What is Alzheimer's? Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative health condition that particularly affects the elderly population, causing a decline in memory, thought, and behavior. Emerging as a result of the loss of neurons, or nerve cells, in the brain over time, this disease begins with mild symptoms. In the later stages of the disease, the decline in cognitive functions makes it significantly difficult for the individual to maintain their daily life.

Although the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's is often a matter of curiosity, in reality, Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia. While Alzheimer's is a progressive health condition, early diagnosis can help bring the disease under control.

What is Alzheimer's?

Often popularly referred to as senility, Alzheimer's is a neurological health condition characterized by a progressive decline in skills such as memory, thinking, and learning. Alzheimer's leads to the loss of nerve cells in the brain at a faster rate than normal. Each of the nerve cells in the brain has different functions. Therefore, depending on the affected nerve cell, Alzheimer's patients may experience behavioral changes such as sudden anger, alongside cognitive functions like remembering and thinking.

Today, more than 25 million people struggle with dementia, the vast majority of whom have Alzheimer's. The disease takes its name from the German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described the disease in 1906. At that time, Dr. Alois became interested in a woman who was rapidly losing her mental health and ultimately passed away, after noticing symptoms such as memory loss, speech difficulties, and sudden behavioral changes before her death, and he wanted to examine the patient's brain tissue after her death. When Dr. Alois examined the patient's brain, he noticed abnormal protein accumulations, known today as amyloid plaques, and tangled bundles of fibers, also called tau tangles. The findings obtained by Dr. Alois still form the cornerstones of AD studies today.

The early symptoms of Alzheimer's are usually mild. At the onset of the disease, most patients have damage to nerve cells in the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus regions, which control functions such as memory, orientation, and the perception of time. However, since the disease is a progressive health condition, the damage to nerve cells progresses over time, affecting other brain regions responsible for speech, thinking, and social behavior. In late-stage Alzheimer's patients, many regions in the brain are severely damaged, and the individual may become dependent on others.

What Are the Symptoms of Alzheimer's?

Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease begin with mild symptoms initially. Mild forgetfulness is one of the most common initial symptoms of Alzheimer's, but the disease can progress over time to cause severe symptoms that significantly affect a person's life. Accordingly, the main symptoms of Alzheimer's are as follows:

Experiencing more difficulty in finding the right words when speaking compared to other people of the same age,

Impairment in the perception of time and space,

Impairment in judgment capability,

Taking longer than normal to complete daily tasks,

Repeating questions,

Experiencing problems with matters such as money management,

Getting lost while going to a place they used to know very well,

Misplacing items or putting them in places where they do not belong,

Mood and personality changes such as sudden anger,

Over time, forgetting the names of family members and objects used in daily life,

Withdrawal from social environments,

Distrust towards others,

Changes in sleeping patterns.

Initially, the disease affects the region of the brain responsible for tasks such as memory and speech. Therefore, while many skills that patients normally possess are lost at the beginning, skills controlled by other regions of the brain, such as reading books, singing, dancing, or drawing, may be preserved.

How Does Alzheimer's Develop?

Alzheimer's is the abnormal accumulation of proteins called amyloid and tau in the brain. As these proteins cluster around nerve cells, they cause a disconnection between different regions of the brain and between neurons, which are responsible for transmitting messages from the brain to the muscles and organs in the body. Over time, nerve cells lose their function and become unable to transmit messages between different regions of the brain or from the brain to other muscles and organs; however, it is difficult to say anything definitive about why these proteins accumulate in the brain. Some studies show that certain genetic mutations in early-onset Alzheimer's patients can cause protein accumulation in the brain. In later-onset cases, many changes that occur in the brain over time may be the cause of protein accumulation.

Although the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is not yet fully known today, it is thought that various factors may play a role in the development of the disease. Accordingly, the main causes and risk factors of Alzheimer's are:

Age: The natural aging process plays an important role in the development of the disease. The risk increases over time after the age of 65. The incidence of Alzheimer's in individuals over the age of 85 is approximately 45-50%. Although the risk of Alzheimer's increases with age, dementia is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Certain precautions taken at an early stage can reduce the risk of contracting the disease.

Genetic factors: According to some studies, individuals with a history of the disease in first-degree family members may have a higher risk of developing it. Particularly, the APOE4 gene is a significant genetic factor that increases the risk of the disease. Although 25-30% of the population carries this gene, not everyone with this gene necessarily develops the disease. In addition, in recent years, experts have been focusing on certain rare genetic alterations that could cause the disease. These genetic alterations make individuals' risk of contracting the disease almost certain. This situation is observed in less than 1% of cases. In other words, although genetic factors play an important role in the development of the disease, they are not solely determinative.

Head trauma: In cases of severe head trauma, the risk of developing the disease may increase, particularly within 6 months to 2 years following the trauma.

Alcohol use: Long-term and excessive alcohol use can cause impairment in brain function, leading to the appearance of early-onset AD.

At the same time, various studies show that risk factors affecting cardiovascular health, such as physical inactivity, smoking, and obesity, can also increase the risk of AD. Additionally, factors such as air pollution, irregular and inadequate sleep can also increase the risk of contracting the disease.

How is Alzheimer's Diagnosed?

Detailed explanation of a person's symptoms is of great importance in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. During this process, relatives of the patient can also assist in the diagnostic process by sharing the changes they notice in the individual with experts. Experts can first check memory and thinking skills with the help of various tests. Additionally, experts may utilize blood tests and various imaging methods to rule out other health conditions that can cause similar symptoms.

The main tests used for AD are as follows:

A physical examination in which reflexes, muscle strength, balance, coordination, and sensory functions are evaluated,

Various blood tests to rule out other factors that can cause memory loss, such as thyroid diseases and vitamin deficiencies,

Tests that help evaluate short- and long-term memory, problem-solving, and thinking skills,

Various imaging methods such as MRI, CT, and PET,

In some cases, especially in rapidly progressing or early-onset dementia cases, amyloid and tau proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid can be measured.

How is Alzheimer's Treatment Performed?

Treatment for Alzheimer's disease varies depending on the stage of the disease and the severity of the symptoms. There is no definitive cure for the disease, but certain medications approved in recent years can alleviate the symptoms of the disease and slow its progression. These medications can help the individual maintain daily life activities, especially when used in the early stages of the disease. In addition, to manage behavioral changes occurring in patients and make them feel more comfortable, various methods can be utilized, such as keeping familiar and comforting objects around the patient, not changing the patient's living space, and redirecting their attention in stressful situations. In cases where these methods are not effective, experts may prescribe various medications to control symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness, and depression.

Frequently Asked Questions

Genetic factors play a role, particularly in early-onset Alzheimer's disease, but genetic predisposition is not solely determinative in the development of the disease. Although it is usually seen in people over the age of 65, in rare cases, the disease can also be encountered in the 30s or 40s. The disease is more frequently observed, particularly in individuals over the age of 65 and those with family members who have dementia. The APOE-e4 gene can be passed down from the mother or father. If the APOE-e4 gene is inherited from both parents simultaneously, the risk of developing the disease may be higher. Vitamin deficiencies do not cause Alzheimer's disease. Although forgetfulness is a primary symptom of Alzheimer's, not every instance of forgetfulness is a symptom of Alzheimer's. In some cases, forgetfulness can be observed in people due to the effects of factors such as various vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, or the natural aging process.

Alzheimer's is a progressive health condition and, if early precautions are not taken, it can lead to the individual becoming dependent on others. Therefore, if you notice early symptoms of Alzheimer's in yourself or your loved ones, you can schedule an appointment with our specialist at Hisar Hospital without delay or fill out the form below to undergo the necessary checks.