How Does Alzheimers Affect The Digestive System
Researchers have found a connection between the microorganisms in our gastrointestinal system to a variety of health conditions including Alzheimers disease. The intestinal flora can produce something called amyloid, which enters the blood circulation and crosses the blood-brain barrier to get into the brain.
The accumulation of amyloid plaques between nerve cells in the brain is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimers disease. There is also a component of bacterial cell membranes known as lipopolysaccharides that can get into the bodys bloodstream and activate inflammatory processes which contribute to Alzheimers.
The risk can be reduced by eating a plant-based diet rich in fruit and vegetables and high in fiber. The Mediterranean Diet is a popular one that has been shown to reduce Alzheimers disease risk. Black and green tea can also help support gut health.
Key Biological Processes In The Brain
Most neurons have three basic parts: a cell body, multiple dendrites, and an axon.
- The cell body contains the nucleus, which houses the genetic blueprint that directs and regulates the cells activities.
- Dendrites are branch-like structures that extend from the cell body and collect information from other neurons.
- The axon is a cable-like structure at the end of the cell body opposite the dendrites and transmits messages to other neurons.
The function and survival of neurons depend on several key biological processes:
Neurons are a major player in the central nervous system, but other cell types are also key to healthy brain function. In fact, glial cells are by far the most numerous cells in the brain, outnumbering neurons by about 10 to 1. These cells, which come in various formssuch as microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytessurround and support the function and healthy of neurons. For example, microglia protect neurons from physical and chemical damage and are responsible for clearing foreign substances and cellular debris from the brain. To carry out these functions, glial cells often collaborate with blood vessels in the brain. Together, glial and blood vessel cells regulate the delicate balance within the brain to ensure that it functions at its best.
The Role Of Plaques And Tangles
Scientists arent completely sure about why neurons die and tissue shrinks in the brains of people with Alzheimers disease, but they strongly suspect that amyloid plaques and tau tangles are the cause.
The thinking is that plaques form when pieces of a protein called beta-amyloid clump together. Researchers are beginning to think that groups of a few pieces of beta-amyloid, rather than plaques, may cause the worst damage by blocking the chemical signals neurons use to communicate.
In healthy brain tissue, tau protects the transport systems that supply cells with nutrients and other important substances. But when tau forms tangles, cells cant get the essentials they need and begin to die, according to the Alzheimers Association.
However, there is new controversy surrounding the role of beta-amyloid in Alzheimers, so more research is needed on the subject.
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How Does Alzheimers Affect The Brain
A healthy brain contains billions of neurons, which are specialized cells that process and transmit information between different parts of the brain to the muscles and organs of the body via electrical and chemical signals . Alzheimers disease disrupts this communication. This ultimately results in loss of function and cell death.
The brain typically shrinks to some degree as a person ages, but it doesnt actually lose neurons in large numbers. In Alzheimers disease the damage is larger. Neurons stop functioning and lose connection with other neurons affecting communication.
It first starts with destroying neurons that are involved in memory and eventually affects areas in the brain responsible for language, reasoning and social behavior. Overtime, a person may lose his or her ability to live and function independently.
People with Alzheimers may also experience vascular problems that may lead to reduced blood flow and oxygen to the brain. This results in inflammation which adds further vascular problems.
Dietitians Weigh In On The Effects Of Diet And Dementia
GREENVILLE, S.C. While hopeful research is underway, there is no known cure for Dementia, but there are ways that you can delay its onset.
But before we start, its important to note Alzheimers Disease and dementia are not the same.
Dementia is essentially a class of diseases that is characterized by a loss of cognition or a cognitive decline, as well as a reduction in the ability to perform daily tasks.
Dementia is typically used as an umbrella term.
Joanna Smyers is a Registered Dietitian with Bon Secours Saint Francis.
She said Alzheimers disease is a specific form of dementia.
It has been characterized and studied quite a bit more than Dementia in general, because of its onset with the beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, the tau plaques, and their contribution to the effects of nurture neurogenesis and neurodegenerative decline, said Smyers.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Alzheimers Disease is defined as symptoms of dementia that gradually get worse over time including confusion, changes in behavior, and other challenges.
Smyers told 7NEWS that what you eat can shape your bodys response to either disease.
The most appropriate approaches for diet would be the use of the Mediterranean Diet or the Dash Diet, Smyers said. And since 2015, they actually combined these two together to form the M.I.N.D. diet, and that stands for the Mediterranean dash Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay.
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What Is Alzheimer Disease
Alzheimer disease, which affects some older people, is different from everyday forgetting. It is a condition that permanently affects the brain. Over time, the disease makes it harder to remember even basic stuff, like how to tie a shoe.
Eventually, the person may have trouble remembering the names and faces of family members or even who he or she is. This can be very sad for the person and his or her family.
It’s important to know that Alzheimer disease does not affect kids. It usually affects people over 65 years of age. Researchers have found medicines that seem to slow the disease down. And there’s hope that someday there will be a cure.
What Impact Does Dementia Have On Adls
Alzheimers disease and other kinds of dementia often make performing ADLs difficult. Tasks may be done halfway, poorly, or not at all. For example, while some people with dementia appear as if theres nothing wrong with them, others look disheveled and may wear dirty, mismatched clothes.
A persons ability to perform ADLs is often evaluated when assessing their cognitive functioning. Since dementia is typically a progressive condition, the ability to perform ADLs declines over time.
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How To Talk To A Loved One About Signs Of Alzheimers Disease
Scientists have identified a condition called mild cognitive impairment that for some people is a harbinger of Alzheimers dementia. MCI involves problems with memory or mental function that are noticeable to the person affected but not serious enough to interfere with everyday life.
Men and women who have MCI may be at higher risk of developing Alzheimers or other forms of dementia than individuals who dont. But MCI doesnt always progress some people even get their cognitive abilities back. Researchers are trying to figure out why, notes the Mayo Clinic.
What Causes Alzheimers Disease
In recent years, scientists have made tremendous progress in better understanding Alzheimers and the momentum continues to grow. Still, scientists dont yet fully understand what causes Alzheimers disease in most people. In people with early-onset Alzheimers, a genetic mutation may be the cause. Late-onset Alzheimers arises from a complex series of brain changes that may occur over decades. The causes probably include a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The importance of any one of these factors in increasing or decreasing the risk of developing Alzheimers may differ from person to person.
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The Basics Of Alzheimers Disease
Scientists are conducting studies to learn more about plaques, tangles, and other biological features of Alzheimers disease. Advances in brain imaging techniques allow researchers to see the development and spread of abnormal amyloid and tau proteins in the living brain, as well as changes in brain structure and function. Scientists are also exploring the very earliest steps in the disease process by studying changes in the brain and body fluids that can be detected years before Alzheimers symptoms appear. Findings from these studies will help in understanding the causes of Alzheimers and make diagnosis easier.
One of the great mysteries of Alzheimers disease is why it largely affects older adults. Research on normal brain aging is exploring this question. For example, scientists are learning how age-related changes in the brain may harm neurons and affect other types of brain cells to contribute to Alzheimers damage. These age-related changes include atrophy of certain parts of the brain, inflammation, blood vessel damage, production of unstable molecules called free radicals, and mitochondrial dysfunction .
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
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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.
Body Systems Worsen Over Time
Early-stage Alzheimer’s is usually characterized by some degree of memory loss and difficulty with problem-solving and communication, according to the Mayo Clinic. But as Alzheimer’s progresses to the “moderate” stage, people with the disease often experience a dual-track breakdown of both cognitive and physical function. Ultimately, they’ll need assistance with basics like moving about the home, grooming, bathing, going to the bathroom and even eating. The loss of control over the body becomes more pronounced as Alzheimer’s moves into its advanced stage.
“As the disease progresses to areas of the brain beyond those responsible for memory and language, it starts to destroy parts of the brain that control all the bodily functions that are most important for life,” Edelmayer warns. “Incontinence is a common problem. Many people with Alzheimer’s experience difficulty walking, speaking and swallowing.”
An activity as central to life as eating can become a huge hurdle beyond losing the ability to swallow. Appetite can be affected because Alzheimer’s can take away the sense of smell, according to a study published in JAMA Neurology in November 2015. On the cognitive side, “people with severe Alzheimer’s may forget how to feed themselves,” Edelmayer says.
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Who Does Alzheimers Disease Affect
Alzheimers disease mainly affects people over age 65. The higher your age over 65, the more likely youll develop Alzheimers.
Some people develop Alzheimers disease before age 65 typically in their 40s or 50s. This is called early-onset Alzheimers disease. Its rare. Less than 10% of AD cases are early-onset.
What Happens To The Body With Alzheimers
Primarily, Alzheimers impacts the brain. However, as the disease progresses, it starts to harm other bodily systems as well.
As the brain deteriorates, it has more difficulty controlling parts of the body. Therefore, in the late stages of Alzheimers, those with the disease may exhibit:
- Dragging or shuffling the feet when walking
- Difficulty standing
- Difficulty sitting in a chair
- Difficulty eating, chewing and swallowing
- Uncontrollable twitches
- Problems controlling the bladder and bowels
- Difficulties with tasks of daily living
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Effect Of High Ambient Temperature On A Degradation And Clearance
As we have shown above, although the level of insoluble A40 in the cortex was not significantly different between the two groups, the level of insoluble A42 was significantly higher at 30 °C than at 23 °C, which indicates that the sustained high body temperature may contribute to the pathogenic accumulation of A42 in the cortex. It has been well documented that on the basis of the amyloid hypothesis, the upregulation of A accumulation is mainly caused by two mechanisms: A overproduction or the reduction of A proteolytic degradation and impaired A clearance. Thus, we measured the levels of an insulin-degrading enzyme and neprilysin , which are A-degrading enzymes. We also measured the levels of ATP-binding cassette A1 and apolipoprotein E , which are A clearance-related proteins, in the cortex of mice by Western blotting. Interestingly, we found that although the IDE level significantly increased, the NEP level significantly decreased at 30 °C compared with those at 23 °C . We observed no significant differences in the levels of ApoE and ABCA1 between the two groups . These findings indicate that the decreased cortical NEP levels in mice housed at 30 °C may be attributable to A42 accumulation.
Figure 4
How Is Alzheimers Disease Diagnosed
Doctors use several methods and tools to help determine whether a person who is having memory problems has Alzheimers disease.
To diagnose Alzheimers, doctors may:
- Ask the person and a family member or friend questions about overall health, use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diet, past medical problems, ability to carry out daily activities, and changes in behavior and personality.
- Conduct tests of memory, problem solving, attention, counting, and language.
- Carry out standard medical tests, such as blood and urine tests, to identify other possible causes of the problem.
- Perform brain scans, such as computed tomography , magnetic resonance imaging , or positron emission tomography , to support an Alzheimers diagnosis or to rule out other possible causes for symptoms.
These tests may be repeated to give doctors information about how the persons memory and other cognitive functions are changing over time.
People with memory and thinking concerns should talk to their doctor to find out whether their symptoms are due to Alzheimers or another cause, such as stroke, tumor, Parkinsons disease, sleep disturbances, side effects of medication, an infection, or another type of dementia. Some of these conditions may be treatable and possibly reversible.
In addition, an early diagnosis provides people with more opportunities to participate in clinical trials or other research studies testing possible new treatments for Alzheimers.
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Tips For Coping With Memory And Behavior Challenges
The Alzheimer’s Association offers some tips for caregivers on coping with memory and behavior issues. These strategies are intended to help address needs that the person with Alzheimer’s may have, promote physical and emotional comfort, and help manage behavior symptoms.
- Monitor personal comfort. Check for pain, hunger, thirst, constipation, full bladder, fatigue, infections and skin irritation. Maintain a comfortable room temperature.
- Avoid being confrontational or arguing about facts. For example, if a person expresses a wish to go visit a parent who died years ago, don’t point out that the parent is dead. Instead, say, “Your mother is a wonderful person. I would like to see her too.”
- Redirect the person’s attention. Try to remain flexible, patient and supportive by responding to the emotion, not the behavior.
- Create a calm environment. Avoid noise, glare, insecure space and too much background distraction, including television.
- Allow adequate rest between stimulating events.
- Acknowledge requests and respond to them.
- Look for reasons behind each behavior. Consult a physician to identify any causes related to medications or illness.
These strategies are intended to help address needs that the person with Alzheimer’s may have, promote physical and emotional comfort, and help manage behavior symptoms.
How To Help Someone Who Has Dementia With Their Adls
General tips
- Establish a routine. Schedule grooming activities for the same time and same place each day. For example, brush teeth after meals, or schedule baths for the mornings or evenings. Choose the most relaxed time of the day for bathing and grooming.
- Respect privacy. Close doors and blinds. Cover the person with a towel or bathrobe.
- Encourage independence as much as possible. This will help to promote a sense of accomplishment.
- Keep in mind the persons abilities. Allow enough time to complete each task for example, brushing his or her hair or teeth.
- Give encouragement and support as he or she completes tasks. Acknowledge his or her efforts when completed. You did a nice job brushing your hair today.
- Tell the person what you are doing. I am going to wash your hair now.
- Keep fingernails and toenails clean and trimmed.
- Break down all grooming tasks into simple, step-by-step instructions.
- Practice the activity in the same routine every day
If other conditions such as arthritis or a significant decline in function exist, ask your physician if Medicare will pay for Occupational Therapy for a period of ADL assistance or training.
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