What is Alzheimer's disease?
Dementia affects people in different ways, depending on the type of dementia. It is a general term but there are many different types of dementia with the most common one being Alzheimer’s disease. The impact can be physical, emotional and psychological, and can profoundly change the practicalities of everyday life which we sometimes take for granted.
There are more than half a million people in the UK with Alzheimer’s disease. The disease causes proteins to build up in the brain to form structures called ‘Amyloid plaques’ and ‘Tau tangles’. This leads to the loss of connections between nerve cells, and eventually to the death of nerve cells and loss of brain tissue.
People with Alzheimer’s also have a shortage of some important chemicals in their brain. These chemical messengers help to transmit signals around the brain. When there is a shortage of them, the signals are not transmitted as effectively.
What is Alzheimer's disease caused by?
Studies and research into the causes of Alzheimer’s disease suggest that a variety of factors contribute to the development of this condition. These include biological, genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Biology appears to offer many clues into understanding the development of Alzheimer’s disease, such as the presence of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in brain cells, or mutations occurring in different genes. In addition, studies consistently report that individuals with a family history of illness are more likely to develop the condition as well.
As for environmental and lifestyle factors, these have been suggested to play a role in both exacerbating and protecting those at risk from developing Alzheimer’s; conditions such as diabetes, smoking or physical activity among others influence this risk. While studies offer insight into possible causes for Alzheimer’s disease, there is still much to be understood about its development to determine the exact cause and this is why volunteers are needed to take part in clinical research.
What are the warning signs of Alzheimer's disease?
Generally, the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are divided into 3 main stages: Early, Middle and Late stage.
These are some of the most common signs to look out for:
Memory lapses, a person may forget about recent conversations or events, misplace items, forget the names of places and objects
or have trouble thinking of the right word.
Someone with early-stage Alzheimer’s may ask questions repetitively. This is due to the effect of the disease on one’s cognitive and memory functions. Although it may be difficult to manage, it’s important to understand that repetition can help validate a person’s sense of self worth.
They may find it harder to make decisions, demonstrate poor judgement, become less flexible and more hesitant to try new things.
Signs of mood changes, such as increased anxiety or agitation, or periods of confusion, can often be an indication of Alzheimer’s disease. Particularly if the symptoms persist over a longer period of time and seem to come in cycles.
Increased confusion and disorientation can be a particularly concerning sign of cognitive decline. Getting lost, wandering, and not knowing what time of day it is can indicate a possible impairment in a person’s thought processing, concentration, and ability to remember information.
Problems with speech or language (Aphasia). Aphasia is a condition that affects the brain’s language regions and affects an individual’s ability to comprehend and formulate speech. Symptoms may include difficulty understanding spoken or written words, speaking in incomplete sentences or using high pitch tones of voice.
Disturbed sleep is a commonly observed symptom in many medical conditions, including Alzheimer’s. When the normal sleeping pattern is disrupted and the sleep quality deteriorates, it can be indicative of complex underlying medical issues that need to be addressed.
Difficulty performing spatial tasks, such as judging distances, can have many causes, including degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Those struggling with Alzheimer’s may find that their ability to recognise the locations and shapes of objects becomes impaired due to the disease’s progression.
As Alzheimer’s progresses, it can lead to feelings of confusion, which can manifest in the form of hallucinations and delusions. These are often unpredictable and vary in severity, but may worsen over time. It’s also common for people affected by Alzheimer’s to become increasingly demanding and suspicious, with instances of violence not uncommon.