Caution: Alzheimer's disease can be contagious!

Alzheimer's disease is an incurable, neurodegenerative pathology. The disease is recorded in elderly patients who have crossed the 60-year mark. People are exposed to one of the types of dementia, they tend to completely forget who they are, their loved ones, relatives and even the place in which they are now. This situation indicates irreversible consequences in the brain, in which a complete loss of intelligence occurs. People call this disease “senile insanity.”

Alzheimer's disease and dementia in Russia

In Russia, more than 1.5 million people suffer from dementia.
Globally, at least 44 million people live with dementia, making it a global problem that needs attention. A diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is life-changing for both the individual and their family and friends, but information and support are available to everyone. No one should have to deal with Alzheimer's or other dementia alone.

• About Alzheimer's disease and dementia
• Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
• Risk factors for Alzheimer's disease
• Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

• Treatment and support for patients with Alzheimer's disease
• Care
• What help does the Alzheimer's Association provide?

Alzheimer's disease is hereditary and not acquired

Descendants of old people, in their later years, affected by Alzheimer's disease, are asking a far from idle question: are they, their children and grandchildren, at risk of dementia? What is the probability of hereditary acquisition of this terrible disease?

Let's figure out whether Alzheimer's disease is hereditary, genetic or not, is the disease contagious and how is it transmitted?

Heredity and genetics

Alzheimer's syndrome is one of the types of senile dementia , and the most common.

Statistics show that more than 50% of elderly people are susceptible to this disease to one degree or another. Is Alzheimer's disease inherited?

Geneticists have been able to establish through research that there is indeed some dependence on hereditary factors: the likelihood of developing senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type increases significantly if one of the close relatives has been affected by this disease.

In the case where dementia affects not one, but two family members, this fact should seriously alert the younger generation: the probability doubles, as evidenced by statistical data .

These data allow scientists to claim that this disease is hereditary in nature, that is, it is genetically determined .

The disease affects brain cells, the volume of which decreases, which is visible to the naked eye according to the results of CT and MRI studies.

Alzheimer's syndrome is not infectious , which excludes the possibility of infection. It is impossible to become infected with this disease: it is not the disease that is transmitted, but a predisposition to it.

The discovery of symptoms similar to the manifestations of this particular disease does not give reason to make such a diagnosis for yourself, even if several ancestors suffered from dementia.

You can find a test on the Internet and answer questions - it’s interesting and educational, but it does not answer the question of whether Alzheimer’s disease has begun to progress.

Only specialists, after conducting a series of tests and studies, will be able to make an accurate diagnosis, because the manifestations of this disease only indicate memory problems, and similar symptoms are observed in other diseases.

For example, atherosclerosis also leads to the development of senile dementia, but it is still a completely different disease that requires different preventive and medicinal measures.

Heredity, age, gender as causes of Alzheimer's disease:

Transmission routes

Genetics is developing at an increasingly rapid pace, and there is every reason to assert that a gene, as a fragment of DNA, is indeed a carrier of hereditary characteristics, but transmitted not in exact form, but in the state of mosaic particles.

This means that under the influence of various factors that form memory loss and decreased mental abilities, only a small part of the genetic material that carries a tendency to develop dementia can be passed on to the descendant .

If a descendant is concerned with the health of the body and mind, then diseased genes may well undergo changes and lose the lion's share of their impact, that is, correction of inherited genes is possible.

Gene differences are divided into two main types:

1. Variation (not carrying pathologies).
2. Mutated (changed, capable of harm).

Dementia can develop under the influence of both types of genes, and it is enough that just one gene was mutated for a person to be doomed to a certain disease, and this is not always dementia.

Forms of predisposition

As for Alzheimer's disease, genetic predisposition can be caused either monogenic or polygenic.

Monogenic

Cases of monogenic (when one gene is affected) transmission of this disease are extremely rare . Signs of the disease appear at the age of about 30 years.

In the familial form of this species, one of 3 genes is most often affected:

• amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene;
• presenilin gene (PSEN-1);
• presenilin gene (PSEN-2).

It is interesting that in some cases of the familial form of Alzheimer's syndrome, it was not possible to identify the very pathological gene, which can only mean one thing: not all hereditary mutations of DNA fragments have been studied; of course, they exist, but science has not yet identified them all.

Polygenic

This disease is mainly transmitted by a polygenic variant . This type of transmission of Alzheimer's disease is like a kaleidoscope, where a slight twist changes the entire picture.

Many altered DNA fragments can be lost to a descendant in any combination, and it is not necessary that the pathologies lead to the development of dementia. In addition, sometimes an entire generation manages to avoid such a sad outcome.

Geneticists have been able to identify 20 types of mutations in DNA fragments that affect the hereditary transmission of Alzheimer's syndrome.

Unlike the monogenic variant, this variant of identifying altered genes does not mean that a person will certainly become weak-minded.

It is important that these DNA fragments can strengthen their influence on the development of the disease, or weaken it , depending on a combination of other factors - for example, the degree of pollution of the inhaled air, lifestyle, etc.

Source: https://consuitant.ru/bolezn-alcgejmera-nasledstvennaja-a-ne-priobretennaja/

About Alzheimer's disease and dementia

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, a condition in which the brain no longer functions properly. Alzheimer's disease causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. In the early stages of dementia, symptoms may be minimal, but as the disease increasingly affects the brain, symptoms worsen. The speed at which the disease progresses varies from person to person, but the average life expectancy after diagnosis is eight years.

Although there is currently no treatment that can stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease, there are medications that can reduce the symptoms of dementia. Over the past three decades, dementia research has provided greater insight into how Alzheimer's disease affects brain function. Today, researchers continue to search for more effective treatments, as well as interventions that could prevent Alzheimer's disease and improve brain health.

Learn more: Basics about Alzheimer's disease and the stages of Alzheimer's disease.

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Symptoms and stages of disease development.

Symptoms of the disease include disorders in the nervous, emotional, communicative and cognitive spheres of life. There are several stages in the development of the disease.

1. The initial stage when the first signs of Alzheimer's disease appear. However, with obvious signs of cyanide dementia, even at an early stage the disease already affects the brain. During this period, Alzheimer's disease manifests itself as typical changes in personality. At this stage of the disease, memory impairment, inability to concentrate, and loss of time occur. Often during this period of illness people withdraw into themselves, become rude, and experience outbursts of jealousy and anger. This behavior of a sick person lasts from a couple of months to several years. Sometimes relatives do not connect this behavior with the disease and do not seek help from a doctor, and this leads to a lapse in treatment. Some attribute this kind of behavior to the usual quirks of old people. But over time, behavioral disturbances become more obvious and noticeable. The personality is degenerating, but time is lost. After all, Alzheimer's disease can only be treated at an early stage.
2. The next stage of the disease is characterized by the main symptom - inertia. Shows complete indifference to life, reactions become typical and stereotyped. Sometimes, already at this stage of the disease, patients begin to confuse and forget the names of loved ones, and stop recognizing those around them. Problems with speech and reading begin, understanding of phrases is lost, and failures occur in constructing a conversation.
3. At this stage, all violations of the previous period reach their highest point. People suffering from hydrocyanic dementia at this stage of the development of the disease cease to perceive human speech, begin to utter only individual sounds and cries, get confused in words, and cease to perceive themselves and objects in space. The skills to use surrounding objects, household and others, are lost. At the same time, gluttony and hypersexuality often develop. Apathy is often replaced by irritability, seizures, and hallucinations. The patient lives in a phantasmagoria.
4. The last stage of Alzheimer's disease is scary and frightening. This is complete dementia and loss of all life skills. Only reflex vital functions remain, which can disappear at any moment. Failure of the body to give up basic reflexes leads to death.

Memory loss and other symptoms of Alzheimer's disease

Memory problems, and in particular difficulty remembering recently learned information, are often the first sign of Alzheimer's disease.

As we age, our brains undergo changes and sometimes it can be difficult to remember certain details. However, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias cause memory loss and other serious symptoms that interfere with normal daily functioning. These symptoms are not normal part of normal age-related changes.

Not all cases of memory loss are caused by Alzheimer's disease. If you or someone you know is experiencing memory problems, consult your doctor. If these symptoms are caused, for example, by a vitamin deficiency or are a side effect of taking medications, they can be corrected.

In addition to memory loss, symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include:

• Problems completing tasks that were not difficult before.
• Difficulty solving problems.
• Changes in mood and character, distance from family and friends.
• Problems with oral and written communication.
• Problems with recognizing places, people, and restoring the sequence of events.
• Changes in visual perception, such as difficulty interpreting images.

Family and friends may notice symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and other advanced dementias before the person experiencing the changes does. If you or someone you know is experiencing possible symptoms of dementia, it is important to get a medical evaluation to determine the cause.

Visit our 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's page and learn more about the difference between normal age-related changes in memory and mental function and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

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Description of the disease.

If the name “senile dementia” does not mean anything to the majority of the world’s population, then the words “Alzheimer’s disease” inspires fear and horror. Many people fear not old age, but most of the diseases that manifest themselves at this age, including Alzheimer's disease - memory loss, a symptom that accompanies this disease.

A disease of this nature is a mental and memory disorder, a decrease in intelligence and other cognitive functions associated with the death of brain cells. The first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease appear as serious problems in the sphere of human behavior, in his emotional and personality manifestations of deviations. Senile dementia begins to clearly progress. It is from this degenerative disease that 5% of elderly people on Earth suffer. Hydrocyanic dementia disease is one of the ten leading causes of mortality, ranking 6th among other diseases.

The horror of this disease is that the first signs of Alzheimer's disease appear clearly to others almost 20 years after its unnoticed development. The disease creeps up unnoticed. In this case, protein deposits on the neurons of the brain accumulate gradually, leading to the death of neurons and the severing of nerve cell connections. In such a situation, the brain is unable to cope with its mandatory functions. And that’s when the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease appear.

What is Alzheimer's disease?

Senile insanity is a fairly accurate definition of this disease. What caused

Alzheimer's disease, causes and rate of development of pathology - questions that

modern medicine does not know the answer. Dementia entails a number of unpleasant

symptoms characteristic of Alzheimer's:

• Memory is impaired. It all starts with short-term memories. Later

long-term memory is distorted. Events are remembered in a distorted form or

are completely erased.

• The reaction to the environment and people becomes inadequate. Possible

outbursts of rage and anger, the person is often nervous, and apathy often manifests itself.

• Language skills and the ability to interact with people are lost.

At the same time, the desire to contact anyone disappears.

• Self-identification is lost. It is difficult to name your own name, occupation,

other personal information.

• Loss of orientation in time and space. Even in one's native area

may get lost and not remember the way home.

Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease

Depression of mental abilities occurs gradually. The onset of early symptoms is not cause for concern and is not considered a health threat. Most often, these signs are attributed to fatigue. But it is the early symptoms and signs that will help identify the problem in time and begin to treat it:

1. Frequent manifestations of forgetfulness. The patient does not remember where he left various objects, forgets to turn off the light or eat on time.
2. Waves of apathy. Reluctance to communicate with other people.
3. Cases of disorientation in space and time. Inability to remember what day and date it is.
4. Mood swings associated with reluctance to accept innovations in one’s own life.
5. Difficulty trying to express one's own thoughts. It becomes difficult to find simple words.
6. Inability to make a decision. Long thoughts that do not lead to logical conclusions, difficulties with planning tasks.

Remember that the development of dementia is indicated by frequent recurrences of such symptoms. Isolated cases may indicate stress or fatigue. If the symptoms disappear after a short time, you have nothing to worry about.

Genetic predisposition

Those who have family members with Alzheimer's are at risk of developing the same disorder. This is the conclusion reached by scientists studying this pathology. The fact is that mutations of certain genes provoke the development of dementia. And they are often inherited. There are three genes whose pathologies lead to the active development of the disease:

• Gene mutation on chromosome 14. It is becoming the most common cause of senile insanity. This feature is actually passed on from generation to generation, but does not always manifest itself.
• The central gene on chromosome 21 is responsible for the synthesis of amyloid protein. A violation of this function is called Down syndrome. The formation of protein plaques in the cerebral cortex interferes with neural connections and information exchange. This is where dementia arises. People with this pathology are prone to developing Alzheimer's disease at an early age.
• A gene mutation on chromosome 1 is considered the rarest anomaly. It leads to fairly rapid progression of the pathology.

If you do not know whether your relatives suffered from this disorder, it is worth doing a DNA test. It will help identify the presence of pathologies and deviations from the norm. You will learn your own predisposition to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and will be able to identify the first symptoms in time and begin treatment.

Risk factors

The neurodegenerative process is significantly enhanced under the influence of external factors. They are divided into correctable and non-correctable. The latter refer to factors that cannot be changed or influenced in any way. These are age and gender. People over 70 years of age mostly suffer from dementia. It has also been found that women are significantly more likely to suffer from Alzheimer's than men.

It is quite possible to eliminate adjustable factors. These include:

• Circulatory disorders of the brain,
• Traumatic brain injuries and brain tumors,
• Psychological trauma, clinical depression,
• Low brain activity, lack of self-development,
• Sedentary lifestyle, bad habits.

Memory losses

Increased incidences of forgetfulness and absent-mindedness indicate the initial symptoms of dementia. You do not remember the content of a conversation with a friend, you forget important dates and events. Often you cannot remember a familiar face. The constant need for diaries and sticky notes clearly indicate serious memory problems.

Frequent cases of such disorders interfere with normal life and indicate an urgent need for consultation with a therapist. Even if you don’t notice other symptoms, it’s worth getting examined by a specialist.

Difficulty with planning and decision making

Planning your day is a completely natural process for everyone. Already in the morning you have a clear idea of ​​what you will do. At the same time, even unforeseen circumstances will not unsettle you; you can instantly rearrange your affairs. This is the behavior of a healthy person who perfectly knows how to calculate his strength.

The onset of Alzheimer's disease causes you to fail to complete your task. You begin to get lost even in familiar situations. Forgotten bills, declined meeting invitations. Serious errors in calculations occur, and you cease to control your own income and expenses. All these tasks are assigned to the executive system of the brain, which is primarily affected by the development of dementia.

Difficulty performing simple tasks

The degenerative process in the nervous system prevents you from doing your usual activities. You start to get lost when faced with tasks that you do regularly. Forgotten passwords or game rules, difficulties in working with familiar mechanisms or programs. The progressive disease causes you to feel confused in everyday situations. If you find yourself in this condition, do not delay visiting a specialist.

Loss of orientation in time and space

Everyone is capable of thinking while walking and waking up in an unfamiliar place. But the repetition of such situations indicates the development of deviations. At the same time, you may not recognize the area where you have lived for many years. At the same time, you calculate time poorly and forget when this or that event happened.

Estimating time and distance becomes an impossible task. It is difficult for you to climb steps, cross the road at a traffic light, or take a bath. After all, each of these actions requires movements and subconscious miscalculations, which are difficult to achieve in a demented state. Finding the right path to the desired address also becomes extremely difficult; you cannot determine the correct route and estimate the travel time.

Difficult to write and speak

Irreversible changes in the cerebral cortex lead to the fact that you become unable to clearly formulate your own thoughts. Many words and expressions are forgotten, even the simplest ones. Vocabulary becomes scarce. At the same time, you talk a lot because you cannot explain something briefly. It often happens that in the process of a long story the original topic of conversation is forgotten.

Fine motor skills are also affected by the disease. This makes it difficult for you to write or type. Along with an impoverished vocabulary, you lose the ability to express yourself clearly and concisely.

Desire to move objects

With dementia, the patient loses the ability to think logically. Due to memory loss, a person constantly loses things. Moving an object from its usual place and then not finding it is a common situation in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

These circumstances cause irritability and grumpiness. At the same time, you are completely unable to recognize your own actions and remember them. As a result, you increasingly lose things and, finding them in the most unusual places, are sure that someone else put them there.

Discretion

A progressive, incurable process of disruption of protein synthesis leads to loss of adaptation to life. People with dementia become naive and are easily tricked into believing something. BA does not allow you to soberly assess the situation and your own appearance. The patient may walk around in the cold only in a robe and slippers, forgetting to comb his hair or change dirty clothes. All these factors do not matter to them, since the brain does not respond adequately to the environment. Dementia leads to behavior and actions that defy common sense and logic.

Loss of interest in activities and communication

The development of apathy leads to the fact that you stop striving to meet with friends. Social connections become meaningless to the brain because they require measured actions. Often the character changes dramatically, and the soul of the company can turn into a sullen grumbler.

At the same time, you stop being interested in almost everything, including your own hobby. Even if you've been modeling all your life, developing Alzheimer's will take that joy away from you. You will begin to forget the order of actions, and later you will completely stop experiencing at least some emotions from your previously favorite activity.

Can Alzheimer's disease be transmitted from parents to children?

Alzheimer's disease has become notorious due to the fact that no one can answer with certainty why it occurs, how to treat it, and whether it is possible to prevent the massive death of neurons in old age.

Despite numerous scientific studies, a neurodegenerative disease affects every second elderly person who has crossed the 85-year mark. Such statistics and the disappointing rapid rate of spread of senile dementia make us wonder whether Alzheimer's disease is inherited or not.

The question is especially relevant for members of those families where the problem of senile dementia among close relatives has become a difficult reality.

Genes affecting the condition and functioning of the brain

The genetic factor underlies many pathologies that are inherited, and dementia is no exception. One of the scientific hypotheses about the possible nature of its origin allows us to make an assumption whether Alzheimer's disease is hereditary. Today, the amyloid theory is fundamental.

According to studies, it was possible to establish that the death of nerve cells occurs due to excessive accumulation of dense beta-amyloid plaques in them. The APP gene, which is inherited and located on chromosome 21, is directly involved in the formation of insoluble protein deposits.

A mutation of this gene leads to increased production of senile plaques in brain tissue, which interfere with the normal transmission of nerve impulses.

The presence of the APP and APOE4 gene isoforms on chromosome 19 does not mean that Alzheimer's disease will necessarily be inherited from parents to children. Such genetic mutations in the body increase the risk of developing the disease in complex combination with other possible provocateurs of irreversible degenerative changes in the brain. The most common ones include:

• old age after 65 years;
• traumatic brain injuries of the head;
• chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• hormonal imbalances;
• low level of education, low-intellectual occupations;
• prolonged exposure to toxic substances, radiation, electromagnetic radiation;
• alcohol abuse, smoking.

An inherited predisposition to Alzheimer's disease is also observed in people with mutations in the genes of chromosomes 1 and 14, but scientists still find it difficult to name a cause-and-effect relationship between these facts. At present, only the fact has been established that Alzheimer's disease and heredity can be traced in 10% of all registered clinical cases of the disease.

Alzheimer's in people with Down syndrome

The inheritance of senile dementia is confirmed by such congenital genomic pathology as Down syndrome. Normally, each person inherits a set of 46 chromosomes from their parents, 23 from the father and 23 from the mother. When the 21st chromosome inherits a third copy instead of one pair, this neurodegenerative syndrome is diagnosed.

The assertion that Alzheimer's disease is a hereditary pathology is based on the fact that it is mutations in chromosome 21 that trigger the process of active production of abnormal amyloid plaques in brain cells.

Thus, the additional chromosome inherited becomes another source of a protein substance that steadily destroys healthy neurons.

Most people with Down syndrome experience dementia before the age of 40, with an average life expectancy of 50 years. The hereditary predisposition to Alzheimer's disease in individuals with such chromosomal abnormalities provides direct support for the amyloid hypothesis.

Monogenic and polygenic modes of inheritance of Alzheimer's disease

In 80% of all registered cases, the culprit of the monogenic variant of the disease is chromosome 14 (PSEN-1), less often 21 (APP) or 1 (PSEN-2). Alzheimer's disease is inherited through a single mutated gene that is passed on to a child from his parents.

The familial form of the disease, which is inherited, usually develops and begins to show noticeable external symptoms at a fairly early age - after 45, and sometimes after 30 years.

Experimentally, it was possible to establish that the female body is more vulnerable to the negative effects of hereditary mutations in the APOE chromosome during the period of hormonal fluctuations, while the male brain practically does not react to the genetic defect.

Important. Inheritance does not always indicate gene mutations in the listed chromosomes. The origins of the most common form of dementia remain not fully understood, and the manifestations of an incurable disease can be disturbing even after several generations.

A complex combination of several factors plays a decisive role in whether Alzheimer's disease ultimately turns out to be hereditary or acquired. With a polygenic mode of inheritance, an increased likelihood of triggering destructive processes in the brain is determined by:

• old age;
• poor health;
• wrong lifestyle;
• genetic predisposition.

The interaction of genes with each other and the influence of these factors increase the risk of pathology. At the same time, physical activity, a balanced diet and regular mental training can successfully neutralize the adverse effects of genetics.

Alzheimer's is a hereditary disease, the late onset of which after 65 years of age, and is primarily caused by the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene. Structural variations in this gene determine disease rates.

Structural variations of apolipoprotein E (APOE) Variant APOE Human age (on average) Percentage of the total number of patients

Reference. If senile dementia was diagnosed in both parents, the risk of inheriting the disease to children when they reach 70 years of age will be about 40%.

It is impossible to say categorically that Alzheimer's disease is hereditary. In addition to the genetic factor, there are other reasons that can cause irreversible organic changes in the central nervous system.

Doctors advise people whose close direct relatives have suffered from senile insanity not to neglect preventive measures and to seek professional medical help at the first signs of cognitive impairment.

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Source: https://demenciya.ru/altsgejmer/peredaetsya-li-bolezn-altsgejmera-po-nasledstvu/

Stages of the disease

Like any pathology, dementia does not begin quickly. Destructive processes take place slowly and almost unnoticed by you. To prevent neuronal degeneration from becoming irreversible, it is important to understand the characteristic changes at each stage of the disease. This will make it possible to choose the right care and treatment in a timely manner.

Clinical picture

The onset of dementia is primarily accompanied by impaired short-term memory and difficulty in learning new information. Preclinical manifestations also include disorders of logical and abstract thinking. Apathy and depressive symptoms indicate the development of the problem. They are most often caused by the fact that the sick person is already aware of the presence of problems, but cannot cope with them.

Early stage of the disease

The main progression of symptoms occurs at the early stage of the onset of asthma.

1. Memory impairment. A person forgets names, dates, important information, individual words. This symptom is characterized by avoidance of complex speech patterns.
2. Loss of concentration and focus. Difficulties with the perception of new information. This significantly affects productivity at work or at home.
3. Difficulty with orientation in familiar places. A familiar and long-familiar road may seem too complicated, and the necessary turns and transitions are forgotten.
4. The development of depression and psychosis against the background of all the above symptoms.

Stage of clinical manifestations

• Development of memory problems characteristic of dementia. The patient remembers the events of his youth, but at the same time cannot say what happened yesterday and does not remember the names of younger relatives.
• Serious disturbance of time perception. The dates are confused, but the person with Alzheimer's is confident that he is calling the day or month of what happened correctly.
• Replacing memory lapses with fictional stories. For a brain affected by neural degeneration, such stories become very real. The line between real history and fictional one is blurred.
• Inability to self-service. The patient is unable to eat, brush his teeth, or dress independently. Showering or going to the toilet also becomes an impossible task.
• Dysfunction of the pelvic girdle. Involuntary bowel movements and urination. Loss of coordination of movements.
• Serious personality changes, aggression, the appearance of delusional ideas and a tendency to wander.

Severe stage

The final stage of the disease is manifested by the following symptoms:

• Almost complete absence of speech. Mumbling and grumbling becomes inaudible.
• Absolute loss of interest in everything that surrounds a person.
• The disappearance of all self-care skills.
• Loss of control over natural bowel movements.

During this time, the body suffers from a variety of infections caused by immobility. Bedsores and ulcers develop quite quickly. Pneumonia may develop. These factors most often lead to death.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

The symptoms described in this article may be signs of various diseases. There is no single and precise set of external deviations that would characterize AD specifically. To identify this problem, you need to be examined by a therapist. Neuropsychological tests and interviews with the patient and his relatives are carried out. Encephalography and tomography are required, a biochemical blood test is done, and the cerebrospinal fluid is examined to identify markers of the disease. Such diagnostics reveals the individual characteristics of the body.

Maintenance therapy

During treatment, specialists prescribe medications to help cope with the symptoms of the early stages of the disease. They are aimed at concentrating attention, improving blood circulation and producing necessary hormones, and relieving a psychotic state.

It is also important to provide psychosocial therapy. You can work with a sick relative on your own or assign him to a special group. As a rule, such classes are aimed at working with memory and performing intellectual tasks. For example, searching for the desired picture or photo, putting together puzzles or drawing.

Risk factors for Alzheimer's disease

Although we still don't know all the reasons why some people get Alzheimer's disease and others don't, research has provided a better understanding of what factors make a person more vulnerable to the disease.

• Age. Old age is the main risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease. Most people with Alzheimer's disease are at least 65 years old. Although much less common, Alzheimer's disease (also known as early-onset Alzheimer's disease) can begin before age 65. It is estimated that the number of such patients is up to 5%. Often, the manifestations of Alzheimer's disease at a younger age are misdiagnosed.
• Relatives with Alzheimer's disease. If one of your parents or siblings has Alzheimer's disease, you are more likely to develop the disease than those who do not have such immediate family members. Scientists don't fully understand the causes of familial cases of Alzheimer's disease, but genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors may play a role.
• Genetic factor. Scientists have identified several genes whose mutations increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The e4 allele of the APOE gene is the most common risk gene for Alzheimer's disease; it is estimated to have played a role in the development of the disease in about a quarter of cases. Unlike the risk gene, the determining gene guarantees the development of the disease. There is only one known case in which Alzheimer's disease resulted from inheritance of a determining gene. The development of Alzheimer's disease due to the presence of a determining gene occurs rarely, in less than 1% of cases. Alzheimer's disease caused by the presence of a determinant gene is called "autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (ADAD)."
• Moderate cognitive impairment. Symptoms of mild cognitive impairment include changes in thought processes, but they do not interfere with daily functioning and are not as severe as those seen in Alzheimer's disease or other progressive dementias. Having mild cognitive impairment, especially those associated with memory problems, increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. However, mild cognitive impairment does not always progress. In some cases they are reversible or remain at the same level.
• Cardiovascular diseases. Research suggests that brain health is directly related to cardiovascular health. Through the blood, the brain receives the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly, and the heart is responsible for the flow of blood to the brain. Therefore, the causes that lead to cardiovascular disease may also be related to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. These include smoking, being overweight, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure in middle age.
• Educational attainment and Alzheimer's disease. Research has found a link between fewer years of formal education and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Although there is no obvious reason for this relationship, some scientists believe that more years of formal education may help strengthen connections between neurons, thereby allowing the brain to use alternative neuron-to-neuron signaling pathways in the changes caused by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. .
• Traumatic brain injuries. The risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias increases as a result of moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries, such as blows to the head or other injuries to the skull that result in loss of memory or consciousness for more than 30 minutes. 50% of all traumatic brain injuries are caused by motor vehicle accidents. Those who repeatedly suffer blows to the head and other traumatic brain injuries, such as athletes or combatants, are also at increased risk of developing dementia and cognitive decline.

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Can the disease be inherited?

So far, the theory that Alzheimer's disease is inherited is the main version of the reason for the appearance of this syndrome in certain people.

In the disease, heredity can provoke both hyperphosphorylation of tau protein and simply a short life of neurons.

The number of neurons, like stem cells and eggs in girls, is formed during intrauterine development and is also determined by hereditary information received from DNA from parents. Each cell, including neurons, lives only for a certain period of time: some for a long time, while others are renewed almost weekly. If the approximate minimum and maximum values ​​of cell vital activity are common to the human species, then the lifespan of cells in each individual person in this period is purely individual and is embedded in the DNA received from ancestors.

Neurons lose the ability to divide from about one year old, and in some from three years of age. Partial renewal is possible with the participation of stem cells, but this process is so insignificant that it is simply not taken into account. Restoration of tissue functions occurs through the formation of new cellular connections by the remaining neurons, with the division of responsibilities of the dead brothers among themselves. With age, the ability to form new neural connections is gradually lost, and as a result, brain degradation intensifies.

Scientists believe that the rate of formation of new connections determines a person’s intelligence in direct proportion, which is a genetically inherent feature. This may be why smarter people are less susceptible to Alzheimer's because their neurons are better able to make new connections and live longer.

Using statistical studies, it was revealed that the presence of patients with senile dementia is characteristic of certain families or clan groups, however, it is still impossible to say for sure whether Alzheimer’s disease is inherited, since there is no specific gene for the predisposition to it. The development of the disease is provoked not by one hereditary trait, but by a whole complex of genes that determine certain processes and features that together lead to this result.

If these diseases are detected in your parents, you should carefully monitor the symptoms in yourself.

Heredity plays a vital role in the health of our body. Many of the diseases that our parents faced threaten to appear in us. The Medical Information Network portal has named a list of diseases for which it is worth taking increased preventive measures if your parents had them.

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Scientists estimate that if your parent has had a heart attack, the risk of it happening to you increases by 20%. This may occur due to an inherited disease that affects the coronary arteries or blood vessels in the brain.

Mammary cancer. Two genes are responsible for the likelihood of developing breast cancer, and a mutation in either of them increases the risk. Therefore, if you have a family history of breast cancer, you should have regular mammograms.

Alzheimer's disease. Research has shown that this disease is very often inherited. If your parent suffered from this disease, your risk of encountering it increases by 30-50%. To protect yourself, stay physically active and monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Migraine. If you have severe regular migraines, the risk that this will be inherited is 70-80%. To reduce the frequency of attacks, you should avoid eating chocolate, cheese, coffee, red wine and citrus fruits. These foods can trigger migraines.

Is heredity always a death sentence?

The discovery of Alzheimer's disease in ancestors or close relatives is not a reason to panic, but a direct indication for seeing a doctor. Even in situations where the probability of developing pathology approaches 100%, timely initiation of prophylaxis can delay the onset of clinical signs. In the case of the polygenic type of syndrome, the chances of a full and long life are very high. This scenario is the most likely. Although it is equated to hereditary, the scenario only affects indicators of potential risks, and does not act as a provocateur of degenerative changes in brain tissue.

The most common and well-studied gene that increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is apolipoprotein, and more specifically, one of its forms, APOE e4. The structural unit is considered relatively “young” and is present in the DNA of 25% of the world's population. Carriage of such a substance leads to early aging of blood vessels, which increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases by 40%. It also increases the likelihood of triggering degenerative processes in nerve tissues with their subsequent atrophy. Studies have shown that a person with APOE e4 is 10 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's than someone who is not a carrier. When a person receives a gene from both parents at the same time, the risks increase, but still are not 100%.

Other forms of apolipoprotein also pose a certain degree of danger. One of them is present in double volume in the body of 60% of the planet's population. Only half of its owners develop the syndrome - this happens after the carrier turns 80 years old. Pathology may appear earlier if the rules of prevention are completely ignored.

A small number of people have another form of apolipoprotein, which, on the contrary, protects the brain from degenerative processes. Such groups of people are considered the most protected, but they are also required to follow the rules for preventing the disease.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

There is no simple test that can detect Alzheimer's disease. Establishing a diagnosis requires a comprehensive medical examination, which may include:

Is there a test for Alzheimer's disease? There is no easy way to detect Alzheimer's disease. The diagnosis requires a complete medical examination. Blood tests, mental function tests, and brain imaging may be needed to identify the cause of your symptoms.

• Family medical history
• Neurological examination
• Cognitive tests to assess memory and thinking
• Blood tests (to rule out other possible causes)
• Neuroimaging

Although your doctor can usually determine the presence of dementia, it can be difficult to determine the type. Misdiagnosis is especially common in early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

It is important to establish an accurate diagnosis as early as possible, as this gives:

• Higher likelihood of benefiting from available treatments that improve quality of life
• Opportunity to get help from support services
• Chance to participate in clinical trials and research
• Opportunity to express your wishes regarding future care and accommodation
• Time to resolve financial and legal issues

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Treatment

It is impossible to cure Alzheimer's disease, like all other hereditary pathologies. Doctors are working on treatments that can prevent the disease from developing. Today, treatment that slows the development of the disease is carried out with the help of drugs that stimulate brain activity, improve the nutrition of neurons, and enhance nerve signals. Developmental therapy is carried out using mental exercises, which stimulates some restoration of lost brain functions, as well as memory through the formation of new neural connections based on newly acquired knowledge.

It is quite difficult to prevent Alzheimer's through prevention; the only thing you can do is to develop your brain as much as possible throughout your life, engage in mental work, and also stimulate the formation of as many connections as possible between neurons in the brain, so that the disease begins as late as possible and proceeds more slowly, not having time to reach its apogee until the moment when the person himself dies of old age.

Alzheimer's Treatment and Support

Although there is currently no treatment that can slow or stop the effects of Alzheimer's disease on the brain, there are medications that can temporarily reduce the symptoms of dementia in some patients. The action of such drugs is based on increasing the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Are your symptoms bothering you? Visit the page Helping Alzheimer's Patients and Their Families in Russia to see a list of diagnostic centers in Russia.

Researchers continue to look for ways to improve treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other progressive dementias. There are currently dozens of therapies and pharmacological studies under development aimed at preventing the destruction of brain cells caused by Alzheimer's disease.

In addition, the availability of support services and the use of non-pharmacological behavioral interventions can improve the quality of life of both people living with dementia and their families and carers. This includes:

• Treatment of concomitant diseases
• Coordination of patient care between different specialists
• Engaging in activities that improve your mood
• Behavioral intervention (to help manage common behavioral changes such as aggression, sleep disturbances, anxiety)
• Increased knowledge about the disease
• Creating a team to support patients

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Causes of the disease

Unfortunately, it is not clear how the disease develops and why the patients’ brains suddenly begin to deteriorate. What is known is that in Alzheimer's patients, after autopsy, a large number of neurofibrillary tangles are found in the brain - accumulations of hyperphosphorylated tau protein in the neurons of the brain, but this phenomenon is also characteristic of other pathologies called tauopathies - degenerative diseases of the brain similar to Alzheimer's disease.

Tau protein is a building protein of brain neurons, and phospholyation is the addition of a phosphoric acid residue to change its structure, conductivity and the formation of new connections. If protein phosphorelation is a normal process, then hyperphosphorelation is not good. And such a protein simply accumulates in neurons as excess cargo in the form of plaques.

The accumulation of this substance occurs gradually, and therefore the disease comes with age, in the main risk group are people over 60 years of age, although young people and even children also sometimes get sick, and it is noteworthy that the more mental work a person did during his lifetime, the less chance development of Alzheimer's syndrome. The smarter a person is, the less prone his brain is to degradation.

In addition to the accumulation of excess protein, the direct death of neurons occurs in the brains of patients, which is why brain connections are disrupted, and with them memory, and the body functions for which they were responsible disappear. Alzheimer's disease is a deadly disease during which the most important organ that makes a person human - his brain - literally dies cell by cell. However, due to its slow progression, patients can suffer from it for a very long time, many years.

Care

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia can be a rewarding but demanding task. In the early stages of dementia, the person may remain independent and require little care. However, as the disease progresses, the need for care will increase, eventually requiring 24-hour care.

We often hear from families and caregivers that the most distressing aspect of Alzheimer's disease is the behavioral changes it causes. There are many resources to help caregivers know what to expect and how to adapt to changes in early, moderate, and late stages of the disease.

Learn more about caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease.

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