The disease is basically something that creates disorder in human beings, animals, or plants. It affects the normal functioning of the body and one can identify with the help of various signs and symptoms.
Before understanding the concept of Alzheimer’s, it is better to understand what exactly is dementia?
Meaning of Alzheimer’s
Dementia refers to those symptoms in human beings which results in memory loss, reasoning skills, and other thinking abilities. Alzheimer’s is also one of the most common diseases that can be seen in people age 60 or more. Thus, accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. It can also be understood as a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities. These also affect our normal life just as dementia.
Though it is not related to the age of a person, yet its risk increases with the increases in age. The majority of people that suffer from Alzheimer’s are always 60 and above. It is a disease that gets worst over time. It shows mild symptoms of memory loss in the starting but in later stages, people start losing the ability to recognize conversations and their environments as well.
On the basis of the factors and symptoms, a person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease can live for four to eight years but this period can also be 20 years which means it varies from person to person. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s but one can treat for the symptoms which reduce the worsening of dementia and in result slows down the progress of Alzheimer’s.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
There are various symptoms that can help the doctor to identify whether a person is suffering from Alzheimer’s or not? The most common symptom comprises of memory loss. Most of the time people face issues related to slow down of thinking process and remembering things. This change in the mind, memory loss, and confusion shows that cells of the brain are failing rapidly and thus depicts that the person might be suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Difficulty in remembering information is also a symptom of Alzheimer’s. Along with this, changes in behavior, disorientation and change in mood, confusion, suspicion and difficulty in speaking, walking and swallowing are some other symptoms that can be noticed with the advancing of Alzheimer’s. Slowly, people suffering from this disease find even the simplest task harder to complete. Briefly, it can be said that memory loss, the ability of a person to remind the things and changes in behavior are the most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
Causes of Alzheimer’s
According to scientists, Alzheimer’s is a disease that is a result of the surrounding factors, lifestyle and genetic reasons. But actually, the main reason behind this disease is still unknown. Researchers have found that when brain proteins stop functioning. It disrupts the working of the neurons (brain cells) and starts releasing toxic events. After the damage of neurons, they lose connections with each other and thus die.
Plaques and tangles are two prime suspects that play a major role in damaging nerve cells. Experts believe that they block the communication among the nerve cells. In a result, this disrupts the whole process that leads to the survival of the brain cells. As a result, the death of the nerve cells causes memory failure, changes in behavior and makes life abnormal.
Prevention
Lack of exercise, high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and other changes in lifestyle can also have a great impact on the progress of Alzheimer’s disease. Although it is not a preventable disease some changes in daily life can help to minimize its risk. A good diet, daily exercise, a healthy lifestyle, proper treatment of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s up to great extent.
Additionally, quitting smoking and adding some good habits such as dancing, playing games, playing instruments, listening to music, reading books and involvement in other activities can also help in preserving thinking and reasoning skills.
Conclusion
Alzheimer’s is not a disease that can be prevented or cured by medicines. It is a disease that is related to a normal lifestyle and habits. Age, family history and genetics, down syndrome, mild cognitive impairment, any past trauma, poor sleep patterns and other social engagement are some factors that explain the risk of Alzheimer’s in your life. Thus it is a suggestion always to interact with people in your surroundings and follow a healthy lifestyle. This simple thing will keep yourself away from the reach of this problem.
JaipurNeuro provides Alzheimer’s disease treatment in Jaipur. Dr. Vikram Bohra is a leading neurologist in Jaipur, specialized in treating brain strokes, hemorrhage, epilepsy, and other neurological disorder treatments.
