Validating... 
In my last blog post I talked about the symptoms and causes of dementia and 3 lifestyle choices you can make right now to lessen your risk of developing it. Today I want to talk about Alzheimer’s disease, a severe type of dementia that affects a specific region of the brain.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disorder that negatively impacts a person’s ability to remember and think. Though estimates vary, researchers believe more than 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s. Ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States for older people, Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia and results in the loss of cognitive functioning and a change in behavior.
Causes of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s was named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer who, in 1906, discovered changes in the brain tissue of one of his patients who died of an “unusual mental illness.” The symptoms of her mental illness were language problems, memory loss, and odd, uncharacteristic behavior.
An autopsy of her brain revealed numerous abnormal clumps (now called amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (neurofibrillary tangles). These plaques and tangles are still the main features of Alzheimer’s disease, though there are other features such as a loss of connection between nerve cells in the brain.
As scientists continue to tackle the complexities of brain function, they have uncovered a pattern, which is that damage to the brain occurs a decade or more before symptoms appear. Though an individual may be living symptom-free, abnormal deposits of plaques and tangles are being deposited throughout the brain. Eventually healthy neurons stop functioning, connections are lost and cells die off.
With Alzheimer’s, damage begins in the region of the brain called the hippocampus, which is the area responsible for memory and learning. However, as neurons begin to die off, other parts of the brain are damaged and the brain actually begins to shrink.
Signs and Symptoms
Though onset symptoms of Alzheimer’s vary from individual to individual, one of the first and biggest symptoms of the disease is a loss of memory. Other early symptoms include trouble selecting the appropriate words, vision and spatial issues, impaired judgement, and sudden mood changes.
Other signs may include:
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Confusion with time
- Losing things and an inability to retrace steps
- Withdrawal from social activities
Who is Most at Risk for Developing Alzheimer’s Disease?
Like other types of dementia, Alzheimer’s appears to be influenced by a combination of factors including genetic and environmental. Some major factors that have been determined to increase a person’s risk of developing the disease are:
- Age – Alzheimer’s is most common in people over the age of 65.
- Family history – Having a parent or sibling with the disease slightly increases an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
- Gender – Women are more likely to develop the disease.
- Health conditions – The same health factors that raise a person’s risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, also increase their risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
- Education – Studies have found a direct link between lower education levels and higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Diagnosis
There is no specific test that allows doctors to diagnose Alzheimer’s. A thorough family history must be taken and physical examination given, including blood tests, brain scans and mental tests and, only after other conditions have been ruled out can a diagnosis be confirmed.
The doctor will ask the patient or patient’s family if there has been any of the following loss in mental functioning:
- Short-term memory loss – While a person suffering from Alzheimer’s may easily recall the gifts they received for their fifth birthday, they often can’t recall what happened just a few minutes before. This increases the likelihood that they will lose items such as purses and wallets, and even completely forget where they parked the car.
- Time orientation – During a memory test a person with Alzheimer’s may be able to tell you their name, the year they were born, as well as a specific address of a home they lived in when they were first married. However, they may also think that the year is 1971 and Nixon is President.
- Sudden poor judgement – Alzheimer’s patients lose their sound judgement putting them in danger. For instance, they may wander outside at night in the dead of winter wearing no shoes.
- Personality changes – Alzheimer’s frequently changes a person’s personality. Where once they may have been quiet and mild-mannered, they suddenly become rude and use vulgar language. Conversely, patients who were cold and distant for much of their life toward family may suddenly become warm and loving.
3 Things to do to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease
Though scientists have yet to discover a way to reverse the damage of Alzheimer’s, that doesn’t mean the disease can’t be prevented in the first place. Making smart lifestyle choices now will keep your brain healthy for years to come.
Here are 3 ways you can fight Alzheimer’s and maintain your cognitive functioning:
Eat More Berries
It’s hard to believe that something as simple as eating more berries can have a profound positive affect on our brain’s health, but it can. Berries, particularly blueberries, contain high levels of biologically-active compounds called anthocyanosides, which have been found to fight memory impairment caused by free radicals and amyloid plaques in the brain. To really benefit from these powerful tiny fruits, be sure to include berries in your diet every single day.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Studies have found that individuals with high levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in fatty fish like mackerel, tuna and salmon had lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease. Fatty fish are all rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
Stay Mentally Active
It stands to reason that the more active you keep your brain the healthier it will be. Consider:
- Working crossword puzzles and other puzzles
- Reading more
- Staying curious by attending lectures and seminars
- Enroll in adult education courses
- Play computer games and memory exercises
- Learn a new language or to play an instrument
Though the prospect of developing Alzheimer’s is one that scares most individuals, the important thing to remember is your brain’s health is not set in stone, there are many things you can do now, TODAY, to ensure your brain stays healthy for the rest of your life.
If you’re looking for a natural solution to cognitive decline, you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on your inbox over the next few days. (HINT: I pretty much lay out the exact combination of nutrients your brain needs to perform like it did when you were 25)
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