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Alzheimer’s Disease Information!

Alzheimer’s disease information can be as confusing as the disease itself. This article will bring clarity and focus to this disease. In your skull is a 3 pound wonder that has 100 billion neurons sending each other electrical and chemical signals in an orchestrated pattern that creates memories and allows for learning. At about the age of 30, our brains begin to shrink by about a half a percent per year. We usually don’t notice this change for years but over time this shrinkage, combined with other factors, begins to weaken the signals inside our brain. This leads to memory loss which is normal for most people as they age.

What is not normal is for this orchestrated electrical and chemical signaling pattern to become so dysfunctional that it leads to dementia diseases like Alzheimer’s. It is estimated that 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. The sad reality is the number keeps growing each and every year.

Number One Health Fear!
Currently, the number one health fear of the Baby Boomer population is Alzheimer’s disease. At one time it was heart disease and then cancer. Now it is the loss of cognitive memory. And for good reason since many cancers are curable and Alzheimer’s is not. According to the most recent Alzheimer’s disease information, one in seven Americans age 71 or older has some type of dementia. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease since it accounts for 70 percent.

Even with the current Alzheimer’s disease information, many scientists believe that there is no reliable way to identify who is at risk. Researchers believe that the accumulation of two proteins in the brain likely damage and ultimately destroy nerve cells that are linked to learning and memory. How and why these two proteins are created is the mystery.

History
Alzheimer’s disease was first described in 1906 by a German physician named Alois Alzheimer. His patient was a 51 year-old woman who was first brought to his attention in 1901. She had developed all the characteristics of this disease and died in the Spring of 1906. Upon her death, Dr. Alzheimer received permission from the family to perform an autopsy on her brain. The autopsy found dramatic shrinkage of her brain. The majority of the shrinkage was in the cortex or outer layer of the brain which is involved in memory, thinking, judgment, and speech. Under the microscope, Dr. Alzheimer found fatty deposits in most of the small blood vessels, dead and dying brain cells, and some type of abnormal deposits in and around the brain cells.

Although research on this type of brain disorder started back in the early 1900s, most of the Alzheimer’s disease information has been obtained over the last 20 years.

Current Information
Over the last 20 years there has been a rapid increase in the number of people with this disease. The following Alzheimer’s disease information applies to all with this health problem:

• It is a progressive and fatal brain disorder. Alzheimer’s destroys brain cells which causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. This disease gets worse over time and is fatal. Currently, it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.
• It is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a general term for the loss of memory and organized thought and reason. It usually affects a person’s language and their ability to accurately assess what is happening around them. All of these issues can become severe enough to drastically affect their level of functioning. Sometimes dementia can be caused by a reduced blood flow to parts of the brain. Of all the forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s is the most common.
• It has no current cure. This is why it has become the number one fear of the Baby Boomer generation. Once you have Alzheimer’s there is no known cure to reverse the damage. However:

Although there are no know quantitative numbers, I would say that 80 to 90 percent of all Alzheimer’s cases are preventable. Just as the National Stroke Association has found that 80% of stokes are preventable. And, just as the American Cancer Association has found that 90 to 95% of all cancers are either lifestyle, environmentally and/or food induced, the same will eventually be shown for dementia diseases.

The Brain
It is estimated that your brain has 100 billion nerve cells or neurons. Each nerve cell communicates with many other neurons to form networks. These networks of neurons have special jobs. Some networks help us to see, hear, smell, move, and breathe. Some are involved in thinking, learning and remembering.

Every network of neurons is like a tiny factory that needs resources, generates energy, performs a function, and eliminates waste. To keep everything running in a coordinated operation requires large amounts of nutrients and oxygen. It is important to note that with the need for a large amount of oxygen, there is a tremendous potential for the production of free radicals!

The Alzheimer’s disease information shows that parts of these nerve cell networks begin to malfunction. Although scientists are not sure exactly where the trouble starts there are many potential causes for the breakdown:

1. Any time oxygen is used to produce energy, there is free radical production. Free radicals will steal electrons to stabilize themselves. Without a good supply of antioxidants, free radicals will steal the electrons from living tissue. Overtime, this damage to the living tissue can result in cell mutation and/or death.
2. If a person’s diet is lacking in antioxidants, then the protective role they play in preventing free radical damage is compromised. Although we haven’t yet looked at how a diet high in vegetables seems to substantially reduce the potential for any type of dementia, one of the reasons may be the powerful antioxidants found in the skin of deeply colored vegetables.
3. As bad cholesterol deposits itself inside the lining of blood vessels, this begins to effect blood flow to the brain. As blood flow is reduce so is the brain cell’s ability receive oxygen and the necessary nutrients to product itself from free radical damage. Additionally, respiratory waste products will not be removed as efficiently. These respiratory waste products can change the pH of the cell’s environment causing additional potential health problems.
4. The brain forms abnormal structures called tangles and plaques that damage and kill nerve cells.

Tangles and Plaques
No, this is not the latest dance craze from Dancing with the Stars. In the world of Alzheimer’s disease information, tangles and plaques are abnormal structures that form in the nerve networks and are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells. Plaques typically build up between nerve cells. They contain a protein fragment called beta-amyloid. Tangles form inside dying cells. They are twisted fibers of another protein called tau. These plaques and tangles seem to form in a defined pattern that usually starts in the learning and memory areas of the brain and then spread to other regions of the brain.

Although we do not know the role that plaques and tangles play in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, scientists suspect that these abnormal proteins interfere with the communication process among nerve cells and nerve networks. They also seem to disrupt cell activities that are necessary to maintain healthy cells.

Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease
The Alzheimer’s disease information lists four different stages or classifications for this disease. They are:

Young-Onset – This refers to individuals who have developed Alzheimer’s disease or some form of dementia prior to the age of 65. They may be in any one of the following stages of dementia. Experts estimate that approximately 500,000 people in their 30s, 40s and 50s are in this classification.

Early-Stage – This is the early stage when memory, thinking and concentration problems begin to appear. By the time most people are diagnosed with dementia, they are usually past this stage. The reason why? There is no current accurate medical test to determine early stage so it is often overlooked at just the normal process of aging. Individuals in this early stage need minimal assistance with their normal living routines.

Middle-Stage – At this stage there are problems in abstract thinking and intellectual functions. These problems can show up in a person’s ability to work with figures, understand what they read, and organize their day’s work. Behavioral disturbances such as agitation, irritability, quarrelsomeness, and a diminishing ability to dress appropriately may show up.

Late-Stage - At this stage disorientation is the norm. Individuals are confused about where they live, who they are related to, and what time of the year it is. Patients may wander, be unable to maintain a conversation, become uncooperative and moody, and may lose bladder and bowel control. A patient’s ability to care for themselves is lost and they become entirely dependent upon others for their care. Death can follow and it is usually from some other illness like heart disease or pneumonia.

Risk Factors
It is important to understand that Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. It is not something that is inevitable in a person’s life. In reviewing the Alzheimer’s disease information for this article, the following risk factors were listed. They are:

1. Age – This is the main risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Ten percent of people over 65 years old and 50% of those over 85 years old have this disease.
2. Genetic – There seems to be some evidence that close to 50 percent of those with early onset Alzheimer’s has an inherited gene mutation that has been associated with this disease. However, there is other research that shows that certain genes associated with this disease does not mean that a person will develop Alzheimer’s disease. Because of this, no genetic risk factor has been definitively identified.
3. Cardiovascular Diseases – High blood pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels all increase the risk for dementia and this specific disease.
4. Education – Individuals who have completed less than eight years of education have a higher statistical risk for this disease.
5. Down Syndrome – Individuals with Down syndrome typically develop Alzheimer’s by the age of 40.
6. Gender – Women seem to have a higher risk for this disease than men.

Currently, there is no specific “blood test” or imaging test that is used to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. It should also be noted that the side effects of medication, especially in elderly patients, can cause cognitive impairment. The most frequent offenders are drugs to control bladder urgency and incontinence, anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications, and anti-seizure medications.

It is important to note that thyroid dysfunction, some steroid disorders, and deficiencies in vitamin B12 or thiamine are sometimes associated with cognitive impairment. In all the Alzheimer’s disease information I found ‘lifestyle’ was not listed as a potential risk factor for this disease. This author believes that lifestyle should be the number one risk factor!

Warning Signs
The Alzheimer’s Association has developed the following ten warning signs. Individuals who exhibit several of these signs should see a physician for a comprehensive evaluation.

1. Memory loss
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
3. Problems with language
4. Disorientation to time and place
5. Poor or decreased judgment
6. Problems with abstract thinking
7. Misplacing things
8. Changes in mood or behavior
9. Changes in personality
10. Loss of initiative

It is normal for people over 50 years of age to have a loss of memory. On standardized memory tests individuals over 50 will recall 40% less than individuals 20 years of age.

Prognosis and Cure
The Alzheimer’s disease information consistently shows that this disease progresses over a 2 to 25 year range with most patients in the 8 to 15 year range. Most don’t die directly from the disease but from a complication resulting from the disease. Currently, there is no known cure for a person who has this disease. There are both medication based and non-medication based treatment programs to manage the symptoms and possibly slow down cognitive decline.

Several pharmaceutical drugs have been approved by the FDA for treatment of this disease. All have side effects and should be thoroughly explained by your physician and/or pharmacist. The non-medication treatments typically do not have side effects but could potentially interfere with current medications so you should again consult with a qualified medical professional.

Summary
It is my opinion that the cure to Alzheimer’s disease is in PREVENTION! Although there is no quantitative numbers, it is the author’s opinion that the medical community will eventually come to realize that 80 to 90 percent of all Alzheimer’s cases could be prevented by certain lifestyle changes. This isn’t to say that research shouldn’t be done to find a cure for those with Alzheimer’s and for those in the future who develop Alzheimer’s. But, we’ve got to see that lifestyle choices, especially in the foods we choose to eat, have a great impact on our health, wellness, and how we age.

Listed below are two articles that will explore this whole concept of prevention. These two articles are designed to take the current Alzheimer’s disease information and combine it with options that clearly demonstrate improved brain health and function to develop a working plan of action.

Until next time, may we both age youthfully!

Synergistically yours,

P.S.   As a convenience, I’ve also included links to the following articles on Alzheimer’s disease:

Potential Steps to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease – Part 1!

Potential Steps to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease – Part 2!

African Americans and Alzheimer’s Disease!

Alzheimer’s Disease – Ten Warning Signs!

 

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