Early Sign Of Alzheimer’s Disease

What Are Some Complications Of Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimers disease is an irreversible form of dementia. The rate of progression differs between people: some people have it only in the last 5 years of their life, while others may have it for as long as 20 years. Alzheimers disease eventually leads to complete dependence and increasing frailty. This means a secondary illness, such as pneumonia, may eventually cause death.

Other complications of Alzheimers disease may include:

• an inability to complete daily tasks such as planning meals and managing money
• a tendency to wander from home
• personality changes such as anxiety, depression and irritability that make relationships more difficult
• delusions and hallucinations in advanced stages of the disease

What Happens In Alzheimer Disease

You probably know that your brain works by sending signals. Chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters , allow brain cells to talk to each other. But a person with Alzheimer disease has lower amounts of neurotransmitters.

People with Alzheimer disease also develop deposits of stuff that prevent the cells from working properly. When this happens, the cells can’t send the right signals to other parts of the brain. Over time, brain cells affected by Alzheimer disease also begin to shrink and die.

Alzheimer’s Drug Gantenerumab Fails To Slow Decline In Phase Iii Clinical Trial

by Alzheimer’s Research UK

The pharmaceutical company Roche has announced that two phase III trials of the potential Alzheimer’s drug gantenerumab did not achieve the goal of slowing clinical decline in participants with early Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Susan Kohlhaas, director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:

“People with Alzheimer’s disease desperately need better treatment options, so it’s extremely disappointing when a potential drug doesn’t produce the benefits we were hoping to see.”

“The drug’s manufacturer, Roche will soon be presenting the results from this trial, and this will allow the research community to learn from them, to help inform future Alzheimer’s drug development.”

“Gantenerumab is one of several drugs that has been designed to remove the hallmark Alzheimer’s protein, amyloid, from the brains of people in the very early stages of the disease.”

“Earlier this year a final stage trial of a different anti-amyloid drug, called lecanemab, successfully cleared amyloid from the brain and slowed the decline in participants’ memory and thinking skills. Looked at together, data from the lecanemab and gantenerumab trials will yield important insights as to why one anti-amyloid drug worked better than the other, and this will help further refine this approach to treating people with Alzheimer’s disease.”

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What Are The Signs Of Dementia

Most age-related memory problems are not signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, but evidence of a slowdown in the brain’s processing speed that increases the time it takes to retrieve information. As we age, our ability to divide our attention among more than one task or bits of information also declines, which can interfere with storing new memories.

While you may be able to chalk off a few memory lapses to normal aging, there are some common warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. If you or someone you love is experiencing one or more of the following symptoms, talk to a doctor.

Trouble remembering things. At first, only short-term memory may be affected, with long-term memory issues developing later. People may forget an appointment or the name of a new acquaintance. Many people complain of memory loss but can provide considerable detail regarding incidents of forgetfulness, such as where they were at the time. However, acknowledging memory loss only if asked and being unable to recall specific instances when they were unable to remember something can be a sign of dementia.

Trouble completing ordinary tasks. Simple tasks that once caused no difficulty may become much more challenging. For example, forgetting how to use the oven, lock the door, or get dressed can be signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

Impaired judgment. The individual might have trouble making decisions, solving problems, or planning.For example, he may no longer be able to balance a checkbook or pay bills.

The Signs Of This Form Of Dementia Are Different From Those Of Normal Age

Did you ever stride purposefully into a room, stand in one spot, and then wonder what you’d intended to do? Have you ever lost your house keys, or forgot where you parked the car? Relax. Occasional memory slips are natural.

“Everyone has these experiences sometimes, but if they frequently happen to you or someone you love, they may be early signs of Alzheimer’s disease,” says Dr. Scott M. McGinnis, a neurologist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Medical Editor of the Harvard Special Health Report A Guide to Coping with Alzheimer’s Disease.

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Key Points About Early

• Alzheimer disease commonly affects older people, but early-onset Alzheimer disease can affect people in their 30s or 40s.

• It affects memory, thinking, and behavior.

• Although there is no known cure, early diagnosis and treatment can lead to better quality of life.

• Stay healthy with a good diet and regular exercise.

• Avoid alcohol and other substances that may affect memory, thinking, and behavior.

Disappointment After Potential Alzheimers Drug Fails Roche Trial

Swiss pharmaceutical firm carried out two identical phase 3 trials of gantenerumab, with about 1,000 volunteers in each

Hopes of a treatment for Alzheimers disease have been dealt another blow by the failure of an experimental drug to slow the progression of the condition in global clinical trials.

The Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche said its drug, gantenerumab, showed no clear benefit in twin trials which explored its impact on memory, problem solving and other cognitive skills in people with early stage Alzheimers.

Experts had hoped for positive news from Roches Graduate 1 and 2 clinical trials after a US-Japanese collaboration between Biogen and Eisai reported in September that a similar drug, lecanemab, slowed cognitive decline in patients, making it the first proven to do so.

This news is very disappointing to deliver, said Levi Garraway, Roches chief medical officer in a statement.

Gantenerumab is an antibody therapy designed to bind to clumps of amyloid beta proteins and remove the plaques from the brain. The abnormal protein aggregates are believed to play a major role in Alzheimers, though many patients are likely to have multiple disease processes at work in their brains.

Roche conducted two identical phase 3 trials of gantenerumab, with about 1,000 volunteers in each receiving an injection of the drug or a placebo every two weeks. The participants took part in tests to monitor their cognitive decline for more than two years.

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Mild Cognitive Impairment May Be A Sign Of Alzheimers

As people age, they may become more forgetful taking longer to put a name to a face, say, or to remember a computer password.

But a condition called mild cognitive impairment is more significant than that. For some people, it may be a precursor to Alzheimers or even an early form of the disease.

Individuals with MCI may have memory and other cognitive problems that are noticeable to them and to people close to them. But these problems arent typically serious enough to interfere with everyday activities.

Between 30 to 50 percent of those with MCI go on to develop Alzheimers disease within 5 to 10 years.

In contrast, only 1 to 3 percent of people who are 65 or older and who have normal cognition will develop Alzheimers in any given year.

Amnestic MCI primarily affects memory, while non-amnestic MCI affects thinking skills not associated with memory, such as decision-making.

If you have MCI you may notice the following symptoms:

• You forget things more often, such as recent conversations.
• You forget about important events, like appointments and social plans.
• You lose your train of thought or have trouble following a conversation or the plots of movies or books.
• You feel increasingly overwhelmed by making decisions, planning steps to accomplish a task, or understanding instructions.
• You have trouble navigating places you know well.
• You begin making unusually poor decisions or become more impulsive.
• Your family and friends notice these changes.

Changes In Financial Habits

Though subtle, the way a person handles their finances can be an early warning sign of diseases that cause cognitive decline.

Coexisting symptoms of dementia such as memory loss and cognitive problems “can lead people with dementia to have trouble handling money and paying bills,” says the National Institute on Aging . “Repeated financial mistakes can be an early sign of the disease.

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Assessing Your Mental Abilities

A specialist will usually assess your mental abilities using a special series of questions.

One widely used test is the mini mental state examination . This involves being asked to carry out activities such as memorising a short list of objects correctly and identifying the current day of the week, month and year. Different memory clinics may also use other, longer tests.

The MMSE isn’t used to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, but it’s useful to initially assess areas of difficulty that a person with the condition may have. This helps specialists to make decisions about treatment and whether more tests are necessary.

Conditions With Symptoms Similar To Dementia

Remember that many conditions have symptoms similar to dementia, so it is important not to assume that someone has dementia just because some of the above symptoms are present. Strokes, depression, excessive long-term alcohol consumption, infections, hormonal disorders, nutritional deficiencies and brain tumours can all cause dementia-like symptoms. Many of these conditions can be treated.

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How Do People Know They Have It

The first sign of Alzheimer disease is an ongoing pattern of forgetting things. This starts to affect a person’s daily life. He or she may forget where the grocery store is or the names of family and friends. This stage may last for some time or get worse quickly, causing more severe memory loss and forgetfulness.

What Causes Alzheimer Disease

Lots of research is being done to find out more about the causes of Alzheimer disease. There is no one reason why people get it. Older people are more likely to get it, and the risk increases the older the person gets. In other words, an 85-year-old is more likely to get it than a 65-year-old. And women are more likely to get it than men.

Researchers also think genes handed down from family members can make a person more likely to get Alzheimer disease. But that doesn’t mean everyone related to someone who has it will get the disease. Other things may make it more likely that someone will get the disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Down syndrome, or having a head injury.

On the positive side, researchers believe exercise, a healthy diet, and taking steps to keep your mind active may help delay the start of Alzheimer disease.

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When It Looks Like Alzheimers But Isnt

Sometimes older people worry that mild forgetfulness means they have Alzheimers disease.

But a certain amount of forgetfulness like losing things from time to time is a normal part of aging. Typical changes in the brain can mean it takes longer to learn new skills or remember information than in the past.

Certain treatable medical conditions can also cause memory loss. These include:

• Head injury, such as a concussion from a fall
• Medication side effects
• Not eating enough healthy foods or having a vitamin deficiency

Emotional problems such as stress, anxiety, or depression can also be mistaken for Alzheimers because they can lead to confusion or forgetfulness. If these feelings persist for more than two weeks, be sure to consult a healthcare professional, recommends the National Institute on Aging.

When Someone You Love Has Alzheimer Disease

You might feel sad or angry or both if someone you love has Alzheimer disease. You might feel nervous around the person, especially if he or she is having trouble remembering important things or can no longer take care of himself or herself.

You might not want to go visit the person, even though your mom or dad wants you to. You are definitely not alone in these feelings. Try talking with a parent or another trusted adult. Just saying what’s on your mind might help you feel better. You also may learn that the adults in your life are having struggles of their own with the situation.

If you visit a loved one who has Alzheimer disease, try to be patient. He or she may have good days and bad days. It can be sad if you can’t have fun in the same ways together. Maybe you and your grandmother liked to go to concerts. If that’s no longer possible, maybe bring her some wonderful music and listen together. It’s a way to show her that you care and showing that love is important, even if her memory is failing.

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What Are The Signs Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Scientists continue to unravel the complex brain changes involved in the onset and progression of Alzheimers disease. It seems likely that damage to the brain starts a decade or more before memory and other cognitive problems appear. During this preclinical stage of Alzheimers disease, people seem to be symptom-free, but toxic changes are taking place in the brain.

Damage occurring in the brain of someone with Alzheimers disease begins to show itself in very early clinical signs and symptoms. For most people with Alzheimersthose who have the late-onset varietysymptoms first appear in their mid-60s. Signs of early-onset Alzheimers begin between a persons 30s and mid-60s.

The first symptoms of Alzheimers vary from person to person. Memory problems are typically one of the first signs of cognitive impairment related to Alzheimers disease. Decline in non-memory aspects of cognition, such as word-finding, vision/spatial issues, and impaired reasoning or judgment, may also signal the very early stages of Alzheimers disease. And some people may be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. As the disease progresses, people experience greater memory loss and other cognitive difficulties.

Alzheimers disease progresses in several stages: preclinical, mild , moderate, and severe .

Can You Prevent Alzheimers Disease

There is no sure way to prevent Alzheimers disease. However, you can reduce the risk of Alzheimers disease by caring for your health:

• your heart whats good for your heart is good for your brain so stick to a healthy diet and dont smoke
• your body regular physical activity increases blood flow to the brain so maintain an active lifestyle
• your mind an active mind helps build brain cells and strengthens their connections so socialise, do things such as puzzles and crosswords, and learn new things, such as a language

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Causes And Risk Factors

Though the exact cause is not known, the abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain is believed to cause the condition. Over time the brain cells get affected as the chemical messengers involved in transmitting messages start decreasing. This causes different parts of the brain to shrink and the persons ability to think and remember gets affected, progressively making it difficult to perform normal tasks.

The following are the risk factors for Alzheimers:

• Age Alzheimers affects the elderly, particularly above the age of 65
• Family history The chances of developing Alzheimers are higher if anyone in the family has had it previously
• Genetics Alzheimers disease is linked to certain genes
• High blood pressure

Having any of the above risk factors does not mean you will develop Alzheimers disease. It only increases your chances of having it.

Early Signs And Symptoms Of Alzheimers

Each person experiences Alzheimers in a unique way. Broadly speaking, however, there are three main stages once Alzheimers symptoms begin: mild , moderate , and severe .

Signs of early-stage dementia include:

If you experience any of these Alzheimers symptoms or recognize them in someone close to you, talk to a doctor who can work with you to make a diagnosis and find the best treatment.

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Why You Should Make An Appointment Now

The sooner you know, the better. Starting treatment may help relieve symptoms and keep you independent longer.

It also helps you plan better. You can work out living arrangements, make financial and legal decisions, and build up your support network.

Show Sources

Alzheimerâs Association: â10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s,â âDiagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia,â âWhat Is Dementia?â

University of California San Francisco: âAlzheimer’s Disease Signs and Symptoms.â

National Institute on Aging: “Forgetfulness: Knowing When To Ask For Help.”

American Psychological Association: “Aging: When should I be concerned about a senior’s forgetfulness?”

Symptoms Of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Some people have a condition called mild cognitive impairment, or MCI. It can be an early sign of Alzheimers. But, not everyone with MCI will develop Alzheimers disease. People with MCI can still take care of themselves and do their normal activities. MCI memory problems may include:

• Losing things often
• Forgetting to go to events or appointments
• Having more trouble coming up with words than other people the same age

Learn more about Alzheimer’s disease from MedlinePlus.

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Early Dementia Symptoms You May Be Ignoring According To Experts

It’s not always easy to discern between normal signs of aging and potential warning signals of cognitive decline. But since there is no cure for diseases like Alzheimer’s, Lewy body dementia, and vascular dementia, catching them early is key. “An early diagnosis can improve the quality of care and quality of life and may reduce the financial and emotional impact of the disease,” the Alzheimer’s Association explains.

Dementia is also on the rise. “Rates of Alzheimer’s disease deaths increased more than 50 percent between 1999 and 2014 Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death among all US adults,” reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

Read on to find out about six early symptoms of cognitive decline that are easy to ignore or dismissbut which are important to take seriously.