Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological condition that develops predominantly in people over 65 years old. According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2011), this condition is the sixth leading cause of lethal outcomes in the United States (p. 208). Alzheimer’s is also the main cause of dementia, which leads to cognitive problems, including memory loss and difficulties with day-to-day activities.
Nature and Causes
Named after the doctor Alois Alzheimer, Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that affects brain function. It is the most widespread cause of dementia. However, the disease may start developing unnoticed, and the symptoms might become visible at an advanced stage, i.e. difficulties with memory, reasoning abilities, and overall cognitive function. Alzheimer’s might even affect certain personality traits, as well as modify the behavioral patterns. Certain patients might experience troubles with routine tasks, as this condition may exert a negative influence on their habitual skills. The quality of life of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is gravely affected.
The causes of the condition are of a complex nature. It was established that an array of factors might lead to Alzheimer’s disease. A combination of environmental, congenital, and lifestyle factors might contribute to the condition. According to the Mayo Clinic Staff (n.d.), nearly five percent of Alzheimer’s patients underwent certain genetic mutations that led to them developing the disease (par. 13). Although the causes of the condition are not fully established, researchers identify several risk factors.
These factors include age over 60, family history, Down syndrome, head trauma, and lifestyle choices. The latter include risk factors that are usually determined as contributing to the development of a heart condition, such as high blood pressure, high level of cholesterol, unbalanced diet, obesity, and a passive lifestyle lacking in exercise.
Signs and Symptoms
The most frequent symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include problems with memory, reasoning, thinking processes, perception, and communication. At an early stage, the disease may manifest through memory lapses (Alzheimer’s Society, n.d., par. 6). A patient can experience difficulties recalling recent events or processing recently received information. These problems occur due to the damaged hippocampus that regulates the daily memory processes.
As the disease progresses, a patient might start forgetting where they put their things. It may also be difficult for them to find the right word when talking to somebody, or else they might find themselves lost while taking a familiar route. Certain dates that have special importance to the patient may be unexpectedly forgotten.
Difficulties concerning language, speech, perception, and communication can also prove to be vivid. Such problems include impaired visuospatial skills, speech articulation, language, difficulties with concentration or organization of daily tasks, or making long-term plans (Alzheimer’s Society, n.d., par. 10).
As the disease progresses, some patients may start behaving in an unusual way, including aggressive behavior, excessive irritability, or the loss of focus in the middle of a task. Increasing problems with memory and overall confusion are a considerable burden for Alzheimer’s patients. Multitasking can prove especially difficult, and even routine tasks may be challenging. Changes in sleep patterns, aimless wandering, withdrawal from the family members or social groups, apathy, and depression can manifest in people suffering from this condition.
Diagnostic Tests and Results
Diagnostic tests required to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease are multifaceted, as they include taking the necessary medical history, conducting a physical exam, neurological exam, mental status test, as well as performing brain imaging procedures (Alzheimer’s Association, n.d., par. 1). Laboratory tests are performed to determine the level of certain substances, chemicals, and minerals. These laboratory tests are supposed to help rule out certain conditions, such as liver and thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, and overall nutritional issues. The tests include a thyroid test, glucose and electrolyte levels test (sodium, potassium, creatinine, calcium), vitamin B12 test, testing liver function, HIV test, as well as a complete blood count test (Alzheimer’s disease – exams and tests, n.d., par. 5).
In people with Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral atrophy is often identified in parietal, frontal, and temporal areas (CND degenerative diseases, n.d., par. 5). A typical feature of Alzheimer’s test results is the presence of a high number of neuritic plaques in the cerebral cortex. In the periphery areas of these plaques microglia and reactive astrocytes may be discovered. However, the number of these plaques increases with age, which is why a correlation with the patient’s age must be made in order to reach a consistent diagnosis. Among other histopathology results, granulovacuolar degeneration is distinguished, as well as neurofibrillary tangles, and amyloid angiopathy (CND degenerative diseases, n.d., par. 5).
Nissl Staining
Nissl staining helps identify the signs of neuronal loss. Most often performed with cresyl violet, this test helps determine that the ribosomic RNA is negatively charged in the rough endoplasmic reticulum ribosomes (Serrano-Pozo, Frosch, Masliah, & Hyman, 2011, p. 10). The latter presents a dark blue color in the neurons’ perinuclear area. This histological staining technique helps identify certain changes in neuron structures that can help diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as other neurological conditions.
Prevention and Treatment
Alzheimer’s prevention measures are yet to be established. Since in some cases the condition appears to be inherited, changes in certain genes guarantee an eventual onset of the disease. However, by making specific choices regarding one’s lifestyle, it is possible to minimize the risks involved. Among the possible ways that can reduce the risk is staying fit, maintaining a healthy and balanced diet, and leading an active social life (Leonard, 2016, par. 1).
These measures can help protect the brain from neurological damage and sometimes even slow down the development of Alzheimer’s. Regarding diet, it is recommended to keep to a Mediterranean-style regime, as it also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes development (Alzheimer’s disease – causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention, n.d., par. 16). Such a diet excludes red meat and centers around fruit and vegetables, nuts, olive oil, fish, and various healthy fats (Leonard, 2016, par. 5).
Leonard emphasizes the importance of mental activities. The latter may include cognitive activities, such as puzzles, visiting museums, reading books and newspapers, learning a foreign language, or mastering a new skill. Social activities can also prove beneficial, such as traveling, spending time with others, or simply engaging in daily conversation that may contribute to one’s brain health. Moreover, smokers are demonstrated to be at a higher risk than non-smokers. Leonard (2016) also indicates the importance of lowering the level of homocysteine, which can be done by eating more food that is the source of folates, such as broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, and parsley (par. 11).
An efficient Alzheimer’s disease treatment is yet to be developed. However, the existing methods of treatment focus on managing the symptoms of the condition. There exist certain medications that help manage cognitive difficulties, including donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, and memantine (Current Alzheimer’s treatments, n.d., par. 2). These medications employ the memantine mechanism that is supposed to decrease the rate at which the neurotransmitters degenerate.
Conclusion
Alzheimer’s disease is a challenge nowadays, as there is no cure for this condition. Symptoms can be managed, and the mentioned medications may help slow down the neurological degeneration. An array of lifestyle choices can be made to ease the difficulties experienced by Alzheimer’s patients. However, an efficient treatment method is yet to be developed.
References
Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). Tests for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Web.
Alzheimer’s disease – causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention. (n.d.). Web.
Alzheimer’s Society. (n.d.). What is Alzheimer’s disease? Web.
Alzheimer’s Association. (2011). Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Alzheimer’s & dementia: the journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, 7(2), 208-220.
Alzheimer’s disease – exams and tests. (n.d.). Web.
CNS degenerative diseases. (n.d.). Web.
Current Alzheimer’s treatments. (n.d.). Web.
Leonard, W. (2016). Alzheimer’s disease prevention. Web.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Alzheimer’s disease. Web.
Serrano-Pozo, A., Frosch, M. P., Masliah, E., & Hyman, B. T. (2011). Neuropathological alterations in Alzheimer disease. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine, 1(1), 1-20.