Overview
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia we know. It is known to involve parts of the brain which regulate thought, memory and speech/language. The disorder is marked by cognitive impairment that interferes with occupational functioning. Alzheimer’s disease, though incurable, is still manageable.
In 1901, Dr. Alzheimer who was a psychiatrist from Germany had observed a female patient in an asylum. She had suffered from short-term memory loss, which was accompanied by other behavioural symptoms.
After her death in 1906, Dr. Alzheimer sent her brain and medical records to a laboratory in Munich. Brain sections were stained. Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles were identified.
Epidemiology
- More than 5 million American nationals lived with Alzheimer’s disease in 2020
- It is among the leading causes of death in the US, ranking among the top 10.
- Alzheimer’s disease mostly affects African Americans and hispanics.
- Young individuals can get Alzheimer’s disease too , but chances are low.
Risks
- Age. It is more common in older population, especially those above 65 years.
- Family history of Alzheimer’s disease
Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are classified into four major stages;
- Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease
- Mild Alzheimer’s disease
- Moderate Alzheimer’s disease
- Severe Alzheimer’s disease
Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease
Patient appears completely normal
Mild Alzheimer’s disease
- Memory loss
- Anxiety
- Mood changes
- Confused about location of familiar places
- Inability to accomplish simple, daily tasks
Moderate Alzheimer’s disease
- Shorter span of attention
- Impulse control is lost
- Delusions and paranoia
- Inability to recognize close friends or even family members
Severe Alzheimer’s disease
- Weight loss
- Lack of bladder control
- Lack of bowel control
- Seizures
- Skin infections
The presence of any or all of the above signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that Alzheimer’s disease
is present.
8 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease are shown here;
- A person withdraws from social activities such as attending weddings and church services.
- Mood changes. They suddenly suffer from unplanned changes in personality.
- Misplacing objects and not being able to retrace steps. For example, placing credit cards in a closet and completely forgetting, unable to find them.
- Trouble following through a piece of writing or listening to a conversation
- Inability to locate yourself (the place where you are) and correct time of the day
- Loss of memory
- Difficulty planning activities and solving minor issues
- Completing simple duties becomes problematic
Diagnosis
- Healthcare professionals utilize various ways to check and see if an individual memory problems might be having Alzheimer’s disease. An interview is conducted between a medic and the patient, where a properly detailed patient history is obtained. In addition, information regarding overall health is sought apart from changes in moods and personality. Further procedures include;
- Clinical examination. Thorough physical and neurological assessments are conducted.
- Mental status examination, where tests to for memory assessment and evaluation are conducted
- Lumbar puncture. In Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid levels are low while levels of tau and phosphorylated tau are high in CSF- cerebrospinal fluid. Routine check-up of tau levels is only recommended during research procedures
- Imaging studies such a brain Computer Tomography scan and brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Other standard tests are employed to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms. For example, blood tests.
Treatment
Currently, there is no approved standard treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
Several classes of psychotropic medications are now used to treat secondary symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. These include hallucinations, delusions, sleep disorders among others.
- Anti-depressants
- Anxiolytics
- Beta blockers. Beta blockers include propranolol and atenolol
- Neuroleptics
- Anti-epileptic medicines
- Anti-parkinsonian drugs
Prevention
- Improved physical activity
- Exercise performance on a regular basis
- Cardiorespiratory fitness to ensure good heart health and generally, improved blood circulation.
- Good diet.