Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is a common, progressive, degenerative disease of the brain. It is characterized by loss of memory and other cognitive functions. Among people aged 65 or older, it is the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is a group of symptoms marked by the gradual loss of mental function.

 

Exactly what is happening in the brains of individual's with Alzheimer's disease is unknown. In general, Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative syndrome which means that nerve cells in the brain decrease in number over time. This is evident in that the overall size of the brain in an individual with Alzheimer's disease is smaller than normal.

 

In addition, people who have Alzheimer's disease have a number of abnormalities that can only be seen under a microscope:

 

The relationship between tau and beta-amyloid collections and Alzheimer's disease is unknown particularly since these abnormalities are seen to some degree in the brains of "normal" elderly individuals. Research to define this relationship is currently on-going.

 

Symptoms include:

 

The cause of Alzheimer's disease is unknown. Factors that may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease include the following: age is the most important. Most people with Alzheimer's disease are older than age 65 and rarely affect individuals in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. Alzheimer's disease is seen in 1 out of 4 people over the age of 85.genetics. Scientists have found links between the disease and certain chromosomes, including chromosomes 10, 14, 19, and 21. For example, individuals with Down syndrome, an abnormality of the 21st chromosome, have a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease related to these chromosomes is relatively uncommon. Other genetic factors are likely more common. For instance, individuals with Alzheimer's disease are likely to have a certain form of a normal lipoprotein called apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) which suggests that an individual who produces this form of apolipoprotein is at higher risk than those who do not.head injuries. A recent study of US armed forces veterans showed that a head injury early in life is associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia as the veterans aged. Furthermore, the risk of Alzheimer's disease increased with the severity of the head injury in early life.sex. Females has been observed to be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries". Factors such as hypercholesterolemia, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, elevated levels of homocysteine, smoking, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle are risk factors for atherosclerosis and also have been observed to be risk factors for the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Although there are no proven methods to prevent Alzheimer's disease, recent research findings provide some options that may slow the onset of the disease or the progression of symptoms. These findings, which need further study, include: low doses of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which may work by making blood cells and vessels less sticky and improving blood flow. However, the potential risks versus benefits of daily aspirin or NSAIDs should be discussed with a healthcare professionalactively engaging in cognitive activities such as reading, which may increase the nerve connections in the brain and delay the onset of the disease.niacin and niacinamide (vitamin b3) are rated by The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database as "possibly effective" in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's (www.NaturalDatabase.com). There is some evidence that people who consume higher amounts of niacin (17-45 mg/day) from food and multivitamin sources have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to people who consume less niacin. Food sources high in niacin include meat, fish, beans, nuts, coffee, and fortified grains and cereals. However, there is no reliable evidence that taking a stand-alone niacin supplement is beneficial for reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease.hormone therapy for menopausal women may delay the onset of symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The relationship between the hormone estrogen and Alzheimer's disease still needs further investigation and the potential risks versus benefits should be discussed with a healthcare professionalavoiding head injuries. A person should wear a seatbelt at all times when riding in a motor vehicle. Sports safety guidelines for children, adolescents, and adults can be helpful in avoiding other head injuries.vitamin C in combination with vitamin E. Some epidemiological research suggests that long-term use of vitamin C and vitamin E supplements, in combination, and in higher doses than typically found in multivitamins, is associated with a reduced prevalence and incidence of Alzheimer's disease.• vitamin E or pyridoxine (vitamin B6). The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (www.NaturalDatabase.com) has concluded that daily pyridoxine (from dietary or supplemental sources) and high dose vitamin E (in elderly people from dietary and supplemental sources) does not reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is based on a history of increasing memory loss and other cognitive impairments in conjunction with a physical exam. Some healthcare professionals will utilize laboratory and imaging tests, as well as cognitive testing in the diagnostic process. Changes in behavior, personality, and judgment may also be clues to the disease.