Alzheimer’s Disease

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s is a neurological disorder that leads to a gradual loss of memory with time. Initially, it may only cause minor forgetfulness like forgetting names of people, familiar places, directions followed by anxiety and confusion. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and is mostly seen in aged people. The disease limits one’s social interaction and gets extremely severe in its final stages.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include:

  • Confusion
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of recent memory
  • Forgetting directions, names and places
  • Difficulty in planning and making judgments
  • Mood swings
  • Limited social interaction
  • Disturbed sleep patterns
  • Hallucinations
  • Drastic changes in one’s personality

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Causes

Alzheimer’s is mainly caused by death of the brain cells which makes the brain shrink. Other causes of Alzheimer’s aren’t completely discovered by doctors yet. Some believe that people with high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels develop a greater risk of having Alzheimer’s. The development of abnormal structures in the brain could also lead to Alzheimer’s. The disease might be running in one’s family lines and it might get transferred to the next generation through the genes.

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Risks

The following factors increase the risk of Alzheimer’s in people:

  • Age-  Researches show that a majority of people who get affected by Alzheimer’s are above 65
  • Genetics- The disease could be running in one’s family line and might get transferred to the next generation.
  • Down syndrome- Patients of Down syndrome are prone to an early onset of Alzheimer’s 
  • Head Injury- A violent injury to the head increases the risk of Alzheimer’s.
  •  Unhealthy lifestyle- People with unhealthy eating habits, high cholesterol levels and obesity are more prone to Alzheimer’s.

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Prevention

Alzheimer’s can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle which includes following a balanced diet, exercising regularly, keeping cholesterol levels under check and adopting measures for improving heart health.

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How is it diagnosed?

The doctor diagnoses the disease by detecting the characteristic symptoms and conducting the following tests.

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How is it treated?

The doctor may use drugs like Cholesterol inhibitors for treating Alzheimer’s. The patient is made to do regular exercise and follow a healthy diet. The doctor may opt for the following treatments:

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  • Treatment through medication

    Medicines like cholesterol inhibitors are often used by the doctors to treat the patients of Alzheimer’s.

  • Changing the environment of the patient

    Ensuring a safe and peaceful environment for the patient can help in controlling the extent of the disease.

     

  • Occupational therapy

    The therapy helps to make the home of the patients a safer and better place to live. This helps in preventing accidents and prepares the patient for the side effects of the disease.

When do I contact the doctor?

One should consult the doctor as soon as they start noticing signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s in the patient. Any unusual signs of forgetfulness, memory losses, confusion and excessive anxiety should be discussed with a doctor. The patients should be closely monitored by their family members for symptoms.

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How does Medanta provide care?

Medanta ensures expert care and the best treatment facilities for its Alzheimer’s patients at the Medanta Institute of Neurosciences. The Medanta Institute of Neurosciences is an integrated Institute with a dedicated team of doctors supported by..

Consult with experienced doctors

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Get treated in our specialised institutes and departments

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