Alzheimer’s disease or just simply called Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia first thought to only be seen in individuals older than sixty five years of age. This disease has no cure and is degenerative as time goes by at rates that are dependent upon its victim. There have been cases seen in those that are younger than sixty five although it is quite rare.
The cause of Alzheimer’s disease has been studied over many years and is still not understood although there are risk factors but the most dominant one so far is genetics. There are only a very small percentage of people diagnosed with this condition that have no history of it in their family.
The symptoms of this condition vary between patients but there are definite similarities and characteristics. There are generally four different stages of this disease. The first stage includes symptoms that can be mistaken as those just related to the person’s age such as short term memory loss. When it advances into the second state, there may be long term memory loss, mood swings, irritability, aggressive behavior, difficulty with speech and mental disturbances. With the more advanced stages, people gradually lose their ability to function and their body starts to shut down eventually resulting in death.
When a person is tested for this condition, they undergo a series of cognitive tests, behavioral assessments, and a brain scan if there are facilities available. A person suffering this condition will show reduced scores on the first two tests and there are definite differences shown on a brain scan between an average aging brain and those with Alzheimer’s.
There are various treatments that are available that may reduce some of the symptoms but the individual’s success on these treatments are not guaranteed. In fact, some patients show very little response to them whatsoever. Also, there are no treatments available to slow the progression of this condition. Because there is little understanding of this disease, it is difficult to know which treatments will help various patients for which symptoms. Sometimes it is a trial and error process.
Although treatments do not seem to be the answer to this disease, there are ways to help prevent this disease and perhaps slow the progress without the use of drugs. This is through a lifestyle change which includes the diet, habits, and exercise.
Through eating a healthy diet on a regular basis that is full of fruits and vegetables, the body is better able to fight any impending disease. For the person who has been diagnosed, the patient needs extra vitamins to slow the progression. Mental stimulation helps to prevent the mind from deteriorating. Such things as puzzles, quizzes, art and many other activities that strengthen the mind in an average person can also be used in Alzheimer’s patients. Exercise is an excellent way to strengthen not just the body but the mind as well. Keeping the body moving is not just a physical process but a mental one and can be very beneficial for those who are at risk for the disease or who have already been diagnosed.
