As we close September which is considered the awareness month for Alzheimer’s disease, we must understand more about the effects of this condition and learn how to navigate and help those living with it.
The Cleveland Clinic explains it as a brain condition causing a gradual decline in memory, thinking, learning, and organising skills, which then affects daily activities and typically affects individuals over 65 years old. “The symptoms of Alzheimer’s worsen over time. Researchers believe the disease process may start 10 years or more before the first symptoms appear.”
Due to the common mistake of this condition being confused with dementia, the above clinic explains that “Dementia describes the state of a person’s mental function. It’s not a specific disease. It’s a decline in mental function from a previously higher level that’s severe enough to interfere with daily living.”
The National Institutes of Health (NHI) states that scientists are studying the intricate brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s, which may begin a decade before symptoms appear. These changes are said to include toxic protein buildups, neuron loss, and death. Damage initially affects the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, causing memory formation, continues the publication. “As more neurons die, additional parts of the brain are affected and begin to shrink. By the final stage of Alzheimer’s, damage is widespread and brain tissue has shrunk significantly.”
According to the Alzheimers Association, the disease typically affects the brain’s learning area, causing disorientation, mood and behaviour changes, confusion, and difficulty speaking, swallowing, and walking. “As Alzheimer’s advances through the brain, it leads to increasingly severe symptoms, including disorientation, mood and behaviour changes; deepening confusion about events, time and place; unfounded suspicions about family, friends and professional caregivers; more serious memory loss and behaviour changes; and difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking.”
The above association further mentions that Alzheimer’s patients often struggle to recognise their dementia-like symptoms, but they should seek medical help.
NHI mentions that scientists are making progress in understanding Alzheimer’s, but the cause remains unclear. The publication claims that possible causes include age-related brain changes, and genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, with individual risk varying.
Also see: Food to eat to combat dementia
