Alzheimer

Alzheimer's disease, or Alzheimer's disease or simply Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. This degenerative disease, yet incurable and terminal was first described in 1906 by German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer, who inherited the name. This disease usually commits people over 65, although its diagnosis is also possible in people younger than this age.

In 2006 the number of Alzheimer's patients was diagnosed about 26.6 million people worldwide.

Each patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease single form but are in common, e.g. most common primary symptom is loss of memory. Often the first symptoms as aforesaid who are confused with aging problems or stress. When it is suspected Alzheimer patient is subjected to a series of cognitive tests. With advancing disease are appearing new symptoms such as confusion, irritability and aggression, mood swings, language failures, loss of long term memory and the patient begins to detach himself from reality. Its motor functions begin to be lost and the patient will die. Before becoming fully apparent the developing alzheimer vai up for an indefinite period of time and can remain unseen for years. Less than three percent of those diagnosed live longer than 40 years after diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment aims to comfort the patient and delay as much as possible the evolution of the disease. Some drugs are useful early in the disease, and the dose should be personalized. Are the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, drugs that inhibit the enzyme responsible for the degradation of acetylcholine produced and released by a nucleus in the brain stem (nucleus basalis of Meynert). The deficiency of acetylcholine is considered epiphenomenon of Alzheimer's disease, but not the only biochemical event / pathophysiological occurs. More recently, a group of drugs known as inhibitors of type receptors NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) glutamate entered the market, already existing in Europe for over a decade. Memantine is such drugs, and its action occurs by the inhibition of the binding of glutamate excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system receptors. Glutamate is responsible for excitotoxic reactions with free radicals and tissue injury and neuronal. There is a maxim in medicine that says that a disease can be intractable, but not the patient.

Recently, a study was able to develop a way to reverse some symptoms of Alzheimer's in minutes.

Prevention

All studies of measures to prevent or delay the effects of Alzheimer's are often fruitless. Nowadays, there appear to be any evidence to believe that it's definitely a preventive measure against alzheimer successful. However, studies indicate relationships between modifiable factors such as diet, cardiovascular risk, use of pharmaceuticals or intellectual activities and the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's population. But only further research, including clinical trials reveal whether, in fact, these factors can help prevent Alzheimer. The inclusion of fruit and vegetables, bread, wheat and other cereals, olive oil, fish, and red wine, may reduce the risk of Alzheimer. Some vitamins such as B12, B3, B9 C or studies were associated with lower risk for alzheimer but other studies indicate that they have no significant effect on the onset or development of disease and may have side effects. Some spices such as Curcumin and turmeric have shown success in preventing brain degeneration in mice. The cardiovascular risk, such as high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes and smoking are associated with an increased risk in the development of the disease, statins (drugs for lowering cholesterol) were not successful in preventing or ameliorating the patient's conditions during the development of the disease. However, the long term use of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory steroids), is also associated with a lower probability of developing Alzheimer's disease in some individuals. He no longer believes that other pharmaceutical treatments such as hormone replacement female aa prevent disease. In 2007 an extensive study concluded that there was inconsistent and unconvincing evidence that ginkgo has any positive effect on reducing the likelihood of alzheimer. Intellectual activities such as reading, playing board games (chess, checkers, etc..), Completing crossword puzzles, playing musical instruments, or regular socialization can also delay the onset or severity of alzheimer. Other studies have shown that too much exposure to magnetic fields increase the risk of alzheimer's, working with metals, especially aluminum. The credibility of some of these studies has been questioned even because other studies have found minimal relationship between environmental issues and the development of Alzheimer's.