Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease. Is a neurodegenerative disease that manifests as cognitive and behavioral disorders. It is characterized in its typical form by a loss of immediate memory and other mental abilities, as nerve cells (neurons) die and different areas of brain atrophy. The disease usually has an approximate average after diagnosis of 10 years, although this can vary in direct proportion to the severity of the disease at diagnosis. The two most important risk factors are age and family history, although many others have been studied.




The cause and progression of Alzheimer's disease are not well understood. Current treatments only help with the symptoms of the disease. There are no available treatments that stop or reverse the progression of the disease. Mental stimulation, exercise, and a balanced diet have been suggested as ways to delay cognitive symptoms in healthy older individuals, but there is no conclusive evidence supporting an effect.

Symptoms:

The course of Alzheimer's disease is not the same in every person, but symptoms seem to develop over the same general stages. In most people with Alzheimer's, symptoms first appear after age 60.

The Alzheimer’s have three stage:

- Early preclinical stage with no symptoms

- Middle stage of mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
- Final stage of Alzheimer’s dementia.

Early signs and symptoms
Memory problems are typically one of the first signs of Alzheimer's disease. Sometimes, other thinking problems, such as trouble finding the right words or poor judgment, are most prominent early on.

• Mild Alzheimer's disease

As the disease progresses, memory loss worsens, and changes in other cognitive abilities are evident. Problems can include:

- Getting lost
- Trouble handling money and paying bills
- Repeating questions
- Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks
- Poor judgment
- Losing things or misplacing them in odd places
- Mood and personality changes

Alzheimer's disease is often diagnosed at this stage.

• Moderate Alzheimer's disease

In this stage, damage occurs in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought. Symptoms may include:

- Increased memory loss and confusion
- Problems recognizing family and friends
- Inability to learn new things
- Difficulty carrying out tasks that involve multiple steps (such as getting dressed)
- Problems coping with new situations
- Hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia
- Impulsive behavior.

• Severe Alzheimer's disease

People with severe Alzheimer's cannot communicate and are completely dependent on others for their care. Near the end, the person may be in bed most or all of the time as the body shuts down. Their symptoms often include:

- Inability to communicate
- Weight loss
- Seizures
- Skin infections
- Difficulty swallowing
- Groaning, moaning, or grunting
- Increased sleeping
- Lack of control of bowel and bladder


Treatments


Drugs
There are no drug treatments available that can provide a cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, medicines have been developed that can improve symptoms, or temporarily slow down their progression, in some people.

Two types of drugs are currently used to treat cognitive symptoms:

- Cholinesterase inhibitors: These drugs work by boosting levels of a cell-to-cell communication chemical depleted in the brain by Alzheimer's disease.

- Memantine (Namenda): This drug works in another brain cell communication network and slows the progression of symptoms with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.



Natural remedies and alternative therapies
Alzheimer's is an incurable disease, but today there is growing herbal medicines, dietary supplements and therapies that are promoted as memory enhancers or treatments to delay or prevent this condition.

- Coconut Oil: This like other vegetable fats may be useful to maintain healthy brain cells, helping to stop the progression of Alzheimer's and even reversing some of its symptoms.

- Ginko Biloba: is one of the oldest trees known and it is curious that will be a great help when we're getting older too. Improves brain stem, is a potent antioxidant and promotes oxygen delivery to the brain.

- Others: bean, soybean, fenugreek, sage, rosemary, nettle.

- Reiki: is a pseudoscientific practice that is to bring healing and balance the patient through the laying on of hands, channeling the universal life energy. Reiki treatments are promising for improving certain behaviors and memory problems in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease.

- Acupuncture: Can increase verbal and motor skills of patients, and improve mood and cognitive functions.





Recommendations

•  Creating a safe and supportive environment.

Adapting the living situation to the needs of a person with Alzheimer's:

- Remove excess furniture, clutter and throw rugs.

- Install sturdy handrails on stairways and in bathrooms.

- Ensure that shoes and slippers are comfortable and provide good traction.

- Reduce the number of mirrors. People with Alzheimer's may find images in mirrors confusing or frightening.

• Exercise

Regular exercise is an important part of everybody's wellness plan — and those with Alzheimer's are no exception. Activities like a daily 30-minute walk can help improve mood and maintain the health of joints, muscles and your heart. Exercise can also promote restful sleep and prevent constipation.

• Nutrition

People with Alzheimer's may forget to eat, lose interest in preparing meals or not eat a healthy combination of foods. They may also forget to drink enough, leading to dehydration and constipation.

You can offer:

- High-calorie, healthy shakes and smoothies. You can supplement milkshakes with protein powders.

- Water, juice and other healthy beverages. Try to ensure that a person with Alzheimer's drinks at least several full glasses of liquids every day. Avoid beverages with caffeine, which can increase restlessness, interfere with sleep and trigger frequent need to urinate