Alzheimer’s and Treatment Approaches

Alzheimer’s disease is a common neurological disorder associated with old age. Alzheimer’s disease can cause symptoms such as memory loss, cognitive impairments, behavioral changes and difficulties with activities of daily living. It often has a progressive course and can seriously affect patients’ quality of life. Today, there is still no definitive cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but research and clinical trials are being conducted to try to slow the progression of the disease or alleviate symptoms.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common type of dementia. This disease disrupts the connections and communication between nerve cells in the brain, leading to memory loss, reduced cognitive function and behavioral changes over time. The main symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss, but in later stages, symptoms such as difficulty speaking, decreased decision-making ability and difficulties in carrying out daily activities also occur. There are 2 main types of Alzheimer’s disease:

• Late-onset Alzheimer’s (onset after age 65): This is the most common type of Alzheimer’s disease, the exact cause of which is currently unknown. It usually occurs after the age of 65.
• Early-onset Alzheimer’s: This type of Alzheimer’s disease, which usually starts before the age of 65, is a rare subtype. Genetic factors are thought to be more influential and can show rapid progression. It usually occurs in the 40s or 50s.

What are the Symptoms of Alzheimer’s?

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease usually start slowly and progress over time. Early symptoms may be milder than later symptoms. However, the symptoms become more and more pronounced over time. Sometimes these symptoms can be confused with other conditions and may initially be considered to be conditions of old age. The rate of progression of symptoms may be different for different people. In some cases, factors such as infections, strokes and certain medications may be responsible for worsening symptoms. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s may include:

• Memory loss One of the symptoms of early Alzheimer’s is memory loss, usually short-term. People with short-term memory loss may have difficulty learning new information or experience frequent forgetfulness.
• Cognitive impairments: Impairments in mental functioning are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Symptoms such as memory loss, difficulty focusing, decreased decision-making ability may be observed.
• Behavioral changes: People with Alzheimer’s disease may experience sudden and marked behavioral changes, such as depression, anxiety, irritability or restlessness.
• Difficulties with activities of daily living: As the disease progresses after the onset of Alzheimer’s, patients may find it difficult to carry out activities of daily living, such as personal hygiene, eating, drinking, dressing and housework.
• Decreased verbal and communication skills: People with Alzheimer’s disease may experience symptoms such as difficulty finding words, difficulty forming sentences and reduced comprehension.

What Causes Alzheimer’s?

Although the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not known, researchers believe that several factors play a role in the onset of the disease. Factors that cause Alzheimer’s disease may include abnormal protein build-up in the brain. Protein plaques and tangles that accumulate in the brain can block communication between nerve cells, preventing them from functioning. However, Alzheimer’s disease has a complex etiology and multiple factors can combine to cause the disease. Research shows that several risk factors are involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, but a complete understanding is not yet achieved.

Alzheimer’s Treatment

There is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of treatment is to control symptoms. Some Alzheimer’s treatment methods include:

• Drug treatments: Medicines used to treat Alzheimer’s aim to manage symptoms. Drugs such as cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists can help improve cognitive function or reduce the severity of symptoms.
• Behavioral and cognitive therapies: Therapies such as cognitive rehabilitation programs, memory training, improving problem-solving skills and strategies for managing activities of daily living can increase the functional independence of Alzheimer’s patients.
• Lifestyle changes:. Doctor-supervised exercises, balanced eating habits, sleep patterns and social interaction can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and improve quality of life.
• Supportive measures: Supportive measures such as patient and caregiver education, taking safety precautions, participating in support groups, sharing Alzheimer’s relatives’ comments and utilizing home care services can make life easier for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers.
• Clinical trials There is ongoing research and clinical trials in the field of Alzheimer’s treatment. The discovery of new medicines, treatment strategies and technological advances could lead to promising advances in the treatment of the disease.
• Patient and family support services: Alzheimer’s patients and their families can benefit from appropriate support services in collaboration with the multidisciplinary healthcare team. These services include psychosocial support, counseling, home care and patient care.

Online health resources for patients and caregivers also play an important role in accessing information about Alzheimer’s disease. Remote health services can offer support and resources for patients and caregivers on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and care. Online health platforms can support early diagnosis.

What are the Stages of Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic disease in which nerve cells in the brain gradually die, causing a decline in cognitive functions such as memory, thinking and language. The disease usually starts in the elderly and progresses over time. Alzheimer’s disease can be classified differently by specialist doctors. Some experts specify a staging system known as the 7 stages of Alzheimer’s disease, while others classify it as mild, moderate and severe according to the severity of symptoms.

The main aim of these staging schemes is to provide a general picture of the progression of the disease and the difficulties the patient faces in daily life. However, staging systems are a general framework and each patient may experience the disease differently. In some patients, the disease progresses more rapidly, while in others it may progress more slowly. Although the terms vary, the stages all follow the same pattern, with symptoms getting progressively worse over time