challenging behaviours and other caregiving challenges can be of immense help
