Alzheimer's Disease

In Alzheimer’s disease, brain cells are destroyed. As a result of this disease, people slowly lose the ability to learn, function, and remember things. This is the leading factor to the development of dementia. Dementia affects mental abilities in a way that interferes with daily living.

Causes of Alzheimer's disease

A cause for Alzheimer’s disease is unknown. It is believed that two factors may be contributing to the onset of Alzheimer’s. They are as follows:

  • Plaques — The abnormal accumulation of a beta-amyloid protein in the brain.
  • Neurofibrillary tangles — The twisted fibres in nerve cells.

Risk Factors of Alzheimer's Disease

  1. The following factors can increase your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease:
  2. Age: 65 years and older
  3. A history of traumatic brain injury / concussion 
  4. Obesity
  5. Smoking
  6. Down syndrome
  7. Heart disease
  8. Family history of Alzheimer’s 
  9. Presence of a particular protein (APOE-e4)
  10. A high homocysteine level

The following are being studied to determine whether they are related to Alzheimer’s disease:

  • Childhood malnutrition or vitamin deficiency
  • A high level of aluminium, zinc, iron and copper in blood
  • Diabetes
  • Some viral infections
  • Heart disease

Alzheimer's Symptoms

It begins with a mild loss of memory and progresses to a severe loss of function and memory. There are three stages of Alzheimer’s disease:

  • Early — There is reduced memory,understanding,reasoning or learning, however, it does not influence independence.
  • Intermediate — Personality changes,mental loss and increased dependency on others.
  • Severe — Personality loss and completely dependent on others for care and body functions.

Symptoms include:

  • Having difficulty remembering things, like:
    • Difficulty in locating familiar places
    • How to solve simple math
    • Family’s and friends’ names
    • The place where ordinary things are usually stored
    • How to perform daily tasks, for example dressing, bathing, cooking etc.
  • Having trouble concentrating on normal tasks
  • The inability to complete sentences because of missing or forgotten words (leading to complete speech impairment)
  • Memory problems, both short-term and long-term
  • Having difficulty making decisions, solving problems, and making judgments
  • An inability to produce or understand language
  • An inability to judge shapes, sizes, and relationships between objects in space (loss of spatial abilities).
  • A change in personality or behaviour (depression, withdrawal from normal activities)
  • Apathy (lack of motivation to do usual activities)
  • Learning new information becomes difficult
  • Forget about the time, date, or season
  • Mood swings
  • Getting lost even in familiar places
  • A lack of interest in the usual activities
  • Changes in personality
  • Difficulty with coordination

Testing

Tests cannot confirm Alzheimer’s disease. During your visit, your doctor will take a physical exam and medical history.

Other medical tests include:

  • Cognitive tests
  • Neuropsychology evaluation 
  • Neurological exams
  • CT scan
  • Blood tests and urine tests
  • MRI scan
  • Lumbar puncture 
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG)
  • Positron emission tomography (PET) 

Treating Alzehmers at Neurology One

To treat the symptoms, specialists at Neurology One aim to prescribe medicines that can control the symptoms as well as slow the progression of the disease.

Lifestyle Management

There are several ways to manage the disease, including:

Psychiatric Manifestations 

Alzheimer’s patients may have psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and hallucinations.

A Rapid Alzheimer's Treatment Approved by FDA in 2023

  • Provide a caring environment where you can get the help and care that you need
  • Maintaining a high standard of living as possible.
  • Staying safe
  • Helping you manage the discomfort of your irrational behavior
  • Maintaining a calm, predictable environment
  • Playing soft music
  • Providing suitable hearing aids, eyewear, and clocks and calendars that are easy to read
  • Relieving depression and agitation with light exercise
  • Encouraging frequent visits with family and friends

The FDA has approved Leqembi for treating Alzheimer’s disease.Its brand name is Leqembi. This medicine  works by targeting the main  pathophysiology of the disease. Developing this medicine represents an important step forward in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Patients are given Leqembi every two weeks as an infusion of monoclonal antibodies. In addition to treating early Alzheimer’s disease, it is also used to treat mild cognitive impairment in individuals.

What if my loved one got Alzheimer's Disease?

Each person with Alzheimer’s disease is affected differently. The effects of Alzheimer’s on your loved one are hard to predict. One of the best ways to be treated for Alzheimer’s disease is to consult with healthcare professionals. As Alzheimer’s progresses, your loved one may need to be treated by a team of providers who can accommodate their needs.

Memory Care at Neurology One

Depending on the severity of Alzheimer’s, Neurology One is an appropriate care choice. Neurology One’s specially designed memory care environment provides individualized care based on interests and preferences. It is the right of patients to participate in decisions regarding their lives. We offer patients choices based on “doing with” rather than “doing for.” Furthermore, our best Neurologists at Orlando personally know their patients and their specific health conditions and can refer them to other specialists if needed.

Providing a caring and safe environment

Alzheimer’s treatment involves adapting a person’s living situation. It is possible to make life much easier for people with Alzheimer’s by establishing routine habits and limiting tasks that require memory.

To support someone’s well-being and their ability to function, follow these steps:

  • Be sure to keep all your valuables in one place at home, such as keys, wallets, mobile phones, and so on.
  • It is important to store medications securely. Keep track of your dosages with a daily checklist.
  • Set up automatic payments and automatic deposits for finances.
  • Allow a caregiver to track the location of the person with Alzheimer's by having them carry a cell phone that can track their location. Add phone numbers that are important to the phone.
  • Put alarm sensors on your doors and windows
  • Whenever possible, schedule appointments on the same day and at the same time.
  • Keep track of daily schedules with a calendar or whiteboard at home. Make it a habit to check off completed tasks.
  • Organize the room by removing excess furniture, clutter, and rugs.
  • Install strong handrails in bathrooms and on stairways.
  • Make sure your shoes or slippers fit correctly and have good traction.
  • Remove mirrors from the room. Mirror images may be confusing or frightening to people with Alzheimer's.
  • Wear a medical alert bracelet or carry identification for the person with Alzheimer's.
  • Make sure your home is filled with photographs and other means. 

Supporting and coping

Alzheimer’s patients experience a wide range of emotions — fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, grief, and depression.

If someone you care for has Alzheimer’s, make sure you listen to the person, letting them know that life is still worth living, offering support, and helping them maintain dignity.

An environment that is calm and stable at home can help prevent behavioral problems. Different factors can contribute to anxiety, including new settings, loud noises, large crowds, being rushed, and performing complex tasks. The ability of a patient to think clearly declines even more when an Alzheimer’s patient becomes upset.

Your First Appointment at Neurology One

Make sure you write down all the information you can before your appointment. Here are some possible pieces of information:

  • Medical history; An overview of your medical history, including past and current diagnoses, as well as your family's medical history
  • Medical team; Describe the medical team, including any current physicians, psychologists, or therapists, and their contact information
  • Medication, such as prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, herbal medicines, or dietary supplements
  • Symptoms, such as a change in memory or thinking

The best Neurologists in Orlando, including clinically trained neurologists and specialists offer expertise in Alzheimer’s disease treatment and management.