Alzheimers Disease : Cause , Symptom, Diagnosis and Treatment | Dr. Bhushan Joshi , Neurologist
What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain disorder that results in a loss of intellectual and social abilities; it also affects memory, thinking and behavior. It is the most common form of dementia.
Cause of Alzheimer's Disease:
The cause of Alzheimer's disease is unknown, but it appears that a combination of hereditary and environmental factors puts people at risk of acquiring it. Alzheimer's patients' brains are known to be smaller than normal, with inappropriate protein deposition in amyloid plaques and tau tangles throughout the tissues.
Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease may include:
Memory loss
Loss of language skills
Disorientation
Personality changes
Misplacing or losing things
Inability to complete simple tasks
Lack of judgment
Stages of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease has been divided into three stages, although the length of each stage may differ from patient to patient. The earliest stage of the disease, prior to diagnosis, may be indistinguishable from simple age-related memory loss or from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which may or may not develop into Alzheimer's disease.
Mild Alzheimer's Disease
In this stage as the disease gradually progresses, not only does memory loss worsen, but other cognition-related problems, such as getting lost more easily and having trouble making simple monetary exchanges, become evident. During this stage, patients may repeat questions, exercise poor judgment and have difficulty completing sequential tasks, even familiar ones. Patients are often diagnosed during this stage of the disease.
Moderate Alzheimer's Disease
During this stage of the disease,
memory loss and confusion worsen, and
patients may have difficulty recognizing familiar people and places.
They may be unable to learn new tasks and become confused trying to complete simple daily tasks, such as getting dressed or going to the bathroom.
They may behave irrationally or impulsively. New situations may cause them to become frightened or angry.
Patients with moderate Alzheimer's may have hallucinations or delusions or may become paranoid, feeling that others are trying to do them harm.
Severe Alzheimer's Disease:
Patients lose the ability to communicate and to control their bodily functions.
During this stage, they are completely dependent, unable to feed or toilet themselves.
Patients may require intensive care as they lose the ability to hold their heads up, move or swallow. Eventually, Alzheimer's patients die of the disease.
Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease
When Alzheimer's disease is suspected, a full medical examination is performed.
The doctor typically conducts
cognitive tests to check memory; problem-solving ability;
simple mathematical skills; and language ability.
Beyond these diagnostic tests, including blood and urine tests, and CT scans and MRI scans of the brain, are performed to rule out other causes, such as stroke or side effects of medication, for the patient's symptoms
Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Alzheimer's. There are, however, several treatments available to help manage symptoms and slow its progression. Medications that regulate neurotransmitters, assisting in the transmission of messages among neurons (brain cells) are often prescribed.
Disclaimer: The information provided here should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. The information is provided solely for educational purpose and should not be considered a substitute for medical advice.
AboutMyClinic