Memory Loss and Beyond: Understanding Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most devastating and complex conditions affecting millions of individuals and families around the world. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that causes memory loss, confusion, and changes in behavior and thinking. Read the following blog to learn more about this medical condition that impacts an estimated 6.7 million Americans.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. Eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks is lost, and life is not the same. People with Alzheimer’s can also experience severe changes in behavior and personality. Alzheimer’s Disease is most common over the age of 65, impacting roughly 6.7 million Americans and being the 5th leading cause of death for people over 65 in 2021. Slight memory loss with age is a normal part of aging, however Alzheimer’s is not normal due to its severity. Alzheimer’s Disease occurs in different stages and can cause people to forget words, family members, life events, as well as normal everyday tasks such as walking. Unfortunately, there is no cure to Alzheimer’s Disease but there are preventions and medications available to limit the severity.

Causes of Alzheimer’s

There are many possible causes for Alzheimer’s disease, some of which can be controlled. Other factors include of aging and genetics, which cannot be controlled. The most common causes of Alzheimer’s Disease are:

·      Age- Age is the biggest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s. Most people with Alzheimer’s develop the disease when they are 65 or older, with less than 10% of cases occurring before then. As a person ages past 65, their risk of Alzheimer’s increases. These changes tend to occur because there are areas of the brain that shrink, have inflammation, have damage to blood vessels, and a decreased production of cells.

·      Genetics- There are at least 80 genetic areas associated with Alzheimer’s. The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is involved in making a protein that helps carry cholesterol and other types of fat in the bloodstream. Problems in this process are thought to contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s. APOE comes in several forms, ε2, ε3, and ε4. APOE ε2 may provide some protection against the disease, APOE ε3, is believed to have a neutral effect on the disease, and APOE ε4 increases risk for Alzheimer’s. Having two copies of APOE ε4 is associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s than having one copy. While inheriting APOE ε4 increases a person’s risk of Alzheimer’s, some people with an APOE ε4 allele never develop the disease.

·      Gender- Simply, women are more likely to have Alzheimer’s due to the fact that they tend to live longer than men.

·      Head Injuries- Several large studies found that people 50 or older who had a traumatic brain injury had a higher risk of getting dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

·      Alcohol- Drinking large amounts of alcohol has long been known to cause brain changes. Several large studies and reviews found that alcohol misuse is linked to a higher risk of dementia, especially early-onset dementia.

·      Bad Lifestyle- Factors including lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, and high cholesterol are all things that can increase the chances of suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as many other medical problems.

Psychology of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is caused by damaging parts of the brain, especially disrupting the connection between cells and neurons. This can impact all the mental abilities a person can typically do. Damage to the hippocampus occurs in the early stages. The hippocampus aids in learning and memory, with damage to this area of the brain, new memories can’t be made, and tasks cannot be learned. In later stages of Alzheimer’s, the cerebral cortex can be damaged. The cerebral cortex is responsible for language, reasoning, and social behavior, all of which rapidly decline as the severity of Alzheimer’s Disease increases. Damage to areas of the temporal lobe may cause people to have trouble finding the right words. This is because of the Wernicke’s area and Broca’s area being involved with understanding speech. Damage to the parietal lobe may cause a person with Alzheimer’s to lack certain senses. The overall impacts from Alzheimer’s causes severe memory loss as well as depression, aggression, agitation, sleep disruption, and psychosis are now recognized as core symptoms Alzheimer’s.

Stages of Alzheimer’s

There are three main stages to Alzheimer’s Disease, mild Alzheimer's disease, moderate Alzheimer's disease, and severe Alzheimer's disease. The symptoms and severity of the disease increase over time.

·      Mild Alzheimer’s Disease- A person with mild Alzheimer’s will struggle with wandering/getting lost, coming up with words, misplacing objects, or quickly forgetting something just learned. This is the stage where most people are diagnosed.

·      Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease- A person with moderate Alzheimer’s will struggle with recognizing family/friends, learning new things, forgetting life events, and quick changes of emotion. This stage is typically the longest and requires care.

·      Severe Alzheimer’s Disease- A person with severe Alzheimer’s will struggle with normal everyday activities including walking, sitting, swallowing and communicating. These people are very prone to illness and need 24/7 care. At this point the body is beginning to shut down and the person is near the end of their life.

Treatment/Prevention of Alzheimer’s

There are no known causes to Alzheimer’s Disease, however there are medications that are known for reducing the symptoms. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are medications with increased levels of acetylcholine, a substance in the brain that helps nerve cells communicate with each other. Memantine is not an AChE inhibitor but works by blocking the effects of an excessive amount of a chemical in the brain called glutamate. There are many therapeutic ways to help prevent Alzheimer’s.

·      Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST)- Involves taking part in group activities and exercises designed to improve memory and problem-solving skills.

·      Cognitive rehabilitation- A method that works by getting someone to use the parts of your brain that are working to help the parts that are not, such as playing games or learning how to use a phone.

·      Reminiscence life moments- Talking about things and events from the past can help specific memories stay. It usually involves using props such as photos, favorite possessions, or music.

Citations:

Alzheimer’s, NIH. “Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet | National Institute on Aging.” Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Fact Sheet, 1 Mar. 2023, https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-causes-and-risk-factors/alzheimers-disease-genetics-fact-sheet#:~:text=In%20most%20cases%2C%20Alzheimer's%20does,reduce%20the%20risk%20of%20Alzheimer's

“Stages of Alzheimer’s.” Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/stages

Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Alzheimer’s Disease.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 Nov. 2024, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447