One of the symptoms of ageing is memory loss. But where is the line between normal symptoms of ageing and a pathology? Alzheimer's is one of the most worrying degenerative diseases and there is no cure. We tell you how it can affect you and what you can do to live a healthy ageing life.
Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease, a type of dementia affecting the neurological systemespecially in the elderly. It is estimated that between 3 and 4 percent of people between 75 and 79 years of age are diagnosed with the disease. But can it be detected earlier? These are the signs that can alert us to the disease.
Early symptoms of Alzheimer's
The Alzheimer's symptoms occur at different times and with different intensity depending on the course of the disease. However, there are indications that can raise suspicions as soon as you start to detect them repeatedly: changes in behaviour and mood, communication or motor difficulties, problems with orientation or attention span... If these issues start to affect a person's daily life or are detected to be occurring more frequently, it is time to seek medical attention. The prevention is essential to treat the problem in time and to slow down its evolution as much as possible.
Initial or mild phase
In the first phase, problems appear in the correct execution of work or domestic tasks. The affected person is still independent and can perform basic activities, although they may require help with more complex ones.
The main symptoms are:
– Anomie (difficulty in naming objects or persons)
- Principle of apraxia (coordination failures)
– Attention, concentration and memory problems
- Peaks of sadness and anxiety, sudden mood swings
Intermediate or moderate phase
The process continues in the intermediate stage, where the incapacitation is not yet full, but you will start to receive a incipient loss of autonomy. For activities such as using a mobile phone, eating or toileting you will need help from a third party.
Symptoms flare up and become more pronounced:
- Seniors short-term memory failures. Distant memories are sharper than recent ones. They may even manifest difficulties in recognising familiar faces.
- Problems in holding fluent conversations
- Psychomotor impairment
– Disorientation space-time and of a personal nature
- They appear delusions and hallucinations (feeling of robbery, persecution or false recognition)
- Insomnia
– Behavioural disturbance
Final or severe phase
At this point there is already an absolute dependence on the patient, the symptoms of which are as follows:
- Apraxia and aphasia (inability to communicate, either orally, in writing or by mimicry)
– Total memory loss
- Immobility
– Difficulty in sphincter control
Integrative treatments to slow disease progression
The Alzheimer's is a disease for which there is no curative treatment. Patients have to learn strategies to cope with the increasing difficulties and complementary means can be found to help them to cope with the increasing difficulties. quality of life patient is not radically diminished, there are integrative treatments focused on symptom reduction.
Non-pharmacological therapies based on cognitive stimulation serve to reinforce present abilities and protect as far as possible those that are already affected. These programmes allow better targeting of the behavioural alterations of the patients and can be carried out individually or in groups.
Among the most common activities is the one known as "orientation in reality".the music therapy or the reminiscence. Through the stimulation of the senses (such as music), memory is stimulated, irritability is reduced, mood is improved and the bond with the environment is strengthened.
In Biosalud, we also develop other types of complementary therapies for the treatment of degenerative diseases with the fundamentals of biological medicine.
But what about Alzheimer's prevention?
In this blog, we have already reported on studies that would put in relation between Alzheimer's and pollution and with the stress.
Although much research remains to be done, smoking or cardiovascular risk factors may influence Alzhemier's disease. A balanced diet free of sugars and processed foods is - always - recommended, as well as taking care of mental health and developing cognitive skills.
**This is a general information article and in no way replaces a medical consultation or opinion.
