What is Alzheimer's Disease? Learn the Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

What is Alzheimer's disease? Learn the symptoms, causes, treatments, and prevention methods. Taking action now can slow the progression of this terrible disease. With the right care, it can even be cured. Here are the most important factors to consider. In addition to the physical symptoms, preventions or treatments of Alzheimer's disease can also cause social isolation, depression, and a variety of other problems. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with this disease, learn more about the treatments available.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease usually begin when a person loses their ability to remember and perform everyday tasks. They may wander aimlessly and experience trouble with paying bills or handling money. They may have trouble paying bills or even remembering what they bought last year. They may become apathetic and fearful and take longer to complete everyday tasks. Eventually, they may become completely unable to function alone. In this case, they will need help from caregivers.

Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease vary from day to day, and can worsen in periods of stress, fatigue, or ill-health. Doctors will generally diagnose the disease after ruling out other causes. The earlier the disease is detected, the better the treatment options will be. The good news is that new techniques are becoming available to diagnose the disease before symptoms are noticed. Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease can vary from person to person, but there are some common features.

Treatments

There are several types of treatments for Alzheimer's disease. Some are aimed at improving symptoms and providing comfort for patients. Others help caregivers deal with the condition by improving their own abilities. Cholinesterase inhibitors, or AChEs, are prescribed for mild to moderate stages of the disease. They can reduce cognitive symptoms and control behavioral ones. Those who experience severe symptoms may benefit from a skin patch. Depending on the type of disease, some of these treatments may not be effective.

Earlier studies focused on reversible causes of dementia. However, new studies suggest that dementia is usually caused by a genetic disorder or a vascular condition. For this reason, doctors are encouraged to perform premorbid assessments and screen for other potential conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, uriemia, or alterations in electrolytes. Additionally, physicians should avoid labeling patients with Alzheimer's disease until a full evaluation has been completed.

Prevention

The fight against Alzheimer's disease centers around its prevention. Though there are no cures for Alzheimer's disease, some lifestyle changes can reduce its risk. One such way is by avoiding smoking and maintaining cardiovascular health. Another effective way is through regular exercise. These measures can be beneficial for anyone. And the best part is that they don't cost a lot! Here are some simple suggestions:

Dietary factors are associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. A healthy diet with plenty of vitamin E and plenty of physical activity may be beneficial, but there is less evidence supporting these recommendations. Nevertheless, these factors affect our daily lives and decisions, and we need to act on the best available scientific evidence to make the best choices. We can't make every decision on a whim. But if we do make certain dietary choices, we can decrease our chances of developing Alzheimer's disease.