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10 Facts About Alzheimer’s That Will Change the Way You Think About the Disease

Also known as AD, Alzheimer’s is the most common neurodegenerative disease, a form of dementia. It usually begins slowly and progressively worsens. The condition is commonly associated with people of advanced age.

AD is the cause of 60 to 70% of cases of dementia. People who develop this condition have early symptoms of difficulties in remembering recent events. This worsens as time goes by.

Individuals start having advanced symptoms like problems with language, getting disoriented, mood swings, loss of motivation, self-neglect, and major behavioral issues. The individual will tend to withdraw from family and society when the condition progresses.

Body functions are lost in the process and ultimately the individual loses his/her life. However, the speed of progression of AD varies in individuals. Medically, the typical life expectancy of an individual with Alzheimer’s disease is three to nine years after diagnosis.

Here are the 10 Facts About Alzheimer’s That Will Change the Way You Think About the Disease;

1. The Cause of Alzheimer’s Disease in Most Cases is Unknown

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When there are abnormal amounts of amyloid beta in the body, Alzheimer’s disease is believed to occur. The amounts of amyloid beta usually accumulated extra-cellularly in the form of amyloid plaques and tau proteins. When they form intracranial, they present as neurofibrillary tangles which form in the brain leading to negative effects on neuronal functioning and connectivity.

However, with this pathophysiology, the cause of Alzheimer’s Disease in most cases worldwide is still unknown. The minority, 1-2% of other cases of Alzheimer’s Disease have deterministic genetic differences which are identified.

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2. AD is Not A Normal Part of Aging

Initially, Alzheimer’s disease was believed to be a normal condition in older people. However, newer studies have proved the earlier studies to be wrong and inconsistent with age.

Recent scientific studies have found that Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder. This disorder affects the memory, thinking, and behavior of individuals who are affected.

3. Alzheimer’s Disease is the Most Common Form of Dementia

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AD usually leads to the deterioration of normal brain functions. The condition is the most common form of dementia. AD leads to several symptoms which are associated with dementia including:

Progressive loss of short-term and long-term memory which makes people unable to remember familiar faces, conversations, and recent events. Individuals usually get a cognitive decline, behavioral and personality changes, disorientation and confusion, and progressive decline of self-care abilities. Dementia-related to Alzheimer’s disease is common in 60-80% of all cases.

4. Individuals with AD can Perform Many Tasks Independently in the Early Stages

In the early stages of AD, language issues are distinguished primarily by a reduction in vocabulary and decreased word fluency, resulting in an overall poverty of oral and written language. At this stage, the Alzheimer’s patient is usually capable of articulating basic thoughts properly.

Certain movement coordination and planning impairments (apraxia) may be present while executing fine motor tasks such as writing, sketching, or dressing, but they are frequently undetected. People with Alzheimer’s disease can frequently continue to accomplish many things independently as the condition develops. However, they may require assistance or supervision with the most cognitively demanding activities.

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5. Alzheimer’s Disease Also Affects Individuals Below 65 Years

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This condition is usually associated with individuals who have advanced age. However, there are many other cases of individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease who have not attained this age.

Alzheimer’s disease normally begins in individuals with 65 years and above, but 10% of other cases affect individuals in their 30s to mid-60s. Only 6% of people above 65 years and above get AD with women being the most affected than men.

6. AD is a Global Health Issue With Millions of People Affected

Alzheimer’s disease is not a simple disease like any other condition that people are used to in society. The condition is becoming a major global health issue that affects several families.

It is believed that more than fifty million individuals in the world are living with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This number is expected to triple by 2050 which is a huge trouble.

7. Alzheimer’s Disease has No Cure

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Being a neurodegenerative condition, scientific studies to get a cure for Alzheimer’s disease has proven to be futile. Ever since the first diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease was made in 1901, progress in getting a cure has never happened.

There are no treatments available to stop or reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. However, some medications have helped temporarily improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. With exercise programs, individuals with AZ tend to get more positive benefits in reducing the symptoms.

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8. The Condition Has Significant Negative Impact on Caregivers

Alzheimer’s disease is a huge burden to individuals who suffer from it, their families, and people close to them. Individuals affected by AD become reliant on their families and caregivers for assistance. This comes as a huge burden to them which gives them social, psychological, physical, and economic pressures.

9. AD is Diagnosed Through Clinical Findings & Advanced Radiological Studies

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The definite diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is through autopsy findings. However, clinical findings and advanced radiological studies have also assisted in making a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. 23% of the incidents of AD are diagnosed through clinical findings.

An individual’s medical history, history from relatives, and behavioral observations help in making a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Other aspects that help in making the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease are advanced imaging studies. They include CT scans, MRIs, and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

10. Alzheimer’s Disease Can Be Prevented in Many Ways Including Lifestyle Modification

Alzheimer’s disease is a tough disease to deal with but there is hope on preventing it. The main aim of preventing Alzheimer’s disease is to prevent its onset and progression. Some methods of preventing AD are through medication, lifestyle modifications, and diet.

Risk factors of Cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and others contribute greatly to the onset and worsening of Alzheimer’s disease. Patients are required to use statins which help to lower cholesterol levels and help in reducing the incidents of AD. Taking antihypertensive and antidiabetic medications helps to reduce incidents of dementia.

Physical and cognitive workouts, more excellent education and vocational attainment, cigarette smoking, stress, sleep, and the management of other comorbidities, such as diabetes and hypertension, may all reduce the chance of acquiring Alzheimer’s. Physical activity is connected with a lower rate of dementia and is beneficial in reducing symptom severity in persons with Alzheimer’s disease.

Living with individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is not a life sentence as they require the love and affection of their families and people close to them. Taking care of them helps in reducing the mortality rate associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

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