Alzheimer’s Disease in Simple Words
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Alzheimer’s disease in simple words means irreversible, slowly progressive brain disease where brain cells wouldn't be able to process, store, or retrieve information. It usually starts slowly and gradually worsens over time resulting in profound functional and structural changes. Typical life expectancy following diagnosis is three to nine years most often begins in people over 65 years of age.
The cause of Alzheimer's disease is poorly understood. About 70% of the risk is believed to be:
1. Inherited from a person's parents with many genes usually involved.
2. Other risk factors include a history of head injuries, depression, and hypertension.
3. Scientific Beta Amyloid theory is very simple and interesting. A protein called Amyloid β-protein normally present in brain gets fragmented by different enzymes that result in its accumulation in the brain. It is believed to be caused by advanced age or genetic factors.
1. Some of these abnormal proteins clump together to form plaque and collect between neurons and disrupt brain cell function.
2. Some of these fragmented proteins become folded, stack on each other, aggregate and trigger inflammation in brain cells, disrupt communication.
3. It is also suggested that some of the small amyloid plaques may be more toxic and its accumulation may cause nerve cell toxicity, eventually killing nerve cells.
4. Few researchers believe that there are flaws in the production, accumulation, or disposal of these beta-amyloid proteins.
The first symptoms are often mistakenly attributed to aging or stress:
1. A person may ask the same questions or repeat statements over and over.
2. Short-term memory loss, begin misplacing their possessions, as this symptom progress.
3. Include problems with language, disorientation (including easily getting lost), remembering names may become more difficult.
4. Unable to manage self-care, the patient is completely dependent upon caregivers.
5. Language is reduced to simple phrases or even single words, eventually leading to complete loss of speech.
6. Despite the loss of verbal language abilities, people can often understand and return emotional signals like familiar phrases, familiar songs.
7. Aggressiveness and exhaustion are much more common symptoms. During the final stages, the patient is completely dependent upon caregivers.
