Things You Should Know About Alzheimer’s
According to U.S.-based Alzheimer's Association, over four million Indians are afflicted with some form of dementia and this number is expected to triple by 2050. Dementia is defined as the deterioration of mental faculties affecting memory, behaviour and thinking of a person. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and affects memory. It is a progressively degenerative condition in which there is a steady loss of memory and other mental functions which cannot be reversed.
Here are nine things you should know about Alzheimer’s:
1. Memory disturbance is not always because of dementia
Storage of information or knowledge in the brain involves 4 “R” s- Register, Retain, Recall and Reproduce. A breach in any of these steps leads to memory disturbance. If a person fails to register an event, he cannot retain it and any information which is not retained, cannot be recalled and reproduced in future. Hence registering an event is the most important step in memory building. However, a normal person who is inattentive may fail to register an event at any given time, in the absence of any medical condition. Common factors such as stress and multi-tasking often hinder the attention span of people, leading to a failure in registering and recalling an event. However, this cannot be labelled as dementia.
2. Dementia is different from other memory problems associated with ageing
Ageing is accompanied by challenges in learning new things and occasional cues may be required for a recall. However, it is important to note that not all elderly suffer from memory issues or dementia.
3. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can indicate a serious concern about mental performance
Mild cognitive impairment is the beginning of an irreversible pathological process in the brain. It is the stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal ageing and the more serious decline in case of dementia.
4. Symptoms can develop in people as young as 30 years old
Alzheimer’s is commonly thought of as the disease of the elderly. However, the early onset of the disease can affect the youth as well. This is particularly true in people with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease.
5. Alzheimer’s disease is a common type of degenerative dementia
The term degenerative is used for disorders where there is no specific cause known and hence there is no specific treatment. Other degenerative dementia apart from Alzheimer’s include front-temporal dementia which is relentlessly progressive.
6. Treatment is available in certain cases
While degenerative dementias are not treatable, there are a group of rapid dementia disorders, which if diagnosed early, can be treated effectively. Hence any person who has a short history (less than six months) of memory or cognitive issues, should be investigated thoroughly to rule out any treatable disorder.
7. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s
While no cure exists for Alzheimer’s, it is important to detect the ailment in the early stages and seek medical intervention. While treatment can help in the management of certain symptoms, temporarily enhance memory and delay progression of the disease, it cannot reverse the damage caused to the brain. 8. Women are more affected than men According to the U.S.-based Alzheimer's Association, women over 60 are twice at risk of developing Alzheimer’s than breast cancer. Brain shrinkage and the progression of the condition is more rapid in women than men.
9. One can live for many years with Alzheimer’s
One can live for around 15 to 20 years even after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Elderly who are diagnosed with the disease can live up to three to four years while expectancy in younger individuals is about a decade or more. The life span depends on factors such as social engagement, physical and mental fitness, and quality of diet.
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