Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. Dementia is characterized by impaired memory, thinking, or decision - making abilities. It is the seventh - leading cause of death in the United States. It features memory loss and the decline of other mental functions. Although there is currently no absolute way to prevent Alzheimer's disease, research has found that certain measures can reduce the risk of getting the disease. Moreover, developing these habits has many other health benefits, so it is always beneficial. The following is information related to the risk of Alzheimer's disease and measures to reduce the risk.
Alzheimer's disease affects more than 5 million people in the United States. The risk of the disease increases with age. Most people with this disease do not start to show symptoms until around the age of 65. This type is called late - onset Alzheimer's disease and is the most common type.
There is also an early - onset Alzheimer's disease, which is relatively rare. Only about 10% of patients belong to this type. As you can guess from its name, early - onset Alzheimer's disease occurs before the age of 65. Symptoms may appear at any time between a patient's 30s and 60s.
Although research in this field is still ongoing, genetics seems to be related to both early - onset and late - onset Alzheimer's disease. Gene mutations seem to be the cause of early - onset Alzheimer's disease in some patients. The cause of late - onset Alzheimer's disease is still unclear. It may be the result of the combined action of multiple factors such as genetics, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
People with Down syndrome are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and may start to show symptoms in their 40s. Down syndrome is a genetic mutation that results in three copies of chromosome 21 (instead of two). This chromosome is important because it is involved in the production of amyloid protein. Amyloid protein forms large masses in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, known as plaques. Although the role of these plaques is not yet fully understood, it is currently speculated that the presence of amyloid plaques is one of the brain changes caused by Alzheimer's disease.
Although we currently do not know how to prevent Alzheimer's disease, certain risk factors can increase the risk of getting the disease. Unfortunately, the biggest risk factors - age and genetic makeup - are beyond our control. However, the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease can be reduced by paying attention to lifestyle and behavior. When we work hard to prevent diseases such as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes, the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease will also be reduced. This can be achieved through the following healthy lifestyles.
Control High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is harmful to many parts of the body, including the brain. Monitoring and controlling blood pressure are also beneficial to blood vessels and the heart.
Control Blood Sugar: Persistently high blood sugar can increase the risk of various diseases and conditions, including problems with memory, learning ability, and attention.
Maintain a Healthy Weight: Obesity is clearly associated with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other diseases. However, the best way to measure obesity is not clear. Many studies have shown that the ratio of waist circumference to height may be one of the most accurate predictors of obesity - related diseases that we know.
Follow a Healthy Diet: Eat more various fruits and vegetables, whole - wheat foods, lean meat, seafood, unsaturated fats such as olive oil, and low - fat or non - fat dairy products. Reduce the consumption of foods containing other fats and sugars, especially ultra - processed foods.
Be Physically Active: Exercise has many other health benefits besides helping to prevent Alzheimer's disease. It is recommended to have 150 minutes of moderate - intensity physical activity every week. For example, walk and/or cycle for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
Keep Your Mind Active: You can do this by playing board games, word, logic, or number puzzles. You can also be creative by drawing, writing, carving, or doing handicrafts. You can also stimulate your mind by reading, learning new skills, working, volunteering, and socializing.
Stay Connected: Isolation and loneliness can increase the risk of the disease. Keeping in touch with relatives or joining clubs or other social activities can help you maintain social connections.
Treat Hearing Problems: Hearing impairment can make communication with others more difficult. You should also protect your ears from noise to help prevent hearing loss.
Get Enough Sleep: Sleep is very important for both the body and the brain. You should sleep for seven to eight hours every night. If you have any sleep problems, see a doctor.
Prevent Falls and Head Injuries: Head injuries can increase the likelihood of getting Alzheimer's disease. Falls are a common cause of head injuries among the elderly. You can install anti - fall devices at home, wear supportive shoes with non - slip soles, and participate in fall - prevention programs to reduce falls.
Limit Alcohol Consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to falls and worsen other health conditions, including memory loss. Reducing alcohol consumption to a maximum of one or two drinks a day may be helpful.
Don't Smoke: Not smoking can reduce the risk of serious diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and certain cancers, thus improving your health. Your risk of getting Alzheimer's disease will also be reduced.
It should be noted that doing these things does not guarantee that you will not get Alzheimer's disease. However, following these suggestions will be beneficial to you in many ways because it can also reduce the risk of many other health problems.
Taking good care of physical and mental health is very important. Having an annual physical examination can help you and your healthcare provider monitor your health status and arrange other tests as needed to ensure that you receive all the screening items recommended for your age and gender.
If memory problems start to occur, healthcare personnel will conduct tests to determine whether the symptoms are caused by Alzheimer's disease or other diseases. They will talk to the patient (and perhaps the patient's family members) to ask about general health status, medications (including supplements), diet, medical problems, the ability to perform daily tasks, and changes in behavior or personality. The patient may not be willing to let the medical staff talk to the family members, but the family members may notice changes in daily life or personality (early signs of Alzheimer's disease) earlier than the patient, which can provide valuable information for the healthcare provider.
If a doctor believes that a patient may have Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, they may test the patient's memory, problem - solving ability, attention, counting, and language ability. Standard medical tests such as blood and urine tests can also help determine the potential cause of the problem. In some cases, healthcare providers may recommend a brain scan. Medical tests such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) are usually used to rule out other cognitive disorders and can also be used to detect atrophy that may be related to Alzheimer's disease. There is also a special amyloid PET scan and autopsy that can be used to observe amyloid plaques.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease that develops slowly. Therefore, it may be difficult to distinguish the early symptoms from normal forgetfulness at the beginning. The following are some common signs and symptoms to be noted. However, remember that everyone's situation is different. Some patients may only show a few of these symptoms, while others may have several.
Having difficulty finding or coming up with words compared to peers.
Having difficulty recognizing people and naming objects.
Having vision and spatial problems; getting lost or confused even in familiar environments.
Having poor reasoning or judgment ability, which may affect decision - making.
Having difficulty managing money and paying bills.
Taking longer than usual to complete daily tasks.
Repeatedly asking the same questions.
Wandering and getting lost, even in familiar places such as your neighborhood or grocery store.
Misplacing things or putting them in strange places.
Showing changes in mood and personality, including increased anxiety and/or aggression.
Early treatment is particularly important because many other diseases can cause the same symptoms as Alzheimer's disease. If detected early, some of these diseases can be reversed.
Alzheimer's disease is common in people around the age of 65. It is characterized by memory loss and the decline of other cognitive abilities. Although less common, it may also occur in people in their 30s or later. Unfortunately, age, the biggest risk factor, is beyond our control. Even if genetic factors increase the risk of the disease, a healthy lifestyle may reduce the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. At the same time, it can also reduce the risk of other diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and diabetes. If you are worried about signs of Alzheimer's disease in yourself or others, consult a healthcare provider. They can conduct tests to determine the cause of the symptoms and provide appropriate treatment.
