Health & Care Information
Learn causes of Alzheimer’s disease, Risk Factors, Symptoms, Diagnostic tests and Treatment. Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Tests and its treatment. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease and common form of dementia.patient suffering from Alzheimer’s disease may have impaired memory and alterations in mental functions.
In Alzheimer’s disease connection between brain cells(neuron cells) becomes weak or diminish due to some degenerative changes,these degenerative changes may be associated with some trauma,injury or age related.Alzheimer disease most commonly occurs in 50’s because during this time number of degenerative changes occur in different parts of brain.There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease but it can be managed with medications,diet and modifications in life style.
Alzheimer’s disease Symptoms
symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may vary from patient to patient but some common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are mentioned below
- Impaired memory
- Repeat statements and questions over and over
- Difficulty in speaking
- Difficulty in writing
- Lack of concentration
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Irritability and aggressiveness
- Delusions, such as believing something has been stolen
- Changes in sleeping habits
Causes of Alzheimer’s disease
Recent study through analysis of pictures of brain scans of Alzheimer patients shows that Alzheimer’s disease results from a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain over time. Genetic predisposition in case of Alzheimer’s disease is very rare (5 percent of the time). But if we talk about age factor it will contribute about 95 percent as being cause of Alzheimer’s disease and very common in among all populations.
At initial stage symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are mild but when it progresses to advance stage it causes complete destruction of brain cells (neurons) and causes loss of co-ordination between brain cells.When brain cells of patient suffering from Alzheimer’s disease are observed under microscope then two things are found
1. Plaques
Plaques are basically clumps which are protein in nature also termed as beta-amyloid may damage and destroy brain cells and causes loss of co-ordination between brain cells(neurons). Although the ultimate cause of brain-cell death in Alzheimer’s isn’t known, the collection of beta-amyloid on the outside of brain cells is a prime suspect.
2. Tangles
In Alzheimer’s disease tau protein threads bends into abnormal tangles inside brain cells, leading to failure of the transport system. This failure is also strongly implicated in the decline and death of brain cells.
Alzheimer’s disease Risk Factors
Pictures of brain scans of Alzheimer patients show that increasing age is greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is not a part of normal aging process but people 
after their 50’s may have increase risk to catch Alzheimer’s disease. Other major Alzheimer’s disease risk factors are mentioned below
- Family history and genetics
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Past head trauma
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol level
- Lack of exercise
- Smoking
Alzheimer’s disease Diagnosis Tests
There is no specific test to determine Alzheimer’s disease but with certain clinical findings it is easy to rule out whether patient has Alzheimer’s disease or not.
- Physical and neurological exam
- Mental status testing
- Neuropsychological testing
- Brain imaging
Alzheimer’s disease Treatment
Currently there is no medicine which has ability to provide complete cure from Alzheimer’s disease but there are some medicines that can be used to ease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.These medications are mentioned below
1. Cholinesterase inhibitors
cholinesterase inhibitor is a chemical which inhibits the acetylcholinesterase enzyme that causes degradation of acetylcholine, thereby increasing both the level and duration of action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.Most commonly used cholinestrase inhibitors are donepezil and galantamine.
2. Memantine
Memantine is research based drug for the management of Alzheimer’s disease.It is available with brand name of ebixa.Memantine increases the co-ordination between brains cells neurons and ease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
