What is Alzheimer’s Disease? Causes, Symptoms, Causes and Prevention.

Learn about Alzheimer’s disease, its causes, symptoms, and prevention tips to maintain brain health. Get insights now!

Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that deteriorates with time. It involves changes in the brain triggered by certain protein deposits. Alzheimer’s disease leads to the shrinking of the brain and ultimately to the death of brain cells. It is the most common cause of dementia, resulting in a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behaviour, and social skills, which can significantly impact a person’s ability to function.

In the United States, approximately 6.5 million people aged 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s disease, with over 70% being aged 75 and older. Globally, an estimated 60% to 70% of approximately 55 million people with dementia are believed to have Alzheimer’s disease.

Signs and Symptoms

Initial indications of the illness involve difficulty remembering recent events or discussions. As time goes on, this evolves into notable memory impairments and challenges in carrying out routine activities.

Medications can help manage symptoms, either slowing down or alleviating their severity. Programs and services can assist those affected by the disease and their caregivers.

Treatment and Management

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. In advanced stages, severe cognitive impairment can result from dehydration, malnutrition, or infections, which can lead to complications and even death.

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Symptoms

Loss of Memory is a key symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. Difficulty remembering recent events or conversations is common in the early stages. As the disease progresses, memory loss worsens, accompanied by other symptoms.

Changes in Personality and Behavior

Alzheimer ‘s-related brain changes can lead to increased agitation and frustration, affecting mood and behaviour. Issues may include:

• Mental stress.
• Loss of interest in activities.
• Social withdrawal.
• Mood swings.
• Distrust of others.
• Anger or aggression.
• Changes in sleep habits.
• Delusions, For example, having the belief that something has been stolen.

Preservation of Skills

Despite significant changes in memory and abilities, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease can retain some skills. Engaging in activities such as reading, storytelling, sharing memories, singing, listening to music, dancing, drawing, or crafting can help preserve these skills, as they are controlled by brain areas less affected by the disease’s progression.

When to See a Doctor

Several conditions can result in memory loss or other signs of dementia. Some of these conditions can be treated. If you’re concerned about your memory or other thinking skills, talk to your health care professional.

If you’re worried about thinking skills you’ve noticed in a family member or friend, talk about your concerns and ask about seeing a healthcare professional together to discuss healthcare.

Symptoms

The onset of Alzheimer’s disease begins years before the first signs appear. The damage often starts in the part of the brain that controls memory. The damage to neurons then spreads to other regions of the brain to some extent. By the final stages of the disease, the brain has significantly shrunk.

Researchers studying the causes of Alzheimer’s disease are focusing on two proteins:

1. Plaques: Beta-amyloid is a piece of a larger protein. When these pieces come together, it seems as if they have a toxic effect on neurons, disrupting communication between brain cells. They form large deposits called amyloid plaques, which also include other cellular debris.
2. Tangles: Tau proteins play a role in transporting essential materials and nutrients into the interior of nerve cells. In Alzheimer’s disease, tau proteins change shape and come together to form structures known as neurofibrillary tangles. This causes problems with the transportation system in the brain and harms cells.

Causes

The precise reasons behind Alzheimer’s disease are not completely comprehended. However, at a fundamental level, brain proteins fail to function as usual. This disrupts brain cell function, known as neurons, and initiates a cascade of events. Neurons deteriorate and lose contact with each other. They eventually die.

Scientists believe that for most people, Alzheimer’s disease results from a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that affect the brain over time. In fewer than 1% of cases, Alzheimer’s is caused by specific genetic changes that virtually guarantee a person will develop the disease. Typically, Alzheimer’s disease starts to show up in people around middle age.

Factors of Risk

Age

Growing older is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s isn’t a natural part of ageing, but as you get older, the chances of developing it increase.

Research shows that annually, among 1,000 individuals aged 65 to 74, four new diagnoses occur. For those aged 75 to 84, there are 32 new diagnoses per 1,000 individuals. And for those aged 85 and above, there are 76 new diagnoses per 1,000 individuals.

Family History and Genetics

If a first-degree relative—like your parents or siblings—has this disease, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s increases. The extent to which genetics affect risk within families isn’t entirely clear, and genetic factors can be complex.

One well-understood genetic element is a form of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene. One form of this gene, APOE e4, increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Approximately 25% to 30% of the population carries APOE e4. However, not everyone with this form of the gene develops the disease.

Scientists have identified unusual variations in three genes that practically guarantee a person inheriting one of them will develop Alzheimer’s. However, these variations occur in less than 1% of people with Alzheimer’s.

Down Syndrome

A lot of individuals with Down syndrome end up developing Alzheimer’s disease. This connection may be due to having three copies of chromosome 21. Chromosome 21 is the gene involved in producing a protein that contributes to beta-amyloid formation. Fragments of beta-amyloid can form plaques in the brain. Symptoms in people with Down syndrome typically appear 10 to 20 years earlier than in the general population.

Sex

Overall, more women are affected by the disease than men because women tend to live longer than men.

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) involves a decline in a person’s memory or other thinking skills that is greater than expected for their age. However, it doesn’t interfere with their ability to function socially or at work.

However, individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are much more likely to develop dementia. When MCI primarily affects memory, the likelihood of progressing to dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease increases. A diagnosis of MCI provides an opportunity for people to pay more attention to lifestyle changes and engage in practices to address memory loss. They can also schedule regular check-ups to monitor symptoms.

Head Injury

Several large studies have shown that people aged 50 and older who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at increased risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The risk is even higher in those with more severe and multiple TBIs. Some studies have found that the risk may be highest within the first six months to two years after the injury.

Air Pollution

Research on animals has shown that particles from air pollution can accelerate damage to the nervous system. Human studies have linked exposure to air pollution—especially from traffic routes and burning wood—to a higher risk of dementia.

Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Drinking alcohol in large quantities can contribute to cognitive changes. Several large studies and reviews have found that the harmful effects of alcohol use are associated with an increased risk of dementia, particularly in the onset of dementia.

Poor Sleep Patterns

Research has shown that sleep disturbances, such as insomnia or sleeping too much, are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Lifestyle and Heart Health

It has been proven through research that factors associated with heart disease can also increase the risk of dementia. It’s not clear whether these factors worsen changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s or increase the risk of dementia by affecting vascular changes in the brain. These factors include:

• Lack of exercise.
• Obesity.
• Tobacco use or exposure to secondhand smoke.
• High blood pressure.
• Elevated cholesterol.
• Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

All of these factors can be modified. Therefore, changing lifestyle habits can alter your risk to some extent. For example, regular exercise and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables with low saturated fat are associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Lifelong Learning and Social Engagement

Studies have shown that being socially and intellectually engaged throughout life can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Lower levels of education—less than a high school education—are known risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.

Complexities

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s, such as memory loss, language impairment, poor judgment, and other brain changes, can make managing other health conditions difficult. People with Alzheimer’s disease cannot:

• Express pain or discomfort.
• Describe other symptoms of illness.
• Follow a treatment plan.
• Understand the adverse effects of medication.

As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, changes in the brain can begin to affect physical abilities. Changes can affect swallowing, balance, and control of movements, leading to:

• Falls
• Fractures
• Choking
• Bedsores
• Nutritional deficiencies or dehydration.
• Constipation or diarrhoea.
• Dental issues such as mouth sores or tooth decay.

Prevention

Alzheimer’s disease is not a curable condition. However, many risk factors can be modified. Evidence suggests that taking steps to reduce the risk of heart disease can also reduce the risk of developing dementia.

To act on healthy lifestyle choices for heart health that can reduce the risk of dementia:

• Regular exercise.
• Eat fresh, healthy fats and oils, and a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
• Follow treatment guidelines for managing high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
• Seek help from a healthcare professional to quit smoking if you smoke.

A large, long-term study conducted in Finland found that making lifestyle changes reduced cognitive decline in those at risk of dementia. Study participants received individual and group sessions focused on diet, exercise, and social activities.

Another study in Australia found that people at high risk for dementia who received coaching sessions about dietary, exercise, and other lifestyle changes had better results on cognitive tests one, two, and three years later compared to those who did not receive coaching.

Other studies have shown that being mentally and socially active in later life is associated with preserved cognitive abilities and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. This includes activities such as attending social events, reading, dancing, playing board games, engaging in artistic creation, playing a musical instrument, and other hobbies.