What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a physical illness which damages a person’s brain. This eventually causes dementia, affecting memory and thinking. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.
Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer’s disease affects everyone differently. For most people, Alzheimer’s disease starts in and around the part of the brain involved in memory. However, in some rarer types of dementia the disease starts in a different part of the brain and so causes a different set of symptoms. This is called 'Atypical Alzheimers'
The most common early symptoms include:
- Memory Problems
- thinking and reasoning difficulties
- Language problems
- changes to how they see and hear things
- changes in mood
What causes Alzheimer's Disease?
The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are very complex, but one key part is the build-up of two substances inside the brain called amyloid and tau. When conditions in the brain aren’t right, these clump up and form tiny structures called plaques and tangles. These make it harder for the brain to work properly.
Over time the disease causes certain parts to become smaller. It also reduces the amount of important chemicals needed to send messages around the brain.
Eventually the brain struggles to cope with the damage and the person begins to have problems with memory and thinking. When it gets to the stage where these problems are making it difficult for the person to do everyday tasks that they used to do easily, this is called 'dementia'.
Risk Factors that cant be changed
- Sex - There are about twice as many women over 65 with Alzheimer’s as there are men over 65 with the condition. This is mostly because women tend to live longer than men. However, women over the age of 80 still have a slightly higher risk of getting Alzheimer’s than men their age. We don’t know the exact reasons for this. There has been a lot of interest in how menopause may increase a person’s risk of getting Alzheimer’s. While it seems that very early menopause caused by medical treatment can increase risk, it’s still unclear if it’s also a risk factor when it happens more naturally.
- Genes - Familial genes will definitely cause Alzheimer’s if they are passed down from a parent to a child. Out of 1000 people who have Alzheimer’s, less than ten of those people will have it because of a familial gene. Risk genes increase a person’s chances of developing Alzheimer’s. They are much more common than familial genes. However, unlike familial genes, risk genes do not always cause a person to develop the condition. Most of them only slightly increase a person’s risk. People with Down's syndrome have a much higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease because of a difference in their genes.
Risk factors that can be controlled
- Lifestyle - People who live a healthy lifestyle, especially from mid-life (age 40–65) onwards, are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. This includes not smoking, not drinking too much alcohol, and eating a healthy balanced diet. Keeping physically, mentally and socially active may help a person to reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Protecting the head from injuries throughout a person’s life may potentially reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are caused by a blow or jolt to the head, especially if the person is knocked out unconscious.
Support Services
There is also a range of support services that can help a person live well with Alzheimer’s. These may include:
- local dementia advisers and dementia support workers – who can offer support, practical advice and information over the phone, face to face or online
- homecare workers and personal assistants – who can help in and around the home
- respite care (temporary or short-term care) – to allow the person with dementia or their carer to take a break
- specialist dementia nurses – who can provide practical, clinical and emotional support to the person and their family, such as NHS clinical nurse specialists or Admiral nurses
- day centres – where the person can do activities and connect with others in a friendly and safe venue
- online communities
ALL INFORMATION FROM ALZHEIMER'S SOCIETY