Alzheimer’s Disease in Simple Words

Alzheimer’s disease in simple words is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that destroys brain cells. It usually starts slowly and gradually worsens over time, resulting in profound functional and structural changes. The typical life expectancy following an Alzheimer's diagnosis is three to nine years. The majority of patients who develop this disease are over 65 years of age. A very small percentage of people who develop the disease are younger than that. 

The cause of Alzheimer's disease is still poorly understood. There are certain risks and causes that have been linked to it. Around 70% of the time, Alzheimer's disease is hereditary, and from your genes. If a family member has Alzheimer's disease, your risk is heightened for eventually having it. People with a history of depression are said to be twice as likely to develop this disease. 

Scientific Beta Amyloid Theory

Scientific Beta Amyloid theory only pays attention to the accumulation and side effects of these abnormal proteins. The mainstay of the amyloid B-protein hypothesis that Alzheimer’s disease is a gradual imbalance in the production versus the clearance of these abnormal proteins. This is believed to be one of the primary causes of Alzheimer’s. Fragmented B-amyloid proteins clump together to form plaques that collect between neurons and disrupt brain cell function.

Some of these proteins become folded, stack on each other, aggregate and trigger inflammation in brain cells disrupting communication. It is also suggested that amyloid plaques that are small and soluble may be more toxic and its accumulation may cause nerve cell toxicity eventually killing them. 

A Diagnosis Is Based On

Before Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed, the doctor will perform various types of testing and examinations to rule out other causes. 

• History of the illness.
• Cognitive testing. 
• Medical imaging. 
• Blood tests to rule out other possible causes.
• Examination of the brain tissue is needed for an accurate diagnosis.

Common Symptoms

The first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are often mistakenly attributed to ageing or stress. These early symptoms can affect the complex activities of daily living. The most noticeable deficit is short-term memory loss, which shows up as difficulty remembering recently learned facts, and the inability to acquire new information. There is progressive deterioration as the disease advances. Symptoms can include problems with language, disorientation (including easily getting lost), and not being able to care for oneself.

During the final stages, the patient is completely dependent upon caregivers. Language is reduced to simple phrases or even single words, eventually leading to complete loss of speech, incontinence, muscular weakness and fall. Despite the loss of verbal language abilities, people can often understand and return emotional signals. Although aggressiveness and exhaustion are much more common symptoms. 

• Short-term memory loss.
• Difficulty remembering information.
• Inability to acquire new information.
• Problems with language.
• Constant disorientation.
• Unable to care for self.

Managing Alzheimer's Disease

The first step towards the best possible long-term management is an early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Having early treatments may reduce the rate of symptomatic cognitive and functional decline. A plan to manage Alzheimer's may include:

1. Medication like rivastigmine, donepezil, or galantamine is endorsed as standard first-line therapy in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

2. Memantine, may be used as monotherapy or in combination with a previously mentioned medication for patients with moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Monotherapy is for patients with severe Alzheimer’s disease. During treatment, cognitive and functional status should be monitored over 6-month intervals. Pharmacologic therapy should be continued until there are no meaningful social interactions and quality of life has irreversibly deteriorated.

3. The efficacy and safety of tacrine (tetrahydroaminoacridine) and lecithin were studied in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.