Alzheimer’s disease (AD), or Alzheimer’s, is a progressive neurological disorder that is the most common cause of dementia worldwide. As populations age, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s continues to grow, making it a critical public health issue.
We’ll introduce readers to the basics of Alzheimer’s, including its symptoms, diagnosis, and the importance of early detection. M3 Wake Research understands the importance of finding new, innovative treatments for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s. As a clinical trial site network, we are regularly qualifying and enrolling participants in our clinical trials focused on exploring potential new treatments and therapies for Alzheimer’s disease.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that affects the brain, leading to cognitive decline and memory failure. The disease is characterized by the buildup of two proteins, amyloid plaques and tau tangles, which interfere with the function of neurons and lead to their death.
It primarily affects individuals over the age of 65, although it can also occur in younger people, in what is known as early-onset, or early stage, Alzheimer’s. Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease typically occurs in people in their 40s or 50s and comprises less than 10% of Alzheimer’s cases.
As the disease progresses, patients may experience symptoms of moderate and severe Alzheimer’s disease. Once in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, patients may also experience enhanced Alzheimer’s dementia, psychosis and agitation, increased memory loss, and difficulty with common tasks.
Signs & Symptoms of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Identifying the early signs of Alzheimer’s can be challenging, as they often resemble normal signs of aging or stress. However, recognizing these early dementia symptoms, particularly as Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition where cognitive impairments, including memory loss, worsen over time, can lead to quicker intervention and better management of the condition. It’s important to note that Alzheimer’s disease may be present in an individual before there are any symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed or observed.
Key Symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia:
- Memory Problems: This is often one of the first signs, especially forgetting recently learned information or important dates and events. These memory problems are key early indicators of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
- Challenges in Planning or Solving Problems: Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers.
- Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks: Daily tasks may become a challenge, even in familiar settings.
- Confusion with Time or Place: Losing track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time is common.
- Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships: For some, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading.
- New Problems with Words in Speaking or Writing: People with Alzheimer’s may struggle with vocabulary, have trouble following or joining a conversation.
- Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps: A person with Alzheimer’s may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again.
Risk Factors of Alzheimer’s
Several factors can increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting the potential links between various factors and the disease. Age is the most significant factor, with most individuals with Alzheimer’s being 65 years of age or older. Various other factors influence the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, including genetic, environmental, and lifestyle elements.
From a genetic standpoint, those with a family history of Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop the disease. There are a variety of new tests and imaging software that can help doctors identify potential Alzheimer’s patients even before there are symptoms of cognitive symptoms, including scans of brain cells to identify the appearance of tau proteins and any brain changes that may result from those. Blood and genetic tests may also help doctors understand if someone is at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, which may help them to make lifestyle and environmental changes that could delay the onset of the disease.
Research also shows that there are certain lifestyle factors that may contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, with those who lead a healthy lifestyle potentially delaying the disease process. These factors include:
- Diet
- Exercise
- Cognitive engagement
While the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may go undetected, researchers continue to explore how these lifestyle factors may influence risk and how modified behaviors may impact the onset of symptoms. Additional research is focused around healthy aging and how certain behaviors may lead to increased risk.
Importance of Early Detection in Alzheimer’s
Detecting Alzheimer’s early offers several benefits, including the opportunity to participate in clinical trials focused on treating Alzheimer’s disease. As with many conditions, early detection provides the best opportunity for intervention, as well as a greater chance of benefiting from treatment and more time to plan for the future.
Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed through various methods and tools that help determine if a person with memory problems has the condition, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis. Through focused research from clinical trials, researchers have been able to identify certain genomes and biomarkers indicating a person’s potential for developing Alzheimer’s disease, as well as utilizing the latest imaging technologies to identify changes in the brain similar to those seen in patients diagnosed with the disease.
Clinical trials are crucial in developing new therapies and improving the quality of life for individuals affected by Alzheimer’s. Early diagnosis also allows individuals to make lifestyle changes that may slow the progression of symptoms.
Alzheimer’s Impact on Patients and Families
Alzheimer’s disease significantly impacts not only those diagnosed, but also their families and caregivers. Family members play a crucial role in the caregiving process, from offering support to participating in the assessment of the person’s daily living abilities during evaluation by healthcare professionals. The emotional, financial, and physical burden of caregiving can be substantial. Families must navigate complex care decisions and cope with the emotional pain of seeing a loved one decline.
Understanding Alzheimer’s is the first step toward fighting it. Awareness of the signs and symptoms, combined with knowledge of the risk factors and the importance of early detection, can empower individuals and families facing this disease. The financial and societal burden of treating Alzheimer’s disease is significant, with rising costs and an increasing number of individuals affected, highlighting the growing need for effective treatment strategies. While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, early intervention and treatment can improve quality of life.
In our next blog post, we will delve deeper into the science of Alzheimer’s, examining how it affects the brain and the latest research in the field. Stay tuned to learn more about this condition and the efforts to combat it.