What Is Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder and a form of dementia, a condition that affects memory and thinking. It might take years to develop and initially interfere with the brain parts that manage memory, thoughts and language. The changes in the brain from disease slowly progress and make the symptoms worse over time. Alzheimer's is not an age-related problem, although people often mistake its symptoms for normal ageing. However, the disease is usually seen developing in people above 65. The early onset (below 65 years) is less common. As the disease damages the brain cells and gradually makes day-to-day activities difficult, it is important to recognise the symptoms early.

Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms

Alzheimer's disease usually progresses in stages. Therefore, the symptoms during each stage can vary. Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms It is very difficult to recognise symptoms at this stage. Initially, the symptoms include difficulty in remembering recent events or trouble in finding words for everyday communication. In addition, people can also show symptoms such as: · Lack of interest in performing favourite activities · Trouble sleeping · Being less emotional · Struggling to understand complex ideas · Furthermore, confused on who they are, what time it is, etc

Middle-Stage Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms

As the disease progresses, the symptoms become more noticeable. At this stage, the people might need help to perform their tasks. The common symptoms include: · Forgetting recent events · Difficulty in recollecting the names of friends and family members · Forgetting where they kept an object or where to keep it · Repeating things · Moreover, facing challenges in troubleshooting a problem or making plans

Advanced-Stage Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms

Finally, at this stage, people start completely depending on another person. The symptoms likely include: · Forgetting very important information, such as where they live · Not being able to recognise even close relatives · Becoming moody, restless and aggressive · Facing difficulty in controlling the bladder (urination) · Trouble moving around · Trouble speaking · Eventually, getting delusions or hallucinations, etc Moreover, people with Alzheimer’s might also experience sundowning, which is the worsening of symptoms such as confusion, restlessness, etc., in the late afternoon or evening.

Risk Factors of Alzheimer's Disease

Several factors can increase the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. The most common one is age (meanwhile, the disease is not a normal part of ageing). Similarly, a strong family history (close relatives like father, brother or sister) can also increase the risk. In addition to these, researchers have also found that genetic changes, head injuries and certain health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) can also increase a person's risk of getting Alzheimer’s.

When to Consult a Doctor?

Although Alzheimer’s brings about so many symptoms, the doctors usually suggest ten of them as warning signs. These include:

1. Memory problems that interfere with daily life
   

2. Facing difficulties in completing familiar tasks at the office, at home or while on leisure
   

3. Facing challenges in solving a problem or planning something
   

4. Keeping things somewhere and not being able to recall them
   

5. Trouble recognising objects/images or judging distances and directions
   

6. Facing new problems with talking
   

7. Losing interest in work or social gatherings
   

8. Reduced or poor judgement
   

9. Not being able to recognise time or place
   

10. Personality or mood changes Therefore, recognising these warning signs is very important, as it can help in providing prompt medical care and enhance the quality of life for both patients and carers.