Alzheimer's, also called Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease, it is a disease that does not have a cure and manifests itself with cognitive alterations, of memory and also behavioral disorders such as depression and hallucinations. It is a degenerative disease and mainly affects older people, affecting about 10% of individuals over 65 years of age and 40% of individuals over 80 years of age. When it occurs in individuals under 65 years of age, it is called early-onset Alzheimer's disease, and these cases are rare and are related to genetic factors. According to the Brazilian Alzheimer's Association (ABRAz), in Brazil there are about 1.2 million cases, most of them still undiagnosed.
The name of this disease is a tribute to alois alzheimer, the first doctor to describe it, in 1906. Alois Alzheimer studied the case of a 51-year-old woman who had progressive memory loss and other changes that affected, for example, language and behavior. After the patient's death, the doctor carefully analyzed her
brain and identified some changes, which are currently considered to be hallmarks of the disease.Read too:Relationship between exercise and memory
Causes of Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's is a disease that has no definite cause, however, currently, are known brain changes that appear in an affected individual. Among these changes, we can mention the accumulation of senile plaques resulting from the deposit of β-amyloid protein and neurofibrillary tangles. It can also be observed the reduction of neurons and the connections between these nerve cells. One of the areas most involved in the neurodegenerative process is the hippocampus, related to memory and learning.
The age and cases of the disease in the family are considered risk factors for the development of Alzheimer's. Unhealthy lifestyle and problems like hypertension, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and diabetes they are also considered risk factors. In addition, women are at increased risk for developing the disease.
Alzheimer's Symptoms
Alzheimer's is a disease that usually has a slow onset of symptoms and a progressive worsening. The initial symptom is the progressive loss of recent memory. Old memories are initially preserved, and are also lost as the disease progresses. Other symptoms include:
attention difficulty;
inability to learn new information;
problems in verbal communication;
difficulty performing calculations and using common objects.
The patient can still present himself aggressive and develop problems likedepression, hallucinations and hyperactivity. All these changes cause the individual to have a loss in their personal relationships and in performing basic activities. As the disease progresses, the person may have difficulty walking, swallowing food, standing up and controlling the sphincter, becoming dependent on the help of other individuals.
Read too:Parkinson's Disease - Another Neurological Disorder
Alzheimer's Stages
Alzheimer's disease can be divided into three stages.
Light phase: it is constantly confused with common impairments seen in old age. At this stage, the individual has difficulty finding words, loss of recent memory, signs of depression, aggressiveness, disorientation in time and space and also lack of interest in activities that before performed.
Moderate phase: the individual's involvement is greater and he becomes incapable of living alone, since he is no longer able to prepare food, clean the house and take care of his personal hygiene. Has difficulty expressing himself, has changes in behavior and may have hallucinations. The memory becomes more and more compromised and the forgetting of important facts can be observed, as well as the forgetting of the names of close people.
Severe phase: the memory is highly impaired, not recognizing close people, such as relatives and friends, and places he used to frequent. The individual may find it difficult to eat, to remain standing, to move around and understand what is happening around him. Fecal and urinary incontinence may occur. The patient may still be bedridden or need a wheelchair. At this point, constant monitoring of the individual is essential.
Alzheimer's Diagnosis
Many people are only diagnosed with Alzheimer's after years of living with the symptoms. This is due to the fact that many associate memory loss with old age, therefore not looking for expert help. Memory loss, difficulty communicating and performing day-to-day activities and reasoning, loss of interest in the activities he used to do and behavioral changes are warning signs which must be analyzed by an expert. Therefore, it is essential that the family seek help when noticing changes in the individual, as he is often not able to identify the problem alone.
To diagnose an Alzheimer's case, the doctor analyzes the symptoms presented. Some tests are performed, such as blood tests, CT scans and MRI of the skull. These tests are important to rule out other illnesses that may cause similar symptoms. Assessment of cognitive functions can also be performed. Definitive confirmation can only happen after the individual's death, with the analysis of brain tissue.
Read too: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) — disease that causes thedegeneration of motor neurons
Alzheimer's treatment
the alzheimer there is no cure, but early diagnosis can help delay the progression of the disease, thus ensuring a better quality of life for the patient. Treatment can be divided into two groups: pharmacological and non-pharmacological.
The pharmacological is related to the use of medications, which will be indicated exclusively by the physician, while the non-pharmacological involves physical exercise, activities aimed at enhance the individual's cognitive skills, as well as actions that promote social contact, such as participation in cultural programs, leisure and date celebrations important. In patients in advanced stages of the disease, follow-up must be constant to avoid situations that expose the individual and others to a risk situation.
By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher
