Introduction
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that damages memory and other critical mental functions. It is the most common form of dementia that begins with small memory loss. It further leads to the inability to continue a conversation and react according to the environment. This disease mainly involves the brain systems that control thought, memory and language. The disease is named after the German doctor Alois Alzheimer noticed some changes in the brain tissues and died of unusual mental sickness. The doctor classified dementia into senile dementia (Alzheimer’s) and presenile dementia.
Effects of Alzheimer’s on other Body Systems
Alzheimer’s is a disease which mainly affects the brain and nervous system. The disease destroys important processes in neurons and their systems, including communication, digestion and repair. Initially, the disease damage neurons and their connected parts of the brain involved in memory, like the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus. The respiratory system is also highly impacted the Alzheimer’s disease such that the patients, apart from the cognitive decline, there are some disorders in the breathing system like sleep apnea and arrhythmias (Astarita & Piomelli, 2021). The signs are serious with the progression of the illness. A recent study has indicated that certain classes of genes connected with mitochondrial cell respiration show low expression levels in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Moreover, the disease can also have severe effects on the brain system. Normally, the brain in healthy aging shrinks to some degree; however, it does not lose many neurons. In the case of Alzheimer’s disease, the damage is widely spread through the brain; hence many neurons stop working, disconnect with the other neurons and die (Doraiswamy et al., 2022). The disease later affects the parts of the cerebral cortex accountable for language, reasoning and social conduct. Eventually, many other parts of the brain are destroyed. With time the patient loses the ability to live and function independently.
Causes of Alzheimer’s
The excess build-up of the proteins around the brain cells causes this disease. A protein is known as amyloid deposits which are formed around the brain. While the other protein is tau, deposits of which create tangles within brain cells. However, scientists are yet to fully understand the key causes but a combination of age-related changes in the brain, lifestyle and environmental factors (Munoz & Feldman, 2020). Aging is a risk factor for the disease due to changes such as atrophy of some brain cells, inflammation, vascular damage and the breakdown of energy production within cells.
Signs and Symptoms
The loss of memory is a key symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. Some of the early signs include difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease progresses, memory worsens as other signs and symptoms develop (Lanctôt et al., 2017). Brain changes connected with the disease lead to the growth of repeating statements over and over, disremember conversations and difficulty in concentrating and thinking.
Diagnosis of the Disease
In order to diagnose Alzheimer’s, specialists conduct a test to determine memory impairment and other thinking skills. They identify behaviour changes and judge functional capabilities. They also do several tests to rule out other possible causes of impairment. Doctors also perform brain scannings like computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging to assess Alzheimer’s diagnosis (Porsteinsson et al., 2021). They also help them to rule out other likely causes for signs. Diagnosis of the disease can also be done by positron emission tomography. Harmonized protocol for Hippocampal segmentation (HarP) is the most known unified and dependable way to assess signs of Alzheimer’s neurodegeneration via structural MRI scan.
Treatment and Side Effects
Sleepiness, lightheadedness, mood swings, and confusion are possible side effects. Drugs called antipsychotics are used to treat agitation, violence, hallucinations, and paranoia. Some medications can have substantial side effects, including a higher risk of death in some elderly dementia patients. Donepezil is approved and licensed to treat Alzheimer’s disease in all stages. At the same time, Rivastigmine is well scientifically approved for treating both mild to moderate dementia brought on by Parkinson’s disease and mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Most treatment methods have no side effects (Massoud & Léger, 2016). Common side effects are loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Others include headaches, fatigue and muscle cramps.
Conclusion
There is no known treatment for Alzheimer’s; however, there are medications and non-pharmacological methods that may slow the disease’s course and improve symptoms. Knowing available options can aid those suffering from the disease and those who provide care for them in managing symptoms and enhancing their quality of life. The most recent research indicates that additional factors may be significant, but this does not necessarily imply that these additional factors directly contribute to dementia. They include hearing defects, untreated depression, social isolation, and a sedentary lifestyle. The study concludes that changing all the risk factors, we are able to change then reduces the risk of dementia significantly. Alzheimer’s disease can be prevented by taking steps to improve cardiovascular health, such as stopping smoking, eating a balanced diet, physical exercise and controlling blood pressure. In my own opinion living mentally and socially active lowers the rates of dementia.
References
Astarita, G., & Piomelli, D. (2021). Towards a whole-body systems [multi-organ] lipidomics in Alzheimer’s disease. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids (PLEFA), 85(5), 197-203.
Doraiswamy, P. M., Leon, J., Cummings, J. L., Marin, D., & Neumann, P. J. (2022). Prevalence and impact of medical comorbidity in Alzheimer’s disease. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 57(3), M173-M177.
Lanctôt, K. L., Amatniek, J., Ancoli-Israel, S., Arnold, S. E., Ballard, C., Cohen-Mansfield, J., … & Boot, B. (2017). Neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease: New treatment paradigms. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, 3(3), 440-449.
Porsteinsson, A. P., Isaacson, R. S., Knox, S., Sabbagh, M. N., & Rubino, I. (2021). Diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s disease: clinical practice in 2021. The journal of prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, 8, 371-386.
Massoud, F., & Léger, G. C. (2016). Pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56(10), 579-588.
Munoz, D. G., & Feldman, H. (2020). Causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Cmaj, 162(1), 65-72.
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