Today we are dealing with Alzheimer's disease, signs of dementia and Alzheimer's treatment hope you got to know that this is all initiated by basic signs of dementia leadings towards memory loss.
Alzheimer's is one of those disease of which we don't have total cure, so much of talking, let's get started to know signs of dementia
Alzheimer's disease
- Deaths: 93,541
- Rate: 29.3
- Age-adjusted rate: 25.4
- Percentage of total deaths: 3.6 percent
Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.
Dementia is an overall term for diseases and conditions characterized by a decline in cognitive function that affects a person's ability to perform everyday activities.
Dementia is caused by damage to nerve cells in the brain. As a result of the damage, neurons can no longer function normally and may die. This, in turn, can lead to changes in memory, behavior, and the ability to think clearly.
Alzheimer's disease is just one type of dementia, with vascular dementia causing similar symptoms but resulting from changes to the blood vessels that supply circulation to the brain. For people with Alzheimer's disease, the damage and death of neurons eventually impair the ability to carry out basic bodily functions such as walking and swallowing.
People in the final stages of the disease are bed-bound and require round-the-clock care. Alzheimer's is ultimately fatal.
An estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease currently, including approximately 200,000 individuals younger than 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's disease is one of the most expensive conditions in the nation and is the only cause of death in the top 10 that cannot currently be cured, prevented, or slowed. In 2015, the cost of Alzheimer's in the U.S. is estimated at $226 billion.
Despite these already staggering figures, Alzheimer's is expected to cost an estimated $1.2 trillion (in today's dollars) in 2050. This is, in part, because of improved rates of early detection, treatment, and prevention of other major causes of death, meaning that more people survive into older age (when the risk of Alzheimer's disease is greatest).
Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
The following are common signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's:
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work or in leisure
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood and personality, including apathy and depression
Can Alzheimer's be prevented?
As the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is still unknown, there is no way to prevent the condition. However, there are some steps you can take that may help to delay the onset of dementia.
Alzheimer's is thought to develop as a result of complex interactions among multiple factors, including age, genetics, environment, lifestyle, and coexisting medical conditions.
Reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease
Many of the factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart or blood vessels) have also been connected to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. In fact, results of autopsies have revealed the some 80 percent of people with Alzheimer's have cardiovascular disease.
The risk of developing cardiovascular disease, as well as stroke and heart attacks, may be reduced by improving cardiovascular health using steps such as:
- Stopping smoking
- Avoiding excess alcohol intake
- Eating a healthy balanced diet
- Regular exercise
- Checking and managing blood pressure through regular health tests
- Carefully managing diabetes or prediabetes, including taking appropriate medications and following dietary and lifestyle recommendations
Staying mentally active
Evidence suggests rates of dementia are lower in mentally, physically, and socially active people. It may be possible to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia by:
- Reading
- Writing for pleasure
- Learning foreign languages
- Playing musical instruments
- Taking part in adult education courses
- Playing sports
- Walking
See you in next post, till then take care and be save.
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