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Alzheimer's disease (AD) Symptom, Treatment, Cause, Medication, Type

     

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. Alzheimer's, is the most common cause of dementia, afflicting 24 million people worldwide. Alzheimer's disease is most common cause of dementia that seriously affects to the memory of the person, thinking power and reasoning skill. It is characterized in brain by abnormal clump and tangled bundle of fiber.

It is common to the both men and women that develop in person age above 65 or older. About 2 to 4 million people have alzheimer's disease with aging. It does not affects to the kids. The study found that most of the women causes this disease than the men.

Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease

The symptoms of the alzheimer's disease

  • Memory loss and confusion.
  • Depression, paranoia, and delusions.
  • Loss of language skill.
  • Forgetting how to use simple things.
  • The alzheimer's disease having people fail to recognize familiar person and places.

What are the stages in the development of Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's develops slowly, starting with mild memory problems and ending in death. The course the disease takes and how fast changes occur vary from person to person. There are three stages of alzheimer's disease are as follows

  • Early stage Alzheimer's - In this stage memory loss take place and person unable to find work independently.
  • Mid stage Alzheimer's - In this stage person more depend upon caregiver, changes in personality take place.
  • Late stage Alzheimer's - In this stage person lose the control over the body. He totally depend on the other.

Causes of Alzheimer's Disease

The cause and progression of alzheimer's disease is not well understood, but is associated with plaques and tangles in the brain.

  • The genetics play important role to cause the alzheimer's disease.
  • Most of the gene factors interact with each other and cause the disease.
  • The thyroid problems, drug reactions, depression, brain tumors, and blood vessel disease in the brain can cause alzheimer's disease.
  • Alzheimer's disease causes due to presence of beta amyloid protein which is present in brain.

What are the risk factors of Alzheimer's Disease?

  • Genetic mutation
  • High blood pressure
  • Increased age
  • Diabetes
  • Inability to handle aluminium

The role of plaques and tangles in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is closely associated with plaques and tangles. The plaques is composed of number of beta amyloid protein which has a significant role in alzheimer's disease. It occurs naturally in our brain. These beta amyloid accumulate in brain and form clumb which also known as plaques and bundles. Around these plaque fragments of deteriorating neurons are present which produce the acetylcholine.

Neurofibrillary tangles are present inside the brain cell which is important for maintaining the proper structure and function of the cell. The abnormality in the tangle cell disturb the normal cell activity.

The plaques and tangles destroy the connection between the brain cells which makes the worst condition. Plaques and tangles affects the area in beginning in learning and memory and then spread to the other region.

Some scientist say that plaques and tangles destroy communication among nerve cells and disrupt activities that is require for the cell activity.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease

  • Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) are generally used to help to diagnose the alzheimer's disease.
  • Neuropsychological screening test is done to cure the alzheimer's disease.
  • Blood test
  • The drugs like tacrine, donepezil, galantamine prevent the some symptoms of alzheimer's disease.
  • the leaves of Ginkgo biloba help to cure the AD disease.

Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease

  • With the help of Mediterranean diet which include fruits and vegetable we can prevent the AD disease.
  • Avoid smoking which is high risk factor hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes.
  • Intellectual activities like playing chess, completing puzzles and regular social interaction reduce the possibility of alzheimer's disease

Is There Help for Caregivers?

The family member provide the daily care. If the disease is more worst it require more care. It affects to the physical and mental health of caregiver. There are some association are present which encourage to the caregivers and family members of people with AD.

Prognosis of AD

The course of AD is about 5 to 20 year. The main cause of death is infection.

People who suffered from Alzheimer's

  • Former United States President Ronald Reagan
  • Prime Minister of Great Britain Sir Winston Churchill
  • Boxer Sugar Ray Robinson
  • Singer Perry Como


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