We May Not Know How To Cure Alzheimer’s Disease, But In Many Cases We Do Know How To Delay It
interfere with your day-to-day life. In past, pain relievers were your
only option for headaches, but today there are various therapies to
prevent and stop headaches, including migraines. Next month, we’ll
look at some of these options. Don’t suffer needlessly.
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, affects approximately 300,000 Canadians. With Canadians living longer, however, that number is sure to increase.
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Age-related Alzheimer’s disease accounts for up to 80 per cent of the cases and is seen most often in people 65 and older. The remaining cases are early onset and affect younger people, usually in middle age.
Many potential causes of Alzheimer’s disease have been studied, but so far no one definitive answer has been found. Rather, the disease may be the result of a combination of factors.
A group of viruses known as slow viruses may be involved. These slow viruses cause kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which have similar symptoms.
Toxic substances such as insecticides and aluminum may be implicated. There may as well be specific genes involved because a hereditary predisposition to the disease is evident.
With Alzheimer’s disease, physical changes happen in the brain which, unfortunately, can only be seen on autopsy. Neurofibril tangles occur in both the cerebral cortex which is responsible for short-term memory and in the limbic system, which is responsible for emotions.
Senile plagues, which consist of accumulations of amyloid proteins surrounded by damaged nerve cells, also develop in the brain, and the granulovacuolar material inside nerve cells changes consistency becoming more granular.
Headaches, especially migraine headaches, can be debilitating and
Once these changes have started, you can image how difficult it becomes for the nervous system to effectively transmit messages.
The results of these physical changes in the brain can include forgetfulness, confusion, mood alterations, difficulty learning new information, lapses in social “graces,” restlessness, and even personality changes. The symptoms may occur slowly and sometimes are attributed to the normal aging process, thus delaying diagnosis and early treatment.
Disappointingly, drug treatment will not stop Alzheimer’s disease, but can delay the progression of the symptoms. The most commonly used drugs are the cholinesterase inhibitors which stop this enzyme from breaking down the neurochemical acetylcholine. With more acetylcholine in the nervous system, the system works better.
On a more positive note, studies have shown that if you keep your mind active and give it new challenges, you reduce your chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Intellectually stimulating activities such as reading, playing board games, playing a musical instrument, or trying a new hobby seem to work well.
It is not difficult or time consuming to exercise your brain. Try doing household tasks like sweeping the floor or drying the dishes with your less-dominant hand. Try memorizing your grocery list. Put away your calculator and try adding up your grocery bill in your head.
Add other changes gradually to your regular routine. New and interesting activities like crosswords, sudokus, card games, chess, jigsaw puzzles, hobbies, or continuing education classes are ideal.
Be forewarned that the new activity may be a challenge and you may want to quit, but persevere and keep in mind that learning to play bridge may not only exercise your brain but develop new friends as well.
Socializing with family and friends, attending concerts or museums, writing letters, and even travelling provide additional exercise for your brain. Remember to eat well and exercise regularly. A healthy body helps keep your mind healthy.
Marie Berry is a lawyer/pharmacist interested in healthcare and education
