Alzheimer's disease

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that attacks and destroys brain nerve cells or neurons eventually killing the cells. It is the most common form of dementia (around 50-60% of all cases of dementia). it affects 1 in 20 people over the age of 65 and 1 in 1000 people under the age of 65. Although it affects more people over the age of 65 it doesn’t mean that age is the cause of the disease. Patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease suffer from memory loss, thinking difficulty, loss of language skills and changes in behaviour. No one is immune to this disease. Alzheimer’s disease is named after Dr Alois Alzheimer’s. In 1906 he noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who died from an unusual mental illness. Her symptoms included loss of memory, language problems and unpredictable behaviour. After her death he examined her brain and found abnormal protein fragments called plagues and tangles. These protein fragments are the two major features of Alzheimer’s disease. The third is the loss of connection between nerve cells and the brain.

Symptoms

The first sign of Alzheimer’s is memory loss, followed by personality changes and then progresses to loss of control over bodily functions. These changes happen over a long period of time. The early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, the symptoms are not immediately present but the patient starts to suffer from short memory lapses (e.g. forgetting faces of familiar people).

At the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s patients often lose cognitive function rapidly, forgetting recent events and even personal history. They also start to experience personality changes and often suffer from hallucinations. Patients with severe Alzheimer’s disease require...

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...er’s disease. The medication prescribed to Alzheimer’s patients can only delay the developments of Alzheimer’s. Donepezil, Galantamine and Rivastigmine are prescribed to patients with mild and moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine can be prescribed either to patients with severe Alzheimer’s disease.

These medications can only be prescribed by specialist such as neurologists and psychiatrists

Prevention

Alzheimer’s is a complex disorder, and it cannot be prevented yet. Researchers have discovered that there might be a possibility that it can be prevented or the symptoms can be delayed through a combination of healthful habits. Research being carried out by scientists, show hope that one day the development of Alzheimer’s disease can slowed down or cured. But essential steps can be taken to delay the arrival of Alzheimer’s. These include lifestyle interventions.