Alzheimer's disease

Symptoms

• Having difficulty to select right words for expressing your thoughts
• Misplace or lose objects often
• Make plan or have difficulty in organising things
• Difficulty in problem solving
• Take long time to complete daily tasks

Causes

• Age: The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease increases as you get older. Most people with Alzheimer's are 65 or older.
• Genetics: Some people are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease because of their genes. If a close relative, such as a parent or grandparent, has or had Alzheimer's disease, your risk of developing the disease may be higher.
• Other medical conditions: Some medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, have been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
• Lifestyle factors: Some research suggests that certain lifestyle factors, such as not getting enough physical exercise, smoking, and not eating a healthy diet, may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Risk factors

• Age
• Depression
• Genetics
• High cholesterol
• Traumatic head injury
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Cardiovascular disease
• High pressure
• Smoking

Complications

• Difficulty speaking, swallowing, and communicating: As the disease progresses, people with Alzheimer's may have difficulty speaking, understanding speech, and expressing themselves. They may also have trouble swallowing, which can lead to malnutrition and increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia.
• Physical decline: Alzheimer's disease can cause people to become increasingly physically frail, with a decrease in muscle strength and mobility. This can lead to a greater risk of falls and injuries.
• Behavioural changes: People with Alzheimer's disease may experience changes in their behaviour, such as agitation, anxiety, and aggression. These changes can be difficult for caregivers to manage and may lead to feelings of stress and burnout.
• Depression: People with Alzheimer's disease may experience feelings of sadness and hopelessness, which can lead to depression. Depression is a common complication of Alzheimer's disease and can be treated with medications and therapy.
• Increased risk of infections: As the immune system becomes weaker in people with Alzheimer's disease, they may be more susceptible to infections, such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections.

How to diagnose it?

The healthcare experts opt for various methods to know whether a person with memory issues has Alzheimer’s disease. This is mainly because many conditions, particularly neurological conditions may be the reason for dementia and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

The provider asks important questions to know about your health condition in a better way. He may even ask someone in your family or friends to detect other possible symptoms for the disease. This can be:

• Overall health condition
• Present medications
• Medical record
• Ability to perform routine activities
• Change in mood, personality and behaviour

How to prevent it?

• Remain mentally active – Play crossword puzzles, board games, musical instruments or other hobbies that require brain power.
• Stay physically active – Exercise increases flow of blood and oxygen to your brain, which can affect the health of brain cells. Wear protective headgear when taking part in activities that enhance the chances of a head injury.
• Get socially active – Talk with your friends and family and join group activities, such as exercise classes, community volunteer work or book club.
• Eat healthy food – Take a well-balanced diet which includes antioxidants and drink alcohol in moderation.

When do you need to see a doctor?

When you or your loved ones suffer from memory loss or thinking problems, you should visit a healthcare expert immediately. They may help to find out whether the issues are happening due to Alzheimer’s or some other condition. When you are diagnosed with this condition, the experts will evaluate the progress of your condition and ensure the plan works for you.

FAQs