Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease

Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

Forgetting what you did last summer is probably something that you can deal with and you will most probably remember at least some of the things that took place. But forgetting everything and even having a strange perspective of reality is something different. This is one of the things that happen to a person who has Alzheimer’s Disease. The disease is a neurodegenerative disorder and is a very common disease that is found in people over the age of 65.

What Is Alzheimer’s Disease

Millions of people worldwide suffer from a form of dementia. The majority of that dementia is actually caused by Alzheimer’s Disease. Medically, the disease can be characterized by a progressive cognitive deterioration. When this happens, one can also expect the steady decline of daily activities and psychiatric, neuropsychiatric, and behavioral changes. When talking about Alzheimer’s with a doctor, you will probably hear the term plaque. This is not the same kind of plaque that can form on teeth. This plaque is the kind that blocks nerve endings and therefore signals cannot pass to and from the brain. This plaque takes years to form and it will not be detected medically until one is much older. But it is not the only thing that causes the Alzheimer’s Disease; there is one other thing known as neurofibrillary tangles and these are pathological protein aggregates found in the neurons of a brain. Together, these two factors are the major cause behind Alzheimer’s Disease.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

There are different symptoms to look out for depending on the stage of the Alzheimer’s Disease. In the early stages of the degenerative disease, patients will first become less energetic and will be less spontaneous. These changes in behavior are actually unnoticed by patients and those close to them. The term used for this stage in the disease is Minor Cognitive Impairment. The next stage of the disease, or the middle stage, has patients being able to perform certain tasks but not complicated ones. The patient in this stage will probably need assistance with something as simple as paying a bill (which is actually more complicated to someone who has Alzheimer’s Disease). The most severe stage, or the late stage, has patients not being able to perform simple tasks without the help of others. People in the late stage also need to be supervised constantly. These patients tend to lose their understanding and concept of many things. This includes expelling the bladder and even bowel movements. Eventually, they cannot walk anymore and they will not be able to talk properly. Losing the ability to swallow food and fluid is also very common and this is what may ultimately lead to their death.

Can Alzheimer’s Disease be Cured?

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease and the only way to really avoid it is to prevent it from happening. Leading a healthy life with activities that stimulate the brain and a diet that will keep one physically fit will help one to avoid the disease. But even in prevention, these activities and diets will only really slow down the process of the disease’s development. But slowing it down will improve your lifestyle because the worst that can happen is that you only reach either the first or second stage.