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A progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of function and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain leading to loss of cognitive function such as memory and language

Symptoms of Alzheimer's

The following features are indicative of Alzheimer's:
  • memory problems
  • mild cognitive impairment
  • movement difficulties
  • sense of smell problems
  • word-finding
  • vision or spatial issues
  • impaired reasoning or judgment

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Common Causes of Alzheimer's

The following are the most common causes of Alzheimer's:
  • mutation in the TREM2 gene
  • environmental factors

Risk Factors for Alzheimer's

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Alzheimer's:
  • depression
  • head injuries
  • hypertension

Prevention of Alzheimer's

No, it is not possible to prevent Alzheimer's.
  • genetic mutation in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilins 1 and 2 genes causes the disease, so cannot be prevented

Occurrence of Alzheimer's

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Alzheimer's cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Alzheimer's most commonly occurs in the following age group:
  • Aged > 50 years

Common Gender

Alzheimer's can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Alzheimer's

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Alzheimer's:
  • Mini–mental state examination: To diagnose the cognitive impairments
  • Blood tests: To detect other causes of dementia
  • Psychological tests: To diagnose depression

Doctor for Diagnosis of Alzheimer's

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Alzheimer's:
  • Geriatricians
  • Geriatric psychiatrists
  • Neurologists
  • Neuropsychologists

Complications of Alzheimer's if untreated

Yes, Alzheimer's causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Alzheimer's is left untreated:
  • pneumonia
  • falls
  • fractures
  • bedsores
  • malnutrition

Procedures for Treatment of Alzheimer's

The following procedures are used to treat Alzheimer's:
  • Supportive psychotherapy: Helps mildly impaired people to adjust their illness
  • Reminiscence therapy: Discussion of past experiences personally or in group with the help of household items, photographs, sound recordings and music for mood and cognition
  • Simulated presence therapy: To reduce challenging behaviours by playing a voice recording of the close relatives of the patients
  • Validation therapy: Acceptance of the reality and personal truth of another's experience

Self-care for Alzheimer's

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Alzheimer's:
  • Healthy Diet: Take a diet which is rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat
  • Exercise: Regularly do exercise
  • Social engagement: Helps to preserve mental function

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Alzheimer's

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Alzheimer's:
  • Exercise: Do exercise regularly to improve mood and maintain the health of heart, muscles and joints
  • Nutrition: Take diet enriched with nutrition

Patient Support for Treatment of Alzheimer's

The following actions may help Alzheimer's patients:
  • Calm and stable home environment: Reduce behavior problems
  • Education: Learn much about the disease
  • Join a support group: Interact with other people with the same condition to deal with the problems

Time for Treatment of Alzheimer's

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Alzheimer's to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced

Related Topics

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Alzheimer's.

Related Topics

Alzheimer's Disease

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