Dementia In Alzheimer’s Disease

Causes Of Alzheimer’s Disease

The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells that connect to each other. In Alzheimers disease, connections between these cells are lost. This is because proteins build up and form abnormal structures called plaques and tangles. Eventually nerve cells die and brain tissue is lost.

The brain also contains important chemicals that help to send signals between cells. People with Alzheimers have less of some of these chemical messengers in their brain, so the signals are not passed on as well. There are some drug treatments for Alzheimers disease that can help boost the levels of some chemical messengers in the brain. This can help with some of the symptoms.

Alzheimers is a progressive disease. This means that gradually, over time, more parts of the brain are damaged. As this happens, more symptoms develop, and they also get worse.More than 520,000 people in the UK have dementia caused by Alzheimers disease and this figure is set to rise.

Dementia and the brain

How Many Americans Have Alzheimers Disease

Estimates vary, but experts suggest that more than 6 million Americans age 65 and older may have Alzheimers. Many more under age 65 also have the disease. Unless Alzheimer’s can be effectively treated or prevented, the number of people with it will increase significantly if current population trends continue. This is because increasing age is the most important known risk factor for Alzheimers disease.

Signs And Symptoms Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms develop gradually over many years and eventually become more severe. It affects multiple brain functions.

The first sign of Alzheimer’s disease is usually minor memory problems.

For example, this could be forgetting about recent conversations or events, and forgetting the names of places and objects.

As the condition develops, memory problems become more severe and further symptoms can develop, such as:

• confusion, disorientation and getting lost in familiar places
• difficulty planning or making decisions
• problems with speech and language
• problems moving around without assistance or performing self-care tasks
• personality changes, such as becoming aggressive, demanding and suspicious of others
• hallucinations and delusions
• low mood or anxiety

Read more about the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

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Galantamine For Alzheimers Disease

In a study of 119 patients, 17.6% or 21 patients maintained good cognitive functions. It also included those who remained at baseline after three years of galantamine .

Of the 17.6%, more than 50% of them even showed better cognitive functions than their untreated peers .

Galantamine also prevents the degradation of acetylcholine. Its a neurotransmitter vital for thought and memory functions.

How Is Alzheimers Diagnosed And Treated

Doctors may ask questions about health, conduct cognitive tests, and carry out standard medical tests to determine whether to diagnose a person with Alzheimers disease. If a doctor thinks a person may have Alzheimers, they may refer the person to a specialist, such as a neurologist, for further assessment. Specialists may conduct additional tests, such as brain scans or lab tests of spinal fluid, to help make a diagnosis. These tests measure signs of the disease, such as changes in brain size or levels of certain proteins.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimers, though there are several medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that can help manage some symptoms of the disease along with coping strategies to manage behavioral symptoms. In 2021, FDA provided accelerated approval for a new medication, aducanumab, that targets the protein beta-amyloid, which accumulates abnormally in the brains of people with Alzheimers. The new medication helps to reduce amyloid deposits, but has not yet been shown to affect clinical symptoms or outcomes, such as progression of cognitive decline or dementia.

Most medicines work best for people in the early or middle stages of Alzheimers. Researchers are exploring other drug therapies and nondrug interventions to delay or prevent the disease as well as treat its symptoms.

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The Alzheimers Disease Continuum

A few decades ago, the terms Alzheimers disease and Alzheimers dementia tended to be used interchangeably. Nowadays, Alzheimers dementia is considered as a stage of Alzheimers disease.

Alzheimers disease begins many years before symptoms become apparent, and develops gradually over time. Progression along a continuum from presymptomatic Alzheimers disease to symptomatic Alzheimers dementia tends to be slow and subtle.

It is important to understand that progression along the Alzheimers disease continuum varies widely from person to person, and that each persons experience of Alzheimers disease will be unique to them.

Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease

In the preclinical stage of Alzheimers disease, amyloid plaques and tau tangles start accumulating in the brain. However, there are no outward signs of disease, and these changes can only be detected using brain imaging scans or biomarker tests, which are not yet routinely used in clinical practice. The preclinical stage of Alzheimers disease can last many years, or even decades.

Mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease

Mild Cognitive Impairment is often considered as the stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal ageing and the more significant decline of dementia. It may increase a persons risk of later developing dementia but some people with mild cognitive impairment dont deteriorate further and some eventually get better.

Alzheimer’s Dementia

Alzheimers Mortality Rate And Statistics

The number of Alzheimers deaths has more than tripled from 44,536 deaths in 1999 to 134,242 in 2020 .

Its the 5th leading cause of death among older people 65 years and above. Its the 7th leading cause of death in the country .

The risk of death in people with Alzheimers increases with age, compared to those without.

People at 70 years of age with Alzheimers have a 2 times higher risk of dying before they turn 80 .

People over 85 years have a 5 times higher risk of dying from this Alzheimers, compared to those aged 75 to 84 .

They also have a 50 times higher risk of dying from Alzheimers disease, compared to those who are aged 65 to 74 .

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What Is Worse Alzheimer’s Or Dementia

It is important to understand that the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia means that one is not worse than the other. Alzheimer’s disease causes dementia. A person with Alzheimer’s disease has both Alzheimer’s and dementia.It is difficult to compare the severity of Alzheimer’s to other types of dementia because it is a degenerative condition.

Alzheimers Death By Race Statistics

Of the 134,242 deaths in 2020, White Americans make up 88.7% or 119,124 of the cases .

The second group with the highest number of deaths is Black Americans. They make up 8.2% or 11,023 of the cases .

Asian or Pacific Islanders make up 2.7% of the cases with 3,623 deaths .

American Indians or Alaska Natives make up the least at 0.4% with 472 deaths .

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What Are The Most Common Types Of Dementia

• Alzheimers disease. This is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases. It is caused by specific changes in the brain. The trademark symptom is trouble remembering recent events, such as a conversation that occurred minutes or hours ago, while difficulty remembering more distant memories occurs later in the disease. Other concerns like difficulty with walking or talking or personality changes also come later. Family history is the most important risk factor. Having a first-degree relative with Alzheimers disease increases the risk of developing it by 10 to 30 percent.

• Vascular dementia. About 10 percent of dementia cases are linked to strokes or other issues with blood flow to the brain. Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are also risk factors. Symptoms vary depending on the area and size of the brain impacted. The disease progresses in a step-wise fashion, meaning symptoms will suddenly get worse as the individual gets more strokes or mini-strokes.

• Lewy body dementia. In addition to more typical symptoms like memory loss, people with this form of dementia may have movement or balance problems like stiffness or trembling. Many people also experience changes in alertness including daytime sleepiness, confusion or staring spells. They may also have trouble sleeping at night or may experience visual hallucinations .

How Does Alzheimers Develop

Research suggests that changes in the brain can occur up to ten years before a person starts to show symptoms of Alzheimers disease. The symptoms are usually mild at the beginning and gradually worsen over time. These may include:

• difficulty remembering recent events while having a good memory for past events
• poor concentration
• difficulty recognising people or objects
• poor organisation skills
• slow, muddled or repetitive speech
• withdrawal from family and friends
• problems with decision making, problem solving, planning and sequencing tasks

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What Are The Most Common Causes Of Alzheimers Disease

A family history of this disease gives you a 70% risk of developing Alzheimers disease. 30% of the risk can come from environmental factors. These include exposure to hazardous compounds, pollutants, and chronic health problems .

The APOE-e4 gene, in particular, plays a crucial role in the development of Alzheimers disease.

56% of Americans diagnosed with Alzheimers disease had at least one copy of the APOE-e4 gene. 11% had two copies of the gene .

The presence of one APOE-e4 copy increases Alzheimers risk by 3 times. The risk further increases by 8 to 12 times in those with two APOE-e4 copies .

Age also increases Alzheimers risk. The older you get, the higher the risk. However, it should be noted that Alzheimers disease isnt a normal part of the aging process. Instead, its a chronic, progressive disease.

33.2% of people aged 85 and older have Alzheimers disease, compared to 5% of those between 65 and 74 years .

Smoking contributes to the development of Alzheimers as well. It causes cellular inflammation and worsens several health factors that increase Alzheimers risk. These include heart diseases, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia .

A study also found dementia risk is higher among smokers by 45% than among nonsmokers .

It also noted that smoking may have potentially contributed to 14% of the worlds Alzheimers cases .

What Is Known About Reducing Your Risk Of Alzheimers Disease

The science on risk reduction is quickly evolving, and major breakthroughs are within reach. For example, there is growing evidence that people who adopt healthy lifestyle habits like regular exercise and blood pressure management can lower their risk of dementia. There is growing scientific evidence that healthy behaviors, which have been shown to prevent cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, may also reduce risk for subjective cognitive decline. To learn more about the current state of evidence on dementia risk factors and the implications for public health, please read the following summaries on Cardiovascular Health, Exercise, Diabetes and Obesity, Traumatic Brain Injury , Tobacco and Alcohol, Diet and Nutrition, Sleep, Sensory Impairment, and Social Engagement or the Compiled Report .

Aging

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What Is Alzheimers Disease

• Alzheimers disease is the most common type of dementia.
• It is a progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss and possibly leading to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment.
• Alzheimers disease involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language.
• It can seriously affect a persons ability to carry out daily activities.

Alzheimers Disease Statistics: Male Vs Female

12% or 4 million women in the US have Alzheimers disease .

This neurological disease affects women the most. They make up more than 6 in 10 of those with Alzheimers .

It affects men the least. Compared to women, only 9% or 2.5 million men have Alzheimers disease .

According to the Alzheimers Association, factors that influence the prevalence rates include:

• Biological factors
• Presence and prevalence of risk factor diseases

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Alzheimers Dementia Deaths By State Statistics

Californias 18,775 Alzheimers deaths make up 14% of the 134,242 deaths in 2020. Its the state with the highest number of Alzheimers deaths, owing to its large population .

Texas and Florida follow with 11,918 and 7,274 deaths, respectively .

The state with the lowest number of Alzheimers deaths is Alaska with 139 deaths. Wyoming with 227 and Vermont with 280 follow in second and third places .

However, when you look at the crude death rate, Mississippi has the highest with 68 per 1000,000 people .

Alabama has the second-highest crude death rate at 62.8 per 100,000. Arkansas comes in third place at 58.8 per 100,000 people .

The states with the lowest crude death rates are Alaska at 19, Maryland at 19.4, and New York at 20 per 100,000 people .

How Is Alzheimers Disease Treated

Medical management can improve quality of life for individuals living with Alzheimers disease and for their caregivers. There is currently no known cure for Alzheimers disease. Treatment addresses several areas:

• Helping people maintain brain health.
• Managing behavioral symptoms.
• Slowing or delaying symptoms of the disease.

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What Is Alzheimer’s Disease

Dementia is the name for a set of symptoms that includes memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. Dementia develops when the brain is damaged by diseases, including Alzheimers disease.

Alzheimers disease is a physical disease that affects the brain. It is named after Alois Alzheimer, the doctor who first described it.

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Treatment And Management Options

At present there is no cure for Alzheimers disease and no treatment can stop the condition progressing. However, medications can help stabilise or slow the decline in memory and thinking abilities. Drugs may also be prescribed for secondary symptoms such as agitation or depression, or to improve sleep. Non-drug therapies can be beneficial, such as staying active and socially connected, and managing stress.

Talking to a counsellor or psychologist is important to help manage changes in behaviour and mood.

Occupational therapy can help improve everyday functioning at home.

At all stages of Alzheimers disease, treatments and support services are available to reduce the impact of symptoms, to ensure the best possible quality of life for every person living with the condition.

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Alzheimers Disease Statistics: Age Group

33.2% of people 85 years and older have Alzheimers. Theyre the age group most vulnerable to the disease. They make up 35.7% of the total number of people with Alzheimers, with the disease affecting 2.31 million of their population .

Alzheimers affects those who belong to the 65-to-74-year age group the least. 5% of their population have Alzheimers. It affects 1.75 million people, and they make up 27% of the total Alzheimers cases .

Alzheimers affects 13.1% of people between 75 and 84 years of age. They make up the majority of Alzheimers cases at 37.2% with 2.41 million people .

Of the 6.5 million people with Alzheimers disease, 72.9% of them are 75 years of age or older .

Whats the Average Age of Alzheimers Onset?

The first signs of Alzheimers disease typically show up when a person is in their mid-60s . Called late-onset Alzheimers disease, its the most common form.

Symptoms can also appear when a person is in their 30s to mid-60s . Called early-onset Alzheimers disease, this type is rarer compared to the former.

Causes Of Alzheimers Disease

Researchers are rapidly learning more about the chemical changes that damage brain cells in Alzheimers disease. Apart from the few with familial Alzheimers disease, it is not known why some people develop Alzheimers disease and others do not. It is likely that a number of factors contribute to development of the disease, including environmental, genetic and health factors.Alzheimers disease is characterised by specific changes in the brain that include the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles . An abnormal build-up of a protein called beta-amyloid causes amyloid plaques to form outside the brain cells. Inside the brain cells, another protein called tau builds up and causes neurofibrillary tangles.These protein accumulations disrupt messages within the brain because they damage connections between brain cells. The brain cells eventually die and brain volume shrinks. These brain changes occur gradually and actually begin many years before the symptoms of Alzheimers disease occur. The brain is able to compensate for the early damage, but eventually the damage becomes too great and brain function is affected.

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Caring For Someone With Alzheimers Disease

Caring for someone with Alzheimers disease can be hard but also rewarding. Your emotional and physical support will be a great help when the person’s world seems confusing and hostile. Take advantage of the community support thats available for people with Alzheimers disease, their families and carers.

What You Should Do For Alzheimers Prevention

Even though we don’t have enough evidence that all healthy lifestyle choices prevent Alzheimer’s, we do know they can prevent other chronic problems. For example, limiting alcohol intake can help reduce the risk for certain cancers, such as breast cancer. Best advice: make as many healthy lifestyle choices as you can. “They’re all beneficial, and if they help you avoid Alzheimer’s, all the better,” says Dr. Marshall.

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