Alzheimer’s disease and How to care for your loved ones?
1-What is Alzheimer’s disease?
- Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.
- It is neurodegenerative brain disorder.
- It is a progressive disease that may begin with memory loss or behavioral changes
- It can seriously affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities
- It’s usually starts in middle age or in old age (above 65 years)
Alzheimer’s, Dementia
There are two forms of Alzheimer’s disease
1-Familial:
- This type is hereditary.
- Familial Alzheimer’s disease usually occurs at younger ages.
- Fewer than 5% of all Alzheimer’s cases are familial.
2-Sporadic:
- Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease has no specific genetic link. It is not hereditary.
- Most cases of Alzheimer’s disease are sporadic.
What is the risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease?
- Physical inactivity
- Smoking
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes, high cholesterol
- Depression
- Air pollution
- Less education
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Social Isolation
- Hearing/vision impairment
- Low socioeconomic status
What are the Warnings signs of Alzheimer’s?
- Memory loss that affects day-to-day activities
- Challenges with performing familiar tasks
- Confusion about time and space
- Challenges with language
- Challenges with abstract thinking
- Misplacing items
- Changes in mood or behavior
- Changes in judgment
- Loss of initiative
- Changes to personality
- Can not manage finances
How is conditions diagnosed?
- Your doctor will ask the following.
- Laboratory tests( Biomarkers in blood and CSF)
- Brain imaging: CT scan, MRI, PET
- Mental & Behavioral Assessment
Can Alzheimer’s diseases be cured?
Alzheimer’s disease currently cannot be cured. Medications may help to reduce symptoms and slow disease progression.
There are new disease modifying treatment but they are not available in the Region yet.
Pharmacological
According to your condition and stages your doctor will advise you with the suitable medication to treat the symptoms
Non – pharmacological
- Being physically active can help improve attention, memory, speech and other mental skills
- Brain exercises with a small group of people may improve mood and the mental skills
- Communicate with the patient by using simply, clear words and short sentences, and try to reduce noise around him.
- Provide a calm atmosphere so that patient can communicate and focus.
- Playing games, doing puzzles, and using calendrer can improve alertness
Continuous re orientation by family
What is the most common complications of the disease?
- Poor nutrition
- Pneumonia, choking
- Inability to perform self-care tasks
- Personal safety challenges (injuries and fractures caused by falls
What can I do to protect myself from developing Alzheimer’s?
- Healthy diet
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Regular physical activity
- Cognitive training
- Social engagement
- Prevent and manage high blood pressure.
- Manage blood sugar.
- Quit smoking.
- Avoid excessive alcohol drinking.
- Prevent and correct hearing & vision loss.
- Get enough sleep.