Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is a condition where the person faces slow decline in  memory loss the state is called a state of DEMENTIA . This memory loss state of dementia happens to people after they cross age of 70 and it hits to 50% of the senior group after they cross 80 .The most common symptoms at its early stage is forgetting events soon(short term memory loss) at the advanced stage people face problems such as disorientation (getting lost easily),language,mood swings,loss of confidence,not able to manage self-care,behavioural issues as well.These are some of the early signs of Alzheimer's disease which should not be avoided consultation should be taken at the earliest in case some issues are being faced by any loved ones.

Factors that are responsible for Alzheimer's Disease:

Scientist are still trying to find the reason of this neuro degenerative disease which triggers the brain cells ,yet it is known as so many factors causing Alzheimer's are genetic or neuronal energy loss, protein deformation,vascular diseases.Like all kinds of dementia,Alzheimer's is caused by Brain cell death.

  • GENETIC: 

In most of the people suffering from Alzheimer's disease get the impact on very later stage in which symptoms become apparent in their mid-60s .The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is involved in late-onset Alzheimer’s. APOE have several forms , APOE ε4, increases a person’s risk of developing the disease and is also associated with an earlier age of disease onset.one the other hand it is not so necessary that the person having increased level of APOE ε4 will definitely develop Alzheimer's disease ,some people with no APOE ε4 also develop Alzheimer's disease.

  • CHOLINERGIC HYPOTHESIS:  

According to this hypothesis Alzheimer's disease is caused by reduced synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.but this point was not accepted widely as the treatment related to deficiency of acetylcholine have not been effective. side effects of these are nausea,diarrhoea,sleep disturbance etc.


  • AMYLOID HYPOTHESIS :   
According to this hypothesis that extracellular amyloid beta deposits are fundamental cause  of the Alzheimer's disease.Aβ is a fragment from the larger amyloid precursor protein (APP) which is a trans membrane protien that pass through neuron membrane.in Alzheimer disease enzyme act in a proteolytic process as a result the APP fragments divide giving rise to fibrils called as amyloid beta which forms clusters which are called as plaques.
 Fig: Enzymes act on the APP (amyloid precursor protein) and cut it into fragments. 
The beta-amyloid fragment is crucial in the formation of senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease.               

           


  • TAU HYPOTHESIS :
According to this hypothesis a protien called as tau protien in a hyperphosphorylated state begins to pair with the other tau protien which forms a neurofibrillary tangles inside the nerve cell .which destroyes the cell cytoskeleton and hampers the neuron transport system causing Alzheimer's disease.

Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease:

symptoms of the disease can be diagnosed at a very early stage by a physician help by the patient medical history and by behavioural observation by closely interacting or evaluating stage of dementia.
The types of behavioural changes person faces in maximum of cases are:
  1. Memory loss that affect daily life.
  2. Faces challenges in planning and solving problems.
  3. Confusion with time or place.
  4. Problem in speaking & writing.
  5. Trouble understanding visual image and relationship.
  6. Misplacing things and trying to retrace them back.
  7. Decreased or poor judgement.
  8. Mood swings too frequently.
  9. Change in personality.

Alzheimer's disease treatment:

There is no specific treatment for this kind of dementia but by treatment symptoms can be managed the two kind of drug can be used for treatment i.e Cholinesterases inhibitors and Memantine which boost cell to cell interactions and slower down the progression .

                rather then focusing on the lost abilities family should be supportive enough around the patient helping them to deal with situations .exercise,reading,playing board games,playing musical instruments and solving problems should be encouraged on regular basis with patients dealing with dementia.



                                                                                                                             BY : RIA PANI

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