Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr Aparna Vijay Kumar
September 20, 2020

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Alzheimer’s disease is a common cause of dementia. Dementia is a general term for loss of memory. Along with loss of short term memory, individuals develop loss of reasoning and thinking; as well as behaviour disturbances.

It is not just a disease of old age, though, it is often seen above 65 years of age. In less than 10% of cases, it is seen in patients between 40 to 60 years of age. It starts with difficulty in learning new things which shows impact on working memory, getting lost in familiar places followed by forgetting people, emotional and behavioural disturbances subsequently leading to a mute, bed bound state.

It is due to death of brain cells or neurons in memory area of the brain causing loss of connectivity with other neurons by the deposition of abnormal protein beta amyloid and tau. What causes this formation of protein is still under research. A combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors is implicated.

The presence of apolipoprotein gene (APOE ) increases the risk but neither all individuals with the gene develop the disease nor all individuals with Alzheimer’s disease have this gene. Presence of metabolic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea; diet and level of physical and mental activity also are implicated.

Diagnosis is only by clinical history and neurological examination. Imaging like SPECT, PET and MRI brain help in confirmation and ruling out treatable causes of dementia.

It is a slowly progressive disease with no cure as brain cells do not regenerate. Treatment with drugs aims at controlling the symptoms and slowing the progression by regulating the level of neurotransmitters or chemicals.

Care givers have a very challenging and important role in management of patients as caring of a person with Alzheimer’s disease causes physical and financial burden. Care givers also need support to cope up with the stress of handling their loved ones.

The take home message is that a healthy diet and regular exercise early on in life reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Healthy diet and regular exercise also prevent life style diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity and heart problems. Regular walking increases the level of a chemical brain derived neurotrophic factor( BNF) which potentiates memory.

A Mediterranean style of diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, olive oil has been shown to prevent the progression of disease in patients with minimal cognitive decline, a precursor of Alzheimer’s disease. Diet rich in curcumin, omega-3 fatty acids and cocoa have proven benefits with vitamin B12,D, E  and folate supplements.

 

Dr Aparna Vijay Kumar Senior Neurologist, Citizens Specialty Hospital

Comments

S C Sharma
 - 
Tuesday, 22 Sep 2020

Very informative article explaining in simplest language.

rmangala raman
 - 
Monday, 21 Sep 2020

Highly informative beneficial and clearly simplified to reach common man. Thank you.

S.Bhagyam Sharma
 - 
Monday, 21 Sep 2020

Very good information thank you very much Dr Aparna

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News Network
November 18,2024

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Mangaluru: The Ullal police have arrested Manohar, the owner of Vazco Beach Resort, and its manager Bharath in connection with the drowning of three college girls from Mysuru at the resort’s swimming pool on November 17.

City Commissioner of Police Anupam Agrawal confirmed the arrests, stating that a case has been registered under Section 106 of BNS. The bodies of the victims, all in their twenties, have been handed over to their parents. The women had arrived at the resort for a weekend getaway on November 16.

Following the tragic incident, the resort was sealed by officials led by Mangaluru Assistant Commissioner Harshavardhan. The trade license of the resort, issued on June 13, 2024, has been suspended, and the tourism department has temporarily revoked the resort's registration. These actions prohibit the resort from engaging in any tourism-related activities until further notice.

Someshwara TMC Chief Officer stated that the suspension was due to the resort's failure to implement adequate safety measures, which resulted in the loss of three lives. Further investigations are underway.

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News Network
November 11,2024

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Mangaluru: In a deeply tragic turn of events, a 28-year-old woman named Ranjitha, who had recently given birth but tragically lost her newborn, ended her life by suicide on Monday. She reportedly leapt from the fourth-floor window of Lady Goschen Hospital’s luggage room.

Ranjitha, whose strength and resilience had carried her through a difficult pregnancy, was scheduled for discharge on Monday. Her journey to Lady Goschen Hospital began on October 24, when she was transferred from Karkala. She was a high-risk patient, battling both hypertension and diabetes. At the time of her admission, she was just 27 weeks pregnant.

Due to the complexities of her health, doctors made the difficult decision to perform an emergency C-section on October 30. She delivered a baby girl, premature and weighing only 960 grams. The newborn was immediately moved to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where doctors did all they could. Despite these efforts, the baby passed away on November 3.

Ranjitha’s sorrow was profound. She stayed under hospital care even after her initial recovery and was preparing to go home on November 9. She had even requested a couple more days at the hospital, seeking time perhaps to cope with her unimaginable grief.

On the day of her discharge, a discharge card ready and her family eagerly waiting to take her home, Ranjitha reportedly made her way to the luggage room in the early hours. There, standing on a cot placed for patients' family members, she climbed to a window and fell from the fourth floor. Despite the attempts of another visitor to intervene, tragedy was inevitable. She was rushed to Government Wenlock Hospital, where doctors confirmed the worst—she was no more.

Dr. Durgaparasad M R, the Medical Superintendent at Lady Goschen Hospital, shared his grief and spoke of the ongoing investigation. A post-mortem is to be conducted, and the local Tahsildar will complete the necessary inquest procedures. Ranjitha’s exact reasons for taking this step are yet to be confirmed, though the weight of her recent losses paints a sorrowful picture.

If you or anyone you know is struggling emotionally, please remember that help is available. Reach out to mental health experts who can provide support and guidance. The toll-free helpline number 9152987821 is available to assist anyone in distress.

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News Network
November 21,2024

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Hamas says the Israeli regime’s sole objective lies in “erasing” the entirety of the Palestinian population from across the Palestinian territories.

Khalil al-Hayya, a ranking official with the Gaza Strip-based Palestinian resistance movement, made the remarks to the Palestinian al-Aqsa TV on Wednesday.

“The occupation targets everyone—it strikes hospitals, civil defense, women, children, and the elderly,” he said, adding that the regime sought to “empty Gaza of its residents, and displace the Palestinian people to fulfill its dreams of building a Zionist Jewish state across all of Palestine.”

The remarks came amid the regime’s October 2023-present war of genocide on the coastal sliver that has so far claimed the lives of nearly 44,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

“This unprecedented aggression in modern times evokes scenes from the dark ages of human history, having crossed all red lines and exceeded every expectation of brutality in the modern era,” the Palestinian official lamented.

He also regretted that the regime had added “systematic and dangerous starvation to its aggression, falsely claiming before the world that it allows 250 [aid] trucks into Gaza daily. In reality, the number of trucks is far fewer.”

Hayya, meanwhile, regretted that “scenes of children torn apart, women screaming over their children, and heart-wrenching destruction have failed to stir enough humanity to stop these crimes.”

He decried the United States for vetoing the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions that are aimed at bringing about a potential ceasefire in the war, saying this indicated Washington’s “partnership in the aggression” and a simultaneous siege that the Israeli regime has been enforcing on Gaza.

Addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the official asserted that, despite what the Israeli official is after, Hamas would not hand over the regime’s captives “without [the regime’s] stopping the war.”

He called Netanyahu “the main obstacle” in the way of cessation of the aggression, saying the Israeli premier “blocks any progress for political reasons,” and citing his preventing conclusion of a ceasefire agreement in July.

Hayya also warned that the regime sought to expand the war beyond Gaza, but asserted that its goals are “impossible and will never happen.”

“Today, the enemy exposes its true intentions of extermination and displacement, but it will fail,” he stressed.

“The Palestinian people are resilient and will not surrender, as they believe in their humanitarian and political cause. The enemy and its allies will not succeed in achieving their goals. This steadfast people will endure, and the occupation will not prevail against them.”

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