Alzheimer’s disease is considered a neurological disorder that affects the brain in a progressive manner. It is also considered the main cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s mostly occurs in older people and is characterized by forgetting about recent conversations and events, and the conditions worsen with time (MacGill, 2020). A person suffering from Alzheimer’s is less independent as their memory is severely impaired, which makes it difficult for them to reason abstractly and make day-to-day decisions or even perform any task.
Signs and symptoms
Memory loss is the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in older people. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, the symptoms include memory loss, which may be forgetting recent conversations and events, and misplacement of items; they also have problems when thinking about some things, such as certain words. A person with Alzheimer’s will also repeat questions asking as well as have poor judgment. In the middle stage, the symptoms become more severe as memory loss becomes more severe (MacGill, 2020). During this time, a person will tend to be more confused or disoriented; this means that they may forget where they are going or where they are. A person at this stage also becomes obsessive and paranoid, their speech is also affected, and it becomes difficult for them to talk fluently as they used to before. The later symptoms are now more and more severe. During this time, a person becomes more delusional, although it’s a symptom that comes and goes. They also become violent, and this stage becomes a difficult one as a person is unable to lead an independent life; they have to stay with a caregiver at all times.
Causes
The main cause of Alzheimer’s disease is brain cell damage which occurs over time. The brain cells may begin to die at an early stage before the symptoms are even realized. Brain cell death results in few nerve cells. Additionally, there are other elements in the nerve cells known as plaques, which contain beta-amyloid proteins which cause the death of the brain cells over time (MacGill, 2020). This explains why Alzheimer’s occurs in stages, from mild to severe, as time goes on.
Diagnosis
An early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia is critical as it can help a doctor determine the correct course in its management. A thorough diagnosis is very important as it helps to eliminate other diseases that may have similar signs and symptoms, such as past strokes and sleep apnea. A doctor’s examination includes mental status testing, which helps to determine the cognitive abilities and the extent of impairment. The second is the neuropsychological test which is done by a specialist in brain and mental health conditions. The third requirement that the doctor may recommend is an opportunity to speak with the members of the patient’s family. This examination will help in determining the extent of cognitive impairment and memory skills. In addition, a doctor may need to get laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis using the cerebrospinal fluid examination (“Mayo Clinic,” 2022). The test is effective as it shows the ratio of Amyloid and tau proteins critical in confirming the diagnosis.
Treatment
There are two primary drugs that are used in Alzheimer’s treatment; Cholinesterase inhibitors and Memantine (Namenda). Treatment using Cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil (Aricept) is the first drug that is administered with some people experiencing a boost in their cognitive abilities. The drug work by boosting and preserving the chemical responsible for cell-to-cell communication in the brain (Herndon, 2019). Memantine (Namenda) works by slowing down the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Outcome
There is currently no cure to reverse Alzheimer’s disease; the outcome of the treatment only helps to ensure that a person is able to live from one day to the other. From the day of diagnosis, a person may live between four to eight years, but if there are no underlying conditions, a person may live up to twenty years (MacGill, 2020). Memory loss is irreplicable, and once the brain cells are damaged, there is no way to repair them, which means that a person may not recover in the long run.
References
MacGill, M. (2020). Alzheimer’s disease: Symptoms, stages, causes, and treatments mark, Medical News Today. MediLexicon International. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159442#symptoms (Accessed: December 1, 2022).
Mayo Clinic. (2022, May 7). Learn how Alzheimer’s is diagnosed. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers/art-20048075#:~:text=To%20diagnose%20Alzheimer’s%20dementia%2C%20doctors,other%20possible%20causes%20of%20impairment.
Herndon, J. (2019, May 25). Everything you need to know about Alzheimer’s disease. Healthline. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers-disease#medication
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