Geriatrics addresses the health needs of older adults, focusing on frailty, dementia, falls, and chronic disease management.
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Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, eventually leading to an inability to perform simple tasks. It is the most common cause of dementia worldwide.
Damage begins years before symptoms appear, driven by the buildup of toxic proteins called amyloid plaques and tau tangles. These interfere with nerve cell communication, causing cell death and brain shrinkage.
Early signs include forgetting recent events or difficulty finding words. The disease inevitably progresses, causing severe confusion and increasing the need for full-time care.
The Alzheimer’s disease definition is a chronic neurodegenerative disease. It is characterized by the irreversible degeneration and death of nerve cells in the brain. This loss of neurons causes the progressive decline of cognitive functions.
The disease is named after the German psychiatrist and pathologist, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, he first described the condition after noticing peculiar changes, plaques, and tangles in the brain tissue of a woman who had died from an unusual mental illness. The disease is complex, and research continues to fully unravel its causes.
It is crucial to understand the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Dementia is a general term, while Alzheimer’s is a specific disease.
Finding the exact cause of dementia is the first step in diagnosis. Other diseases like strokes or tumors can cause dementia, but only the presence of specific protein aggregates confirms Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s disease is categorized primarily by the age of onset, which often relates to the underlying cause (genetic or sporadic).These types of Alzheimer’s disease guide diagnostic urgency and genetic testing.
This is the most common form of the disease. Symptoms first appear after age 65. The cause is likely a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, but a single causative gene has not been identified.
This is a rare form where symptoms appear in people younger than age 65, often in their 40s or 50s.
The disease is defined by the abnormal accumulation of two proteins in the brain. These buildups block communication between nerve cells, leading to their death and eventual brain shrinkage.
While Alzheimer’s disease originates in the brain, it eventually impacts the body’s entire functioning because the brain controls all other systems. It is a disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS).
Alzheimer’s disease is at the forefront of biomedical research due to its massive societal and economic impact. It is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and its prevalence continues to rise as the population ages.
Scientific breakthroughs in identifying biomarkers (indicators in the blood or spinal fluid) have transformed diagnosis. The development of new disease-modifying drugs that target and reduce amyloid plaques offers the first real hope of slowing the progression of the disease.
Treatment for Alzheimer’s requires a collaborative approach from several specialized medical fields.
What do Alzheimer’s Specialists do? Neurologists or geriatricians specialize in identifying the underlying cause of memory loss. They use advanced imaging and biomarker testing to distinguish Alzheimer’s from other forms of dementia.
When should I see an Alzheimer’s disease Specialist? You should see one if you or a family member notices persistent memory loss or changes in thinking, reasoning, or behavior that begin to interfere with daily life and activities. Early diagnosis is key for starting available treatments.
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It is a neurodegenerative disease causing memory loss and cognitive decline due to protein buildup in the brain. Specialists diagnose the disease and manage symptoms with medication.
While there is no cure, current treatments manage the cognitive and behavioral symptoms (like memory loss, depression, and agitation) associated with the disease.
The main types are Late-Onset (most common, starting after age 65) and Early-Onset (rare, starting before age 65), often linked to specific genetic mutations.
See a specialist if memory loss affects daily functioning, or if you have difficulty making decisions, planning, or recognizing familiar places or people.
Dementia is the general term for memory loss and cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s disease is a specific brain disease (caused by plaques and tangles) that is the most common cause of dementia.
aging society definition We are seeing a big change worldwide. More people are getting older, and there are more older folks than young ones. Need
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