5 Things You Must Know About Alzheimer's Disease

More than 5 million people in America have Alzheimer's disease, and those numbers are increasing. However, the exact cause remains a mystery. Here are five facts about Alzheimer's you should know.

What is Alzheimer's?

Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease that occurs when the brain deteriorates. Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging. The illness can occur in people of any age, from the very young to the very old, and every ethnic group in the world. The brain shrinkage or deterioration can change the person's ability to carry out tasks and remember day-to-day living skills.

There are three types of Alzheimer's:

Mild: This is when people lose memory and speech but still manage to live alone.

Moderately severe: As dementia progresses, people lose their ability to perform tasks and have difficulty carrying out daily activities.

Severe: At this stage, people experience memory loss, confusion, and irritability.

The early symptoms of Alzheimer's often aren't severe enough to make someone think they have the disease. Early detection is vital to treat the infection before it can become unbearable.

What are the known causes?

Researchers have found that inherited genetic mutations cause at least some cases of Alzheimer's disease. In these cases, the person inherits a mutation from each parent, doubling the risk of developing Alzheimer's, which include:

APOE-e4

APP

PS-1

PS-2

Alzheimer's-related brain changes may occur when an interplay of abnormal Tau and Beta-Amyloid proteins and additional variables. It suggests that dysfunctional Tau builds in memory-related brain areas, while Beta-Amyloid clumps into plaques between neurons. As the level of Beta-Amyloid reaches a tipping point, Tau spreads across the hippocampus.

What does Alzheimer's Look Like In A Person?

The earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease are mild. The condition diagnosis is between 60 and 80 years of age, but it can begin at any age. Symptoms include memory loss and confusion. The brain slowly loses cells and is unable to function correctly.

When a person has Alzheimer's, this part of the brain deteriorates to a point where they can no longer remember things. In addition, it gets worse, and their ability to interact with the rest of the world becomes impaired.

Who is prone to Alzheimer's?

You are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease if your grandmother or grandfather had it. Studies have shown that women are more likely to develop the condition than men. African-Americans and Hispanics are also more likely to develop Alzheimer's. Other family members such as an uncle or aunt, a cousin, or a sibling may also be at risk. You are at a disadvantage if you have first-degree family members with an Alzheimer's disease genetic history, such as a parent, spouse, or sibling.

Active people appear to be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. For years, scientists believed that if people exercised, their brains would eventually become more prominent and better able to handle cognitive challenges.

How do we treat Alzheimer's?

There's still no cure for the illness, but there are ways to treat symptoms and slow their progression. Several companies unlawfully promote products such as Alzheimer's supplements to reduce the risk of developing or curing Alzheimer's disease.

The drugs currently approved to treat cognitive symptoms are cholinesterase inhibitors and glutamate regulators.

Donepezil

Galantamine

Rivastigmine

Memantine

Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer's:

Avoid certain foods

Quit smoking

Maintain a healthy weight

Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control.

What is the future of Alzheimer's?

The Alzheimer's Association is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support, and research. The Association is the primary source of funding for Alzheimer's research. Future treatments will use a combination of medications that attack several targets. The illness is extensive and poorly understood, so numerous factors may influence the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Now that you have more advanced knowledge of this life-altering disease take a moment to consider how you may assist someone you know with whom Alzheimer's has taken over. You can provide companionship or organize social activities and make sure they take their medicine.