Alzheimer’s: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disorder in which the person has difficulty remembering recent information, disorientation and progressive loss of the ability to carry out daily tasks and/or take care of themselves.

Although its cause is not completely known, Alzheimer’s disease is more common in people over 65 years of age and in cases of family history of the disease, depression, deafness and smoking, for example.

If Alzheimer’s is suspected, it is important to consult a neurologist. Although Alzheimer’s has no cure, treatment is with medications, such as donepezil and galantamine, which can alleviate symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are:

• Difficulty remembering recent events;
• Rapid forgetting of information;
• Disorientation in time and space, confusing dates and locations, for example;
• Difficulties in communication, such as remembering the name of objects and specific words or understanding what is said;
• Loss of ability to perform daily tasks or take care of yourself.

The initial symptoms of Alzheimer’s tend to appear after the age of 65 and can be confused with the natural aging process. However, there are cases in which they can begin to manifest themselves earlier, which is called early Alzheimer’s.

Read too: Early Alzheimer’s: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Furthermore, as the disease worsens, the person tends to become increasingly dependent on family members and other symptoms may appear, such as changes in behavior, hallucinations, difficulty moving and seizures. See other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Test Alzheimer’s online

To find out your chances of developing Alzheimer’s, answer the following test questions:

This test is only a guidance tool and is not intended to provide a diagnosis or replace a consultation with a neurologist. Learn more about the Alzheimer’s test.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is made by a neurologist taking into account the symptoms and the results of tests and/or examinations, such as neuropsychological assessment and magnetic resonance imaging.

In addition to examining reflexes, movements and muscle strength, the neurologist also performs tests to assess memory and reasoning, such as the mini-mental test. Check out what the mini-mental is and how it is done.

The doctor may also recommend blood tests, such as a blood count and measurement of vitamin B12 or thyroid hormones, to rule out diseases that cause memory changes, such as hypothyroidism, HIV and nutritional deficiencies.

Possible causes

The cause of Alzheimer’s is not yet known, but it is believed that the disease can occur due to:

• Genetic changeswhich can affect the metabolism of substances in the brain and lead to inflammation;
• Accumulation of proteins in the braincausing the loss of neurons;
• Low levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholinewhich is involved in functions such as memory, learning and attention;
• Environmental factorssuch as a history of deafness, depression and sedentary lifestyle, which can favor changes in the functioning of the brain;
• Herpes virus infectionespecially in the case of people who carry the APOE4 gene.

Although they are still being studied, it is believed that genetic changes in DNA together with characteristics of the person’s health history, such as physical inactivity, smoking and atherosclerosis, are involved in the development of Alzheimer’s.

Read too: 5 possible causes of Alzheimer’s

Is Alzheimer’s hereditary?

Alzheimer’s disease is typically not hereditary. However, the risk of the disease is greater in the case of people with Alzheimer’s in the family, because there are genetic changes that can be inherited from the parents and favor its development.

These genetic changes alone do not normally cause the disease, and a set of changes in DNA and risk factors, such as advanced age and lack of mental exercise, are necessary for the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Despite this, there is an early form of Alzheimer’s that is related to some genetic mutations and can be passed on to children, but this type of Alzheimer’s is very rare. Understand better if Alzheimer’s is hereditary.

How the treatment is carried out

Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is usually done with medications to alleviate symptoms and delay the progression of the disease, such as donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine, which should be used according to the neurologist’s guidance. Find out the main medications for Alzheimer’s.

Furthermore, it is important that people with Alzheimer’s have family support in their care and are accompanied by a team made up of doctors, nutritionists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, for example, to improve their quality of life.

Read too: How to care for someone with Alzheimer’s

Although movement difficulties typically appear later in the disease, exercises guided by a physiotherapist may be indicated at different stages of Alzheimer’s and may help maintain autonomy for longer. Check out the exercises for each stage of Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer tem cura?

Alzheimer’s disease has no cure. However, when treatment is started early and carried out according to the doctor’s instructions, it is possible to alleviate symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. See about the cure for Alzheimer’s and new treatments.

How to prevent

To reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, measures such as:

• Control blood pressure and blood sugar levels;
• Maintain a healthy weight;
• Be physically active, practicing physical activities regularly;
• Stop smoking and avoid excessive alcohol consumption;
• Treat hearing problems, if any.

These measures are fundamental to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and should be started as soon as possible for everyone to prevent it. Discover some tips to prevent Alzheimer’s.

Read too: Sunset syndrome: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment