A progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of function and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain leading to loss of cognitive function such as memory and language
Symptoms of Alzheimer's
The following features are indicative of Alzheimer's:
memory problems
mild cognitive impairment
movement difficulties
sense of smell problems
word-finding
vision or spatial issues
impaired reasoning or judgment
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Common Causes of Alzheimer's
The following are the most common causes of Alzheimer's:
mutation in the TREM2 gene
environmental factors
Risk Factors for Alzheimer's
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Alzheimer's:
depression
head injuries
hypertension
Prevention of Alzheimer's
No, it is not possible to prevent Alzheimer's.
genetic mutation in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilins 1 and 2 genes causes the disease, so cannot be prevented
Occurrence of Alzheimer's
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Alzheimer's cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Alzheimer's most commonly occurs in the following age group:
Aged > 50 years
Common Gender
Alzheimer's can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Alzheimer's
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Alzheimer's:
Mini–mental state examination: To diagnose the cognitive impairments
Blood tests: To detect other causes of dementia
Psychological tests: To diagnose depression
Doctor for Diagnosis of Alzheimer's
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Alzheimer's:
Geriatricians
Geriatric psychiatrists
Neurologists
Neuropsychologists
Complications of Alzheimer's if untreated
Yes, Alzheimer's causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Alzheimer's is left untreated:
pneumonia
falls
fractures
bedsores
malnutrition
Procedures for Treatment of Alzheimer's
The following procedures are used to treat Alzheimer's:
Supportive psychotherapy: Helps mildly impaired people to adjust their illness
Reminiscence therapy: Discussion of past experiences personally or in group with the help of household items, photographs, sound recordings and music for mood and cognition
Simulated presence therapy: To reduce challenging behaviours by playing a voice recording of the close relatives of the patients
Validation therapy: Acceptance of the reality and personal truth of another's experience
Self-care for Alzheimer's
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Alzheimer's:
Healthy Diet: Take a diet which is rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat
Exercise: Regularly do exercise
Social engagement: Helps to preserve mental function
Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Alzheimer's
The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Alzheimer's:
Exercise: Do exercise regularly to improve mood and maintain the health of heart, muscles and joints
Nutrition: Take diet enriched with nutrition
Patient Support for Treatment of Alzheimer's
The following actions may help Alzheimer's patients:
Calm and stable home environment: Reduce behavior problems
Education: Learn much about the disease
Join a support group: Interact with other people with the same condition to deal with the problems
Time for Treatment of Alzheimer's
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Alzheimer's to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced