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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in western countries. AD most often presents with subtle onset of memory loss, followed by a slowly progressive dementia that has a course of several years. Dementia itself is a broad term that describes memory impairment with problems in the normal thought processes, regardless of the cause. When dementia is caused by AD it is termed primary dementia but may also be called senile dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (SDAT). The most important risk factors for AD are old age and a family history. The frequency of AD increases with each decade of adult life, reaching 20 to 40% of the population over the age of 85. Approximately 10% of all persons over the age of 70 have significant memory loss, and in more than half the cause is AD. AD can occur, however, in any decade of adulthood. Elevated homocysteine and cholesterol levels, hypertension, the build up of toxic heavy metals, electromagnetic radiation and insufficient exercise are all being explored as potential risk factors for AD. Symptoms In the early stages of the disease, the memory loss may go unrecognized or may be thought of as just ordinary forgetfulness. Slowly the cognitive problems begin to interfere with daily activities, such as keeping track of finances, following instructions on the job, driving, shopping, and housekeeping. Some patients are unaware of these difficulties while others have considerable insight. Change of environment may be bewildering, and the patient may become lost on walks or while driving. In the middle stages of AD, the patient is unable to work, is easily lost and confused, and requires daily supervision. Language becomes impaired: first naming, then comprehension, and finally fluency. Patients may be unable to perform simple calculations or tell time. In the late stages
of the disease, some persons remain ambulatory but wander aimlessly.
Loss of judgment, reason, and cognitive abilities occurs. Delusions
are common, involving delusions of theft, infidelity, or misidentification.
Further progression can lead to the impairment to perform the simplest
tasks, such as eating, dressing, and toilet function. Often, death
results from malnutrition, secondary infections, blood clots, or
heart disease. The typical duration of AD is 8 to 10 years, but
the course can range from 1 to 25 years. For unknown reasons, some
AD patients show a steady downhill decline in function, while others
have prolonged plateaus without major deterioration. Diagnosis and Pharmaceutical Interventions The diagnosis of AD is usually made based the history of the patient, physical examination, lab tests and ruling out other causes for dementia and memory loss. A neurological and mental status examination is usually performed Pharmaceutical
Medications Donepezil
(aricept) Galantamine (reminyl) and rivastigmine (exelon)
are cholinesterase inhibitors. The drugs should not be used in those
with cardiac conduction defects, people with asthma, women who are
pregnant and people with a history of peptic ulcers. Common side
effects include headache, insomnia and gastrointestinal complaints.
These drugs may improve psychological tests scores for those with
AD, but are not treating anything specific about the disease process. Lifestyle and Dietary Modifications Since there is no cure for AD, this focus should be on prevention. Although it is unknown whether aluminum in the diet can cause Alzheimer’s disease it still remains controversial. Until this issue is resolved, it seems prudent for healthy people to take steps to minimize exposure to this unnecessary and potentially toxic metal by reducing intake of foods cooked in aluminum pots, foods that come into direct contact with aluminum foil, beverages stored in aluminum cans, and foods containing aluminum additives. Aluminum is added to some municipal water supplies to prevent the accumulation of particulates. In such areas, bottled water may be preferable. It appears unlikely; however, that avoidance of aluminum exposure after the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease could significantly affect the course of the disease. Keeping active outside of one’s work, either physically or mentally, during midlife may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. People with higher levels of non-occupational activities, such as playing a musical instrument, gardening, physical exercise, or even playing board games, may be less likely to develop Alzheimer’s later in life. Physical exercise
is also important, regular physical exercise benefits the nervous
system, as well as the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems.
Exercise may improve mood and cognition, and data suggest that regular
exercise can also promote maintenance of cognitive function during
aging. Nutritional Factors Shown to be Beneficial Omega 3
Fatty acids Vitamin
E Acetyl-L
Carntine Alpha- Lipoic
Acid N-acetyl
C ysteine (NAC) Phosphatidylserine
(PS) Vitamin
B12 Folic Acid Ginkgo Biloba Recommended NaturalMeds Products for Alzheimer's Disease Brain
Sustain Powder Neuroactives DHA
450 mg Memoren Vitamin
B12 1000 mcg Vitamin
E Mixed Tocopherols 400 IU |
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Ltd PO Box 19033, Onekawa, Napier Disclaimer |
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