Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent type of dementia, which is defined as a loss of capacity to recall, think, or make decisions. In the United States, Alzheimer's disease is the seventh largest cause of mortality.
Memory loss and other losses in mental function define it. While there is no cure for Alzheimer's, research has discovered certain things you may do to lower your chance of having the illness. In any case, establishing these behaviors is a good idea because they provide several additional health benefits.
Here's everything you need to know about the danger of Alzheimer's disease and what you can do to reduce your chances.
Who is the most vulnerable?
More than five million people in the United States are affected with Alzheimer's disease. It is more likely to develop as you become older. Most persons who get this condition do not exhibit symptoms until they are around the age of 65. This is the most frequent kind of Alzheimer's disease, sometimes known as late-onset Alzheimer's.
Early-onset Alzheimer's disease is a less prevalent kind. It affects just approximately 10% of Alzheimer's patients. As the name suggests, early-onset Alzheimer's disease develops before the age of 65. Symptoms might appear at any moment between the ages of 30 and 60.
Genetics
While research in the topic is still ongoing, genetics appears to be at least slightly implicated in both early-onset and late-onset Alzheimer's.
At least in some cases, genetic alterations appear to be the cause of early-onset Alzheimer's. The reasons of late-onset Alzheimer's disease remain unknown. Instead than being caused by a single reason, this type of Alzheimer's is most likely caused by a mix of genetics, environmental factors, and lifestyle decisions.
People with Down syndrome are more prone to acquire Alzheimer's disease, and symptoms may appear as early as their 40s. Down syndrome is caused by a genetic abnormality that results in three copies of chromosome 21 (rather than two). This chromosome is significant because it is involved in amyloid formation.
Amyloid is a protein seen in large clumps in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. These aggregates are known as plaque. Its function is not entirely known, however it is currently thought that the existence of amyloid plaque is a brain alteration associated with Alzheimer's.
How to Lower Your Risk
Based on our present understanding of the illness, we do not know how to prevent Alzheimer's. However, there are several risk factors that may raise a person's chances of having it.
Unfortunately, the most significant risk factor is one over which we have no control: our age. Another thing we have no control over is our genetic composition.
While there are no guarantees, concentrating on our lifestyle and behavior may help us minimize our chance of acquiring Alzheimer's. When we fight to avoid diseases like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes, our chances of having Alzheimer's reduce. We may do this by adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Habits of Daily Life
A healthy lifestyle offers several health benefits, including the chance of keeping your brain bright as you age. Here are some specific things you can do, or may already be doing, to live a healthy lifestyle and maybe lower your risk of Alzheimer's:
Maintain management of high blood pressure:
High blood pressure is harmful to many parts of the body, including the brain. Monitoring and managing your blood pressure will also benefit your blood vessels and heart.
Control your blood sugar (glucose):
Consistently having high blood sugar levels might raise your risk of several illnesses and ailments, including issues with memory, learning, and focus.
Maintain a healthy weight:
Obesity is clearly connected to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other illnesses. What is less known is how to effectively quantify obesity. Several studies have found that the waist-to-height ratio is one of the most reliable indicators of obesity-related illnesses.
Maintain a healthy diet:
Consume a diverse range of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and seafood, unsaturated fats such as olive oil, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products. Reduce your intake of additional fats and sweets, particularly ultra-processed meals.
Engage in physical activity:
Aside from putative Alzheimer's protection, exercise provides several health advantages. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. This may be 30 minutes of walking or cycling five days a week.
Maintain your mental activity:
You can accomplish this by playing board games or word, logic, or numerical puzzles. Try your hand at painting, writing, sculpting, or crafts. Read a book, learn a new skill, work or volunteer, and socialize to keep your mind active.
Keep in touch:
Isolation and loneliness might raise your chances of developing Alzheimer's. Maintaining social connectivity can be achieved by staying in touch with loved ones, joining a group, or participating in another social activity.
Seek therapy for hearing loss:
Communication with others may be more challenging if you are unable to hear well. To assist prevent hearing loss, you should also shield your ears from loud noises.
Sleep:
Sleep is critical for both our bodies and our thoughts. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep every night, and consult a doctor if you are having trouble sleeping.
Avoiding falls and head injuries:
Head injuries are linked to an increased risk of acquiring Alzheimer's.8 Falls are a significant cause of head injuries in older persons. You may lower your risk of falling by fall-proofing your house, wearing supportive shoes with nonskid bottoms, and participating in fall prevention programs.
Consume alcohol in moderation:
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to falls and make other health concerns worse, including memory loss. Reducing intake to one or two drinks a day (at most) can assist.
Avoid smoking:
You will enhance your health by lowering your risk of major illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and certain cancers by avoiding smoking. You may also be less prone to get Alzheimer's.
Again, there is no guarantee that doing any of these things will keep you from developing Alzheimer's. However, if you follow these suggestions, you will be helping yourself in more ways than one. That's because you'll be minimizing your chances of having numerous other health problems at the same time. There is no damage done by checking off as many of these boxes as you can.
Screenings and testing
It is critical to maintain both your mental and physical wellness. Having your yearly physical can assist you and your healthcare provider monitor your health and do any necessary extra tests. They may also make sure you obtain all of the tests that are suggested for your age and gender.
If you start having memory issues, your doctor will do tests to see if they are caused by Alzheimer's or something else. They'll question about your overall health, drugs (including supplements), food, medical concerns, capacity to accomplish everyday duties, and changes in behavior or personality.You may be hesitant to allow them to speak with a family member, but your loved ones may detect changes in your habit or personality (early indicators of Alzheimer's) before you do, providing crucial information to your provider.
If your provider suspects you have Alzheimer's disease or another kind of dementia, they may evaluate your memory, problem-solving abilities, attention, counting, and language. Standard medical testing, such as blood and urine tests, can also aid in the identification of probable causes of the condition.
In some circumstances, doctors may recommend brain scans. Medical tests such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) are normally used to rule out other cognitive diseases, although they can also identify shrinkage associated with Alzheimer's disease.1 Amyloid plaques can be visualized with a particular type of PET scan called an Amyloid PET and an autopsy.
Consult Your Healthcare Provider
Alzheimer's is a disease that worsens with time. It begins gradually. As a result, it may be difficult to distinguish the early signs of the condition from normal amnesia at first.
Here are some of the most prevalent indications and symptoms to be aware of. But keep in mind that everyone is unique. Some Alzheimer's patients exhibit only a handful of these symptoms. Others may have a number of them.
- When compared to persons of the same age, you are having difficulty finding words or coming up with words.
- Having trouble identifying people and naming items
- Having eyesight and spatial issues; feeling lost or confused even in familiar surroundings
- Poor reasoning or judgment, which can impair decision-making abilities
- Having trouble managing your money and paying your expenses
- It is taking longer than usual to conduct routine everyday duties.
- Asking the same questions again and over
- Wandering and getting lost, even in familiar settings like your neighborhood or the grocery store
- Misplacing items or placing them in unusual locations
- Exhibiting changes in mood and demeanor, such as increased anxiety and/or hostility
It is critical to get therapy as soon as possible. A variety of different illnesses can generate symptoms similar to Alzheimer's. Some of these problems can be reversed if caught early enough.
A Quick Recap
Alzheimer's is a disease that causes memory loss and other cognitive deterioration. It generally begins around the age of 65. Although it is less prevalent, it might happen in your 30s or later. Unfortunately, the most important risk factor—age—is uncontrollable.
Even if you are predisposed to Alzheimer's disease due to hereditary factors, you may be able to minimize your risk by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Developing healthy behaviors will also reduce your chance of developing other disorders such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes.
If you suspect that you or someone you know is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, consult a healthcare practitioner. Healthcare practitioners can do tests to establish what's causing the symptoms and treat it accordingly.
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