World Alzheimer’s Month: September could be the thirty days as soon as the intercontinental promotion happens to increase understanding towards disease. Recently on September 21, nations in addition noticed World Alzheimer’s Day. These are aimed at increasing understanding about Alzheimer’s and dementia. Dr Sanjay Saxena, Senior Director and Head Of the Department, Neurology, Max Hospital, Patparganj, says, “It’s a degenerative disease and when the disease is in a very advanced stage, a person might not be able to recognize one’s own self. This makes it an extremely tragic affair.”
What is Alzheimer’s Disease: The Onset
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia. And it is not one thing brand-new. As Dr Saxena explains, “Earlier, when people started forgetting things and behaving in a certain way, often people would say things like, ‘He has lost it after hitting 60’. But this might have been the onset of the disease.”
Dementia Vs Alzheimer’s: Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Not all dementia is Alzheimer’s disease but Alzheimer’s is one of typical kind of dementia. A decline in memory, reasoning or just about any other reasoning abilities make up dementia but there are more types of dementia also, besides Alzheimer’s. Whatever you’ve got discovered through the years, your experiences – with dementia you gradually forget things. “Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. It’s classical dementia that sets in after 60; but in some people, in around 10-20%, it can set in as early as in the 40s,” says Dr Saxena.
He in addition says that not totally all types of forgetfulness tend to be Alzheimer’s. “Not all kind of forgetting is dementia. There might be too much stuff in front of you, too many things to deal with, so you don’t concentrate and might forget certain things. That’s benign forgetfulness. In Alzheimer’s dementia, your personality also changes. There might be confusion in performing daily activities – you might forget where the bedroom or kitchen is in your own house! very sad,” says Dr Saxena.
Alzheimer’s Disease: Causes and treatment
Doctors state that Alzheimer’s is a degenerative mind disease and what helps it be difficult usually its precise causes aren’t understood. “As compared to other organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys, medical science hasn’t progressed so much when it comes to the brain. The exact causes of Alzheimer’s aren’t known. But a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, avoiding too much much of stress – all these can impact in lowering the intensity of the disease, especially in the beginning.”
When considering treatment, once more there is no medicine that may heal or completely return Alzheimer’s. “Since we don’t know the exact reason, there’s no cure from the root. However, if detection happens early, we can very well manage the disease,” says Dr Saxena. He adds, “There are medicines in form of tablets, body patches – where the medicine is slowly released in blood – and injections. Sometimes, dementia is caused by secondary reasons and if those can be treated, the disease is again managed well. But we must remember that in advanced stages, medication has limited use.”
Counseling is crucial – both for the in-patient and caregiver. As Dr Saxena explains, “With early diagnosis, proper care and counseling, we can ensure dignity for the patient. Also, this takes a huge toll on caregivers, so their counseling is also important.”