Alzheimer’s Disease is a Form of Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder generally occurring in individuals above 65 years of age but cases with early onset of the disease are not uncommon.
The symptoms of this disorder are, although inimitable for every individual, but many symptoms are common.
The initial symptoms of the disease are loss of the capability to form new memories and the inability to recall current events.
Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is based on cognitive tests and brain scans.
As the disease advances, the individual shows the symptoms of confusion, irritability, aggression, mood fluctuations, language problems, and finally long-term memory loss.
The precise cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still not understood.
Research carried out all over the world designates that the disease is caused by the accumulation of plaques and tangles in the brain.
Who is at risk?
The prime factor responsible for Alzheimer’s disease is increased age, and as the age of the individual increases, the risk of this disease also increases.
According to a report, about 10% of the individuals belonging to the age group of 65 and 50% of the individuals of the age group of 85 suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.
Symptoms
The onset of the disease is gradual, but the symptoms become more penetrating as the disease advances.
Problems associated with short-term memory normally arise in the earlier phase of the disease.
Mild personality changes also occur in the preliminary phase of the disorder.
With the advancement of the disease, the patient develops symptoms of difficulty in abstract thinking and other intellectual impairments.
The patient feels difficulty in carrying out the office work also. Behavioral changes also take place.
In later cases, the person becomes confused and disoriented about the month, the time, people, and places.
Ten warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment
The Alzheimer’s Association has developed a list of warning signs that can help the medical expert to ascertain whether a person is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or not.
These signs are memory loss, and difficulty performing duties, coupled with family.
Problems with language, disorientation about time and place, decreased judgment ability, and difficulty in abstract thinking.
Diagnosis and importance of clinical evaluation
No specific blood test and imaging technique can predict whether a person is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
For the diagnosis of this disorder, a person must fulfill the criteria that form the baseline for dementia.
Several factors can be considered responsible for the development of dementia.
Neurological disorders, namely Parkinson’s disease, brain tumors, blood clots, cerebrovascular disease, and strokes, can be sometimes associated with dementia.
Excessive use of alcohol and illegal drugs can sometimes be responsible for the symptoms of dementia.
Since several disorders are often confused with Alzheimer’s disease, a comprehensive clinical evaluation is very important for the accurate diagnosis of the disease.
Three procedures are generally followed while diagnosing the disorder, and these are a complete medical workup, neurological examination, and psychiatric evaluation.
Prognosis
Alzheimer’s disease is customarily a progressive disorder that reaches its peak within 8-15 years.
The patients generally do not die from the disorder alone, but they also suffer from several other problems, like they feel difficulty swallowing, walking, and are at an elevated risk of getting infected with pneumonia.
In the later courses of the disease, strong family assistance is required.
A patient with Alzheimer’s disease is, however, unable to solve numerical problems but can feel interested in reading a magazine.
Treatment
The treatment of Alzheimer’s disease can be placed under medication-based and non-medication-based categories.
The FDA has classified two groups of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of this disease.
The chief psychiatric symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease are irritation, depression, hallucinations, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
Depression is another very common symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, and the patients can be treated with antidepressants.
