Why is Alzheimer's on the rise? Know all about it
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and most common type of dementia. It affects the brain, memory, thinking, and behavior negatively. Alzheimer’s affects the parts of the brain that control memory, thought, and language. It begins with mild memory loss and leads to possible loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond.
People get diagnosed with this disease mainly after the age of 65. A person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s before 65 is known as an ‘early onset’ or ‘younger-onset’ of AD.
Why do researchers believe that Alzheimer’s disease will triple by 2050?
Primary reasons include a bad lifestyle and an aging population. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health study estimates that more than 106 million people will live with Alzheimer’s by 2050. That is- 1 in every 85 people will suffer from AD. They also claimed that half of those living with AD would require high levels of medical care. Owing to increased risk, it is no wonder that Alzheimer’s disease is referred to as a global epidemic.
Poor lifestyle and diet may contribute to the predicted increase in Alzheimer’s patients. Alzheimer’s disease can have a range of causes, like brain injuries, but sometimes the cause is unknown. As of now, Alzheimer’s is incurable, but treatment can help slow down the further progression of the disease.
Known facts about Alzheimer's
We do not yet fully understand Alzheimer’s disease and its causes. Some of the known facts about Alzheimer’s disease are:
- Old age is one of the crucial factors for Alzheimer’s disease. However, it is not a typical sign of aging.
- Alzheimer’s disease in humans is linked with the deficiency of Acetylcholine. It is an irreversible, progressive disorder in which brain cells deteriorate, resulting in the loss of cognitive functions, primarily memory, judgment and reasoning, movement coordination, and pattern recognition.
- Alzheimer’s is a chronic disease. In the advanced stages of the disease, all memory and mental functioning may be lost.
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease differ from each other. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia.
- Although anyone can have Alzheimer’s, people with a family history of this disease are at risk. Genetics plays a role in developing this disease, but a healthy lifestyle emphasizing mental health reduces the risk of AD.
- Changes in the brain due to Alzheimer’s can begin years before the first symptoms appear.
- There is no defined or expected result for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. People may live a long time with mild symptoms and damage, while some may experience a quick, rapid onset of symptoms.
- There are seven stages of Alzheimer’s. Stages 1 to 3 are pre-dementia and mild cognitive impairment. In these stages, a person faces memory loss, reduced concentration, and reduced problem-solving ability. Stages 4 to 7 are dementia. Symptoms worsen with progressing stages. A person can have no facial expressions, limited movement, and loss of speech in the final step.
- There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but care, psychological treatment, and medication improve the quality of the person’s life.
Alzheimer's diseases risk factors
Scientists are unable to find the root cause of Alzheimer’s disease but have identified certain risk factors:
- Old age
- Family history
- Genetics
- Depression
- Smoking
- Cardiovascular disease
- Brain injury or trauma
How is Alzheimer's in Humans linked to the deficiency of Acetylcholine?
Among its many functions, Acetylcholine slows the heart rate, dilates blood vessels, increases body secretions, smooth muscle contractions, etc. Research indicates that reduced concentration and function of acetylcholine results in Alzheimer’s disease. Various cognitive, behavioral, and psychological issues are seen in this disorder.
Donepezil and rivastigmine are prescribed for early to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s disease. They help to maintain high levels of Acetylcholine in the brain. This allows the nerve cells to send and receive signals better. This eases some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine is prescribed to assist in blocking the effects of excessive glutamate. Glutamate is a type of brain chemical that, if released in high amounts, is responsible for damaging brain cells.
Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
People living with Alzheimer’s tend to have episodes of forgetfulness from time to time. These minor memory problems are the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The symptoms can range from forgetting the names of people, places, or objects to having difficulty remembering recent events or conversations.
As the disease deepens, patients lose the ability to perform basic daily tasks. This leads to severe disorientation. It is a terrible disease for patients and their families to cope with.
Some symptoms and behaviors worsen with the gradual advent of the disease. These are:
- Having a hard time making decisions or planning
- Getting lost or confused in familiar places
- Affecting daily activities because of memory loss like forgetting an appointment
- Difficulty in doing simple and everyday tasks, like using a microwave
- Having problems with language and speech
- Hallucinating
- Severe mood changes and anxiety
- Personality changes such as being demanding or aggressive
- Difficulties in problem-solving
These signs do not particularly mean that a person has Alzheimer’s. You should consult a doctor and then determine the cause of these symptoms. These symptoms progressively grow according to the stage of the disease. In the later stages, people often lose the ability to talk, move or respond to things happening around them.
Alzheimer's tests
There are no defined tests for Alzheimer’s. So, to get a diagnosis, you can get mental, neurological, imaging, and physical examinations and reach out to a doctor. The tests will allow your doctor to assess your long-term memory, short-term memory, and brain orientation to place and time.
The physical tests will check your heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature and assess your urine or blood samples. The neurological examination helps to check for other possible diagnoses like acute medical issues or infections. This test contains your reflexes, speech, and muscle tone.
Other tests might include brain imaging tests such as Magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI scan) and Computed tomography scan (CT scan). The MRI helps pick up key markers such as bleeding, structural issues, and inflammation. The CT scans are X-ray images that allow your doctor to check for any negative characteristics in your brain. Tests might be conducted to check for genes indicating a higher risk for Alzheimer’s. By doing these tests, your doctor can assess your condition and determine if a person has Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer's medication
Though incurable, Alzheimer’s medications help relieve some symptoms and slow the progressive growth of the disease. Your doctor can prescribe medicines and treatments to help you delay this condition.
Cognitive stimulation therapy is a psychological treatment that helps memory, speech, language, problem-solving skills, and the ability to do daily tasks. A psychotherapist or psychology professional from PsychiCare can help you improve the quality of your life along all the stages of Alzheimer’s.
A strategic plan will assist in simplifying tasks, creating a calm environment, using relaxation techniques, ensuring enough rest, limiting confusion, etc.
You may also be prescribed some antidepressants or antipsychotics to help better the symptoms related to Alzheimer’s disease. These medicines help with depression, hallucinations, and agitation and help with sleeping problems at night.
Why is there no cure for Alzheimer's?
Primarily men and women over 65 develop Alzheimer’s disease. Nearly 36 million people live with the disease worldwide. This disease is currently the fifth highest cause of death for men and women over the age of 65 around the world. Sadly, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s.
Sadly, the mistaken belief that Alzheimer’s only affects older people contributes to this underfunding. Some people living with Alzheimer’s are in their 40s. About five to ten percent of those living with the disease are under 65. In addition to causing anxiety, depression, and exhaustion in caregivers and loved ones, Alzheimer’s has a disproportionately high socioeconomic impact.
Underfunding is not the only roadblock here to a cure. The human brain is highly complex, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most challenging disease of the brain. The competing theris of Alzheimer’s pose a significant challenge.
The path toward a cure is not easy. Even if the theories lead to medication development, these drugs might fail for other reasons.
Alzheimer’s is a chronic disease present 20 to 30 years before the first symptoms become apparent. Administering the drugs when symptoms show up might be too late to make any difference. But we cannot diagnose it before the first symptoms. We need to keep in mind the potential risks of giving a toxic drug for the long-term to someone who might not be affected in three decades.
The chronic nature of Alzheimer’s requires lengthy, expensive trials before a breakthrough can be achieved. Such time and expense are a further impediment to drug development. And often, people who come in for treatment already have many physical health issues due to aging.
Conclusion
Finally, Alzheimer’s is a complicated disease that scientists are still working on and finding its causes and treatments. A person living a healthy lifestyle can prevent and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. If you have a history of Alzheimer’s in the family, getting tested and consulting with a doctor is essential. It is crucial to get check-ups because once Alzheimer’s is diagnosed; the progression of the disease cannot be stopped.
If you observe you or your loved one might have Alzheimer’s, consult with a doctor. Psychotherapists and Psychologists at PsychiCare can help you with Alzheimer’s, discuss your condition and what treatments to follow. Medicines can help delay symptoms and improve the quality of your life. Lastly, support your loved one with Alzheimer’s and surround them with a positive and healthy environment.
Sources
Why is Alzheimer’s disease considered incurable? | NEWS.am Medicine – All about health and medicine
Why don’t we have a cure for Alzheimer’s disease? (theconversation.com)
Is Alzheimer’s Disease On The Rise? (agemattersclinic.com)
What is Alzheimer’s Disease? | CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm
