Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Recognizing Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Care Options
Understanding the common causes, risk factors, and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia is crucial for early detection and effective management.
MD, DM (Neurology), Consultant, Department Of Neurology, TMH
Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Globally, an estimated 47 million people are affected by dementia. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia and accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.
The greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older and women. Alzheimer’s disease is considered to be younger-onset Alzheimer’s if it affects a person under 65.
Having a close family member with Alzheimer disease also increases the chances of developing it. Other risk factors include hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high total cholesterol, , stroke , cardiovascular disease, head trauma, sedentary lifestyle.
People who remain physically active, socially connected, and mentally engaged and participation in certain leisure activities, including reading, dancing, playing board games, and playing musical instrument, seem less likely to develop dementia than people who do not.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years.
The earliest symptoms of Alzheimer disease are gradual and often subtle. Many people and their families first notice difficulty recalling recent events or information. This often emerges as a tendency to repeat stories or questions. Other changes include difficulties with language (eg, not being able to find the right words for things), difficulty with concentration and reasoning , getting lost in a familiar place, problems with complex tasks like paying bills or cooking.
As the disease progresses, a person’s ability to think clearly continues to decline. In addition, personality and behavioural symptoms can become quite troublesome such as increased anger or hostility, aggressive behaviour. Some people become depressed or exhibit little interest in their surroundings. Other issues include sleep problems, hallucinations, delusions , needing help with basic tasks (such as eating, bathing, and dressing) ,incontinence (difficulty controlling the bladder and/or bowels).
The number of symptoms, the functions that are impaired, and the speed with which symptoms progress can vary widely from one person to the next. In some people, severe dementia occurs within five years of the diagnosis; for others, the progression can take more than 10 years. Most people with Alzheimer’s disease do not die from the disease itself, but rather from a secondary illness such as pneumonia, bladder infection, or complications of a fall.
There is no single test that can determine if a person is living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Neurologists use diagnostic tools combined with medical history and other information, including neurological exams, cognitive and functional assessments, brain imaging (MRI, CT, PET) and cerebrospinal fluid or blood tests to make an accurate diagnosis.
At present, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease but there are medications to help improve the symptoms. A number of clinical trials are ongoing to help develop drugs to slow down the progression of the disease casting hope for a treatment in the near future.
At Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur we have dedicated specialists at the Department of Neurology to diagnose and manage patients with Alzheimer’s Dementia.
The services include clinical, laboratory and brain imaging tests. Based on the diagnosis and stage of the disease we individualize and tailor our treatments to best suit the needs of our patients. We also counsel the patient’s caregivers about the methods of care, lifestyle changes and emergency treatments to be administered to the patient. With good patient and caregiver education Alzheimer’s can be managed effectively at the patient’s home.
(Dr. Reyaz Ahmad is MD, DM (Neurology), Consultant, Department Of Neurology, Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur)
