What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative disease. Degenerative disease means the brain cells start degenerating. The brain cells start getting damaged and destroyed.
Intellectual ability means the person’s thinking, memory, reasoning, and language. This intellectual ability is lost. This condition is called Alzheimer’s disease.
Causes and Risk Factors
Unknown Exact Cause
If we talk about the causes, the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown.
Genetic and Family History
There are some risk factors like genetic abnormality.
Next risk factor is family history. If someone in the family has a chromosomal or genetic abnormality, because of which Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can be seen in the coming generation.
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Head Trauma and Viral Infections
Next risk factor is head trauma. If there is a head trauma or an injury, because of which the brain cells can be damaged.
Next cause is viral infection. If there is a viral infection in the brain, because of which the brain cells can be disturbed.
Lifestyle and Health Conditions
Next cause is smoking. If a person smokes a lot, in that condition, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can be seen.
Next cause is myocardial infarction, which is also called heart attack. What happens in myocardial infarction is that the heart stops working suddenly. It stops pumping blood suddenly, because of which the brain cells do not get blood supply and the brain cells start getting damaged.
Next cause is high blood pressure. If a person has a blood pressure problem, because of which the brain cells can be damaged. In that condition, Alzheimer’s disease can be seen.
Next risk factor is diabetes. In the condition of diabetes, the person’s blood becomes thick, because of which the blood does not flow properly in the brain.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease has 3th stages:
Mild Stage
First of all, we talk about the first stage, which is called the mild stage of Alzheimer’s disease.
There will be some disturbance.
If the person remembers something, there will be a problem or difficulty.
In this stage, the person will be sad. There will be confusion and delusion in the patient.
Moderate Stage
And the person can have disorientation. Means the person will not know where he is, what time is it. And the person’s sleeping pattern will be disturbed.
Severe Stage
In the this stage memory will be completely impaired.
Next, urine and fecal incontinence will be seen in the person. Means the individual’s urine can pass out at any time.
Next, the person can go into a coma, and the person will have difficulty in swallowing. Means it will be difficult for him to swallow anything.
The patient will be very irritated. His irritability will increase. The patient’s weight loss will be seen. And the loss of appetite will be seen. These are some signs and symptoms which you will see in the condition of Alzheimer’s disease according to the stages.
Diagnostic Tests for Alzheimer’s Disease
Medical History and Physical Examination
What are the diagnostic tests from which we can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease?
In the history, we see that there is no chromosomal or genetic abnormality in the family. We collect all these things in the history.
Imaging and Brain Activity Tests
Next, we do a CT scan and MRI of the patient. We do a CT scan and MRI of the head.
We see that there is no structural problem. There is no injury in the brain. There is no blood clot. To know all these things, we do a CT scan and MRI of the patient’s head.
Next, we do an electroencephalogram of the patient. In electroencephalogram, the electrical activity of the brain is assessed to check the brain’s function. Which is also called EEG in short.
Blood Tests and Cognitive Assessments
In blood test, like CBC. In CBC, the complete blood count is done — WBC, RBC and platelets.
Next, we do a neurological examination of the patient. To find out the neurological status, we do a mini mental status examination of the patient.
Treatment and Management of Alzheimer’s Disease
Medications and Their Purpose
If we talk about the treatment — Alzheimer’s disease cannot be cured. Alzheimer’s disease cannot be completely cured.
Some of its symptoms can be treated. Symptoms can be controlled. Like the sleeping pattern of the person, agitation, irritation of the patient. These are some of the symptoms which can be controlled through medication.
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