What Exactly Is Alzheimer's Disease?

 Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain illness that usually affects persons over the age of 65. There is no cure, but there are therapeutic choices.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative brain illness that causes cognitive functions such as thinking, memory, language, judgment, and learning to deteriorate. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Alzheimer's is not curable, however certain medicines may help you control symptoms.

Alzheimer's disease affects persons 65 and older in more than 90% of instances. According to a March 2021 article published in Alzheimer's & Dementia, around 6.2 million persons aged 65 and older in the United States had Alzheimer's disease in 2021. Without a medical breakthrough, 13.8 million individuals in the United States may develop the condition by 2060, as the population continues to grow. Understanding Alzheimer's disease symptoms, causes, and risk factors is critical.

What is Alzheimer's disease?

People sometimes confuse Alzheimer's disease with dementia. According to the NIA, dementia refers to symptoms of cognitive decline, such as loss of thinking ability, memory, and thinking skills, that have progressed to the point where they interfere with daily activities. Alzheimer's disease causes changes in the brain and is the most common cause of dementia. According to an article published in Nature Reviews Disease Primers in May 2021, approximately 60 to 90 percent of dementia patients have Alzheimer's disease.

People can experience natural cognitive changes as they age. Sometimes you might forget appointments, get things wrong, or have trouble finding the right words. People with Alzheimer's disease experience symptoms that change memory, learning, decision-making and personality. According to a March 2021 report, these signals disrupt everyday life. As the disease progresses, people may experience hallucinations and eventually become unable to care for themselves, the NIA says. There are two types of Alzheimer's disease: early-onset and late-onset. People with early-stage Alzheimer's develop symptoms between the ages of 30 and 60.

 According to the NIA, this occurs in less than 10 percent of Alzheimer's cases.5 Symptoms of late-onset Alzheimer's first appear in the mid-60s. According to StatPearls, people diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimer's live about four to eight years , although some may live into their 20s.6 The younger a person diagnosed with NIA, the longer the time from diagnosis to death. . Alzheimer's disease can also manifest as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). 

This is a condition that affects one or more cognitive abilities (such as memory), but not enough to interfere with everyday life. MCI does not always lead to dementia and can be caused by temporary causes such as drugs, alcohol or head trauma. According to Alzheimers.gov, some people with the condition can recover.8 Nearly half of MCI cases are related to Alzheimer's disease, according to a May 2021 article.

Cause

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease, which means damage to neurons (nerve cells) in the brain. Changes in neurons and loss of connections between neurons cause the brain to shrink and become inflamed. According to a March 2021 report, this process can begin decades before symptoms appear.

Previously, researchers believed that two biological changes in the brain, amyloid plaques and tau granules, were the key to understanding Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid plaques are clumps of the toxic protein beta-amyloid 42 that form on the outside of neurons. Beta-amyloid 42 occurs naturally in the body, but increases to abnormal levels in Alzheimer's disease. Tau granules occur when tau molecules combine abnormally and tangle in neurons. According to the NIA, tau molecules normally stabilize neuronal microtubules (structures that form and transport nutrients through neurons).

 However, a study published in July 2022 suggested that artificial research data may overemphasize the importance of beta-amyloid protein as a key predictor of Alzheimer's disease. It becomes the basis for understanding the situation. However, this result may have implications for other areas of protein theory research. Why these biochemical changes occur and how they affect cognition is a mystery, according to the NIA. Although genetic, environmental and lifestyle risk factors are known, there is no way to know how they affect a person or how the disease can be prevented.

Risk Elements

Age is the most major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, accounting for more than 90% of cases. According to StatPearls, 10% of persons over the age of 65 and 40% of those over the age of 85 have Alzheimer's.6 Other risk factors are:

The genetic code and family history

 While having a family history of Alzheimer's does not guarantee that you will acquire it, it does put you at a higher risk. According to the NIA, genetics is typically the cause of early-onset Alzheimer's.

Vascular (blood vessel) disorders 

According to the NIA, these conditions include high blood pressure (hypertension), heart disease, and stroke. According to the March 2021 study, the brain consumes 20% of the body's oxygen supply, hence a healthy heart is required for proper brain function. Regular physical exercise and a heart-healthy diet, for example, can help lower your risk of heart disease.

Conditions of metabolism

 Diabetes, midlife obesity, and low HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol), according to the May 2021 research, can all increase your risk. According to MedlinePlus, metabolism is the process by which your body converts the food you ingest into energy.

Depression

 According to a July 2020 study published in the journal Lancet Commissions, may raise the risk of Alzheimer's. Antidepressant medication may lessen the risk, although there is no conclusive proof. Depression symptoms can occasionally imitate dementia symptoms or indicate an early stage of Alzheimer's.

Loneliness and social isolation 

According to the NIA, smoking increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression. Participating in more activities with people, on the other hand, may increase cognitive performance.

TBI (traumatic brain injury)

 A stroke is a "disruption of normal brain function caused by a blow or jolt to the head or penetration of the skull by a foreign object," according to a report released in March 2021. Mild TBI is also referred to as a concussion. According to an April 2018 study published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry, a history of TBI raises the risk of Alzheimer's, especially when the TBI is severe or after many TBIs.

A lot of booze

 Use is linked to brain alterations and cognitive difficulties, including dementia. According to a January 2019 article published in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy, it's still uncertain if alcohol usage may induce Alzheimer's.

Smoking

 According to a September 2018 research published in Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, smoking increases risk, but stopping decreases risk, especially for older persons.

Hearing impairment

 According to an August 2019 review published in the International Tinnitus Journal, tinnitus may be linked to Alzheimer's disease, albeit the mechanism is unknown.

Symptoms

Alzheimer's disease typically begins with memory problems, according to the NIA.People may have difficulties recalling recent talks, names, or events, according to the March 2021 research. These changes may appear to be minor at first, but they are far more severe than typical aging. They hinder routine duties. According to the NIA, a person with Alzheimer's disease finds it more harder to make sense of their environment. They gradually lose the ability to function independently.

Early signs of Alzheimer's disease, according to the March 2021 research, include:

• Memory loss that has proceeded to the point of interfering with everyday living

• Inability to complete duties such as paying bills or playing games
• I'm losing count of the times and dates.

• Impaired reasoning and judgment, leading in difficulties with problem solving, decision-making, and tasks like shopping or cooking.

• Visual and spatial difficulties that may have an impact on balance

• New difficulties with speech or writing, such as difficulty finding the proper phrase or repeating themselves

• Isolating oneself from job, hobbies, and social activities

• Mood swings like sadness or anxiety

• Changes in personality, such as increased impulsivity and hostility

Alzheimer's disease is grouped into three phases based on the severity of the symptoms and the degree of care required. The following are the symptoms of each stage:

Mild illness:

 Friends and family members may observe disturbances in daily function, memory loss, and bewilderment, which usually leads to a diagnosis. Most people can maintain their independence at this point. According to the NIA, they may exhibit increasingly poor judgment, anxiety, hostility, and mood and personality changes.

Disease of moderate severity: 

According to the NIA, patients often require additional care during this stage of the illness because damage spreads to new brain locations. As a result, people have difficulty learning new things and executing multistep activities such as dressing. According to the NIA, they may also experience hallucinations and paranoia, impulsive conduct, wandering, and repeated words or gestures.

Severe illness:

 People lose their capacity to speak and care for themselves as damage spreads across the brain. According to the NIA, they may have difficulty eating and managing their bowel and bladder. According to StatPearls, the most prevalent cause of mortality in Alzheimer's patients is aspiration pneumonia, which happens when a person loses their capacity to swallow correctly.

Diagnosis

According to the NIA, early Alzheimer's diagnosis is critical since most existing treatments only function in the early stages of the illness.20 Typically, healthcare practitioners utilize many exams to confirm the diagnosis, such as:

Questions concerning a person's medical history, symptoms, and changes include the following: 

Providers will also consult with those who know the individual, such as acquaintances or family members.

Psychological evaluation: 

Mental health issues, which might mirror Alzheimer's symptoms, must be cleared out.

Cognitive evaluations: 

Memory, problem-solving, concentration, counting, and language may all be tested with them.

Laboratory tests: 

According to StatPearls, they include thyroid hormone and vitamin B12 blood and urine tests.

Imaging examinations: 

Other disorders can be ruled out by a CT scan, MRI, PET scan, or EEG.

Dementia-like symptoms aren't necessarily caused by brain illnesses. Some cognitive-related diseases can be treated to alleviate symptoms. According to the March 2021 study, your healthcare professional can assist you in ruling out the following reasons of cognitive decline:

• Depression

• Untreated sleep apnea—a condition in which your breathing stops throughout sleep.

• Side effects of medication

• Lyme disease is a bacterial illness spread by ticks.

• Thyroid problems

• According to a February 2020 research published in the journal Cureus, several vitamins, such as vitamin B12, are deficient.

• Excessive alcohol consumption

Treatment

Alzheimer's has no known cure. Treatment focuses on symptom management and halting disease progression. According to the NIA, options differ depending on the individual's situation:

Medications for symptom relief: 

The majority of drugs licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) address Alzheimer's symptoms at various stages. According to the NIA, they are only beneficial for a short time since they cannot delay neuron loss, and they do not work for everyone. According to the March 2021 study, healthcare practitioners occasionally give drugs for behavioral and mental symptoms such as violence and hallucinations, but they do so with caution owing to potentially dangerous side effects such as stroke.

Treatment for brain damage: 

Aduhelm (aducanumab) is the first FDA-approved medicine to target an Alzheimer's mechanism. However, it is currently in follow-up studies, with findings expected by early 2030, according to the NIA.2 According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), as of April 2022, Medicare only funded aducanumab for those taking part in research studies.

Non-pharmacological treatments:

 According to the March 2021 study, non-medication therapy may be more helpful for some symptoms, such as aggressiveness and agitation. Non-pharmacological therapies can also aid in the improvement of quality of life and cognitive function. Cardiovascular exercise has been demonstrated to reduce the pace of cognitive deterioration. Music therapy, psychiatric therapy, and memory training may also be beneficial.

Prevention

According to the March 2021 study, there is no method to prevent Alzheimer's disease, however some risks can be reduced:

Control heart disease: 

Maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Consume a heart-healthy diet.

Quit smoking and limit your alcohol consumption.

Regular exercise: 

Physical exercise, particularly cardio, may help to delay illness development.

Maintain cognitive activity: 

Reading, gaming, and creating may all assist to keep the brain healthy. Education, whether formal or informal, is essential.

Keep up your social life:

A diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease for you or a loved one might be terrifying. However, much research is being performed to identify what causes the sickness and what may be done to delay, prevent, or cure it. Talk to your doctor about obtaining a cognitive assessment if you see any cognitive changes in yourself or someone you care about.