Alzheimer’s disease refers to neurodegenerative diseases. The disease is manifested in the elderly, but there are cases of appearance at an early age.
Alzheimer’s disease proceeds individually with a big set of symptoms. As a rule, the first signs appear after a stressful situation. Often, at an early stage, the first alarming thing is the disorder of short-term memory. The development of the disease is characterized by loss of long-term memory. The gradual disappearance of the functions of the organism inevitably provokes a lethal outcome. Individual prognosis causes difficulties since there are many variations in the state of this pathology.
Alzheimer’s disease progresses gradually. Over time, the Person becomes helpless as a child. At the last stage of the disease, he completely depends on the help of others. Sometimes the ability to normal walking, ordinary lifestyle is lost.
The causes
To date, there is no complete understanding of the causes. Studies indicate the association of this condition with the accumulation of neurofibrillary clusters, as well as plaques in the brain tissues. One of the main developmental factors of the disease is age after 60 years. Also, for people with mental labor, the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is much lower than those who work in physically difficult areas.
The genetic component provokes some people’s predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease.
What is going on in the brain?
At the cellular level mechanism of developing Alzheimer’s disease is the death of the neurons in the central part of the cerebral cortex. In the brain cells there are atrophic processes as a result of which a person forgets his address and surname, cannot remember relatives and loved ones, is lost in a familiar locality, trying to leave the house. The actions of the patient are not logical, you never know what to expect from him.
Alzheimer’s disease is inherited?
Unfortunately, this state refers to hereditary with a delayed start. Other unfavorable factors, such as bad habits, bad ecology may aggravate the situation and provoke its appearance.
Symptoms
For the early stage of the disease, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- the inability to recall recent events, forgetfulness;
- lack of recognizability of familiar subjects;
- disorientation;
- emotional frustration, depression, anxiety;
- indifference (apathy).
For the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- senseless ideas, hallucinations;
- inability to recognize relatives loved ones;
- loss of ability to move and think independently.
Treatment
Treatment of this disease is very difficult because Alzheimer’s disease affects the occipital part of the brain, where located centers of vision, touch, and hearing, centers responsible for making decisions. The same changes occur in the frontal parts, which are responsible for the ability to music, languages, and calculations.
There are no single drugs that can cure a person completely. In the treatment of cognitive impairment use such drugs as Admenta, Aricept, and Cerecetam.