How to recognise Alzheimer's disease ,if some one in family or friend is suffering ?

[patliputra]

The world population is getting older now. People over 65 years who are at present 12.9% of population , is expected to grow to be 19% by 2030.

An inescapable fate of growing old is the gradual slowing of cognitive and mental capacities. But AD ( Alzheimer's disease ) is not normal ageing. It is a type of dementia which develop due to certain changes in brain.

The most common symptom of AD is difficulty remembering things. In normal ageing people do forget things but typically remember it later on. But in AD that does not happen. If one forgets ,he forgets it, and even if reminded about it,he seems not familiar with it.

Forgetting to pay monthly bills is normal for aged, but forgetting how to pay and where to pay is a symptom of AD.

Going to a friend or relatives house for many years and now not sure how to get there or come back from there is AD.

AD has trouble in managing conversation,stopping midway and repeating same thing again and again. Misplacing things and later on failing to recognise it.

Trouble with visual perception ,if no cataract, and trouble in determining the height of a stair or balance on an uneven ground.

If we are able to recognise these symtoms in any person and immediately take him/her to a competent doctor, it might be of great help to the sufferer.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

livescience.com/35643-alzhe...

[patliputra]

It is not a research paper . Symptoms mentioned in the article are very common in people with old age. Article is just an attempt to make people aware that those symptoms may not be age related, it may be due to AD. Earlier the treatment,better for the sufferer.

[ashoky]

Thanks for updating about the early detection of AD. I have seen two of patients in their early days of ADs, but their family members did not take it seriously and were making fun of patients. Had they been aware of the symptoms, they would have been detected in their early stage and proper medications could have saved them. This may happen with anyone after the age of 65 yrs. The way, this disease is spreading with fastest of 1/2 % of total population. In other words, if we look into India's perspective, then out of 130 Crores population of our Nation, nearly 65 Lakhs people are added to the existing ADs patients every year. We along with our Govt. must do to save our aged people out of this menia.

[patliputra in reply to ashoky]

Thanks for very perceptive reply. Just wished and hoped there were a few more like you.

[ashoky in reply to patliputra]

Thanks for encouragement.

[patliputra]

Indiacratus, i purposely avoided going into treatment detail. Anyway thanks for guiding.

[patliputra]

AD is such an important issue, there is practically no awareness . Diabetics are 50-65% more prone to develop AD. Till now it is untreatable, progressive disease ,whose even progress can not be delayed or arrested by any means. The only,salvation lies in early recognition and understanding the consequences of progression of disease,so as to at least give a decent life to sufferer. Otherwise these cases are treated as insanity and patient is subjected to innumerable indignities .

Are we ready to discuss it in a little more detail ? Please understand , it is NOT age related dementia or memory loss. It is much more sinister.

[patliputra]

Indiacratus, let everybody be very clear that exact cause of AD is still not known . At the same time even if diabetes is fully under control ,it does not either prevent or delay the progression of AD.

Diabetics are 50-65% more liable to develop AD than non diabetics.

We are here talking about AD in Indian perspective, where we do not have neither infrastructure or trained personnel to take care of advanced cases of AD. Not even trained medical professionals to diagnose early cases. Problem is very serious and not to be taken lightly .

[patliputra]

Irrelevant post.. Dr. Mercola's quote , one should read his article and not headlines. People here always twist and mis quote. So sorry state of affairs.

[patliputra]

No one has ever said,including Dr Mercola, that high carb diet causes AD. As a matter of fact, cause of AD is yet to be ascertained and all the changes in the brain ,are cause or effect can not be said

Lchf ,as a preventive or modifying AD ,no research paper has said. Some have

Pointed out indivisual macro and micro nutrients which may help delaying and improving the quality of life of AD.

[patliputra in reply to patliputra]

In continuation of above,researchers talk about role of anti oxidants, vit E, C etc. But no one is sure anything, so they talk about nutritive diet,though they will not prescribe or suggest any specifics.

[patliputra]

Generally I avoid talking about pathophysiology, as it beyond the scope of the forum. But as you have raised the question of glucose (insulin ) vis a vis AD , I am forced to write a few things.

There is strong clinical evidence that supports the inter connection between AD and diabetes. The key features in both are inflammation,altered metabolism and insulin resistance. For a long time it was considered that brain was insensitive to insulin,but now it is very much accepted that insulin has central role in neuromodulatory functions,including learning and memory,that are impaired in AD. How insulin functions in brain ? Not for this forum.

[patliputra]

When one volunteers he has to accept the risk. Even on train tickets is written that ticket holder is responsible for its own luggage. Nothing unusual.

[patliputra]

I am always authentic.

[patliputra]

Your use of word "FAKE", make me smile.😀