International Alzheimer's Day is celebrated on September 21 every year. Alzheimer's is an aging-related disease, in which our memory gradually declines with age. Currently, more than 50 million people in the world are affected by dementia and Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-70 percent of it.

Dementia is a collection of different types of diseases that cause a decline in the brain's memory, especially memory, thinking, decision making etc. . There are different types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is not understood by many and the name scares them, but a better understanding of the disease can make a significant difference in disease management for patients and their families. 

Currently people's life expectancy in Nepal  Alzheimer's disease may be increasing as it increases, but it is difficult to say for sure what the condition of this disease is in Nepal. On the occasion of International Alzheimer's Day, we  Let's try to know and understand more about this disease.

What is Alzheimer ?

The main cause of Alzheimer's disease is age-related changes in the brain, which affect its function. This disease specifically destroys brain cells, causing memory loss. The disease develops slowly and can be very difficult to recognize in the early stages.

Early signs of Alzheimer  forget,  Confusion, difficulty recognizing family members, and problems performing daily tasks may appear. As the disease progresses, these symptoms become more pronounced and intense.

What are the risks of Alzheimer's disease?

The real cause of Alzheimer's disease is still unknown. Studies so far have identified dozens of factors that increase the risk of Alzheimer's, some of which are:

• Older age: Older age is considered a major risk factor for Alzheimer . After the age of 65, the risk increases greatly and may be even higher in people over 85. However, Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging and is not necessarily related to age.

• Genetics: If a close family member has Alzheimer's disease, the risk may increase. Some genes, such as the apo-ephor gene, have been linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer's, but a person with this gene is not guaranteed to develop the disease. If you have this gene you have a healthy lifestyle  You can adopt it quickly and it is important to be careful .

• Chronic disease: Conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease can contribute to the development of Alzheimer's. Therefore, we need to control these conditions in time.

• Mental health: Mental illness such as depression, especially in middle age, is considered a major risk factor for Alzheimer's. Therefore, it is important to manage mental health and treat chronic stress.

• Social isolation: Being socially and mentally active can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. Lack of social engagement and physical activity can increase the likelihood of dementia.

• healthy  Behavior: Factors such as reduced physical activity, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity and smoking can contribute to the development of Alzheimer's.

• Listening and  Sniff  Problems: hearing power of the ear  And some people with nasal olfactory impairment are also at higher risk of Alzheimer's, so these people should be screened for early risk.

• Low education level: Low education is also considered a risk factor for Alzheimer's. So we can say 'never stop learning' and continue learning and reading throughout life, which can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's to some extent.

How is Alzheimer's diagnosed and which specialist to see?

Some steps to diagnose Alzheimer  Special attention is required. If someone in your family is showing signs of memory loss, such as regularly forgetting where they put their keys and things to do, forgetting the way home.

In this case  The first step is to consult with a specialist doctor  Must visit, especially senior citizen  With a specialist geriatrician, if not available  With a neurologist, where they do a detailed check . In which detailed information is taken about a person's health background, family health and other factors that affect brain function.

experts can test and evaluate memory . If necessary, a CT scan of the brain, YMRI, is done—which detects brain changes associated with Alzheimer's. Some blood tests may also be done to rule out other causes of symptoms, such as thyroid problems or vitamin deficiencies.

Genetic testing can also be done if other family members have had Alzheimer's before. In developed countries, precision blood tests and even PET scans  It is done to confirm the condition of Alzheimer's.

Treatment Options

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, the goal of treatment is to manage symptoms and improve quality of life for as long as possible. Certain medications such as donepezil and memantine are commonly used to treat memory symptoms.

New treatments such as 'monoclonal antibody' therapies are available in developed countries, which have shown some effect in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's. But these therapies are still experimental. have not been done and are very expensive . Currently America, Europe  And is widely used in China . Stem cell therapies are also being tested but do not appear to be in immediate use .

What else can be done?

All seniors with memory loss or none should exercise regularly. Everyone over the age of 60 should regularly engage in brain-exercise activities such as puzzle games, reading or learning a new skill/language. Brain exercise therapy is extremely important for people who are starting to show early signs of memory loss. Some online games also  There are, which increase the power of memory  can help. These strategies cannot cure Alzheimer's disease  But they can help reduce its progression and improve quality of life.

Challenges for patients and families

Alzheimer's disease can bring many challenges not only to the patient, but also to family members and caregivers. The most visible symptom of Alzheimer's is memory loss. Patients may also forget their personal information or daily activities.

When the disease progresses, they  Familiar people can also forget to talk about things they don't know, which disturbs them. can make They can sometimes forget their home and get lost, so bands or GPS trackers with information on family members should be used if available.

Alzheimer's can cause mood changes, irritability or  It can also bring loneliness. Patients may experience delusions or paranoia, in which they think that others are stealing or that someone is trying to harm them.

As Alzheimer's progresses, they may experience difficulty walking, eating or recognizing loved ones, which can lead to physical challenges and complications such as respiratory infections. Family members caring for someone with Alzheimer's can experience emotional and physical exhaustion, stress, and loneliness, which is a very difficult experience . The person caring for the patient should receive as much specialized training as possible in this matter.

How can we take better care of our sick family ?

If you are someone with Alzheimer  Caring for them requires a great deal of empathy, patience and understanding. Some tips:

 • Creating a safe and familiar environment: Patients with Alzheimer's can benefit from a stable and familiar environment . Organize household items, label items and create a routine. This can reduce confusion and anxiety in the patient.

 • Encouraging independence: As much as possible, the patient  Encourage them to do everything themselves, even if it takes a long time. This helps them maintain a sense of independence and dignity.

 • Communicating clearly: Talk to the patient  while   Speak slowly and clearly and use simple and short sentences. Be patient and give them time to respond.

 • Helping with daily activities: As the disease progresses, the patient  Help with daily tasks such as eating, bathing or dressing may be needed, and they should be told clearly and given permission as much as possible before helping them.

 • Providing emotional support: Patients with Alzheimer's often experience stress, confusion, or fear. Giving them reassurance and emotional support can help ease their anxiety.

What  What happens ?

Alzheimer's disease presents and progresses differently for each person  But in this disease, three  Common stages are:

• Early stage: The patient can still live independently but memory declines slightly or it may be difficult to perform complex tasks.

• Middle stage: Symptoms of memory loss become more pronounced. Individuals may require help with daily tasks, become lost, and may experience more mood swings and confusion, or may see changes in behavior .

• Final stage: Patient cannot communicate effectively and requires full-time care. They may also lose the ability to walk, eat or recognize loved ones . This stage can last for years  can and may require full-time care.

Alzheimer's prevention measures

So far, no treatment method for Alzheimer's disease  Not completely effective, but research has indicated some lifestyle changes and measures, which may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's or its  To grow  to reduce  can

• Physical activity: Regular exercise can help improve brain health and reduce the risk of memory decline. Aerobic activities such as adequate walking, cycling, swimming and  Increases blood flow to the brain, promotes brain cell growth.

• Healthy diet: Brain health requires a balanced diet that includes antioxidants, healthy fats and nutrients. Eating a regular Mediterranean diet, which includes fruits, vegetables,  Contains olive oil, fish, almonds, etc., can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer . It is important to avoid processed foods, excess sugar and trans fats .

• Brain exercise: As mentioned above  Keeping the brain active through activities like regular reading, puzzle games or learning new skills  Helps to retain memory. Lifelong learning and intellectual engagement are considered factors in reducing the risk of Alzheimer .

• Sleep: Good sleep can help protect against this disease. So ensuring proper sleep and treating sleep disorders is very important for brain health.

• Social engagement: Staying active with friends, participating in group activities or volunteering can help reduce the risk of memory loss. 

Screening for Alzheimer's disease is necessary

Currently, in our country, regular screening is not practiced among the general public, during health check-up, it is customary to check only normal blood, stool, urine, which does not help in the identification of such a disease . But early detection can have a major impact on disease management. Therefore, seniors over 60 should have brain function and risk factors evaluated by a geriatrician.

screening methods may include identification of risk factors, brain health tests, memory assessments and brain imaging . If you or your close relatives are concerned about Alzheimer's symptoms, you should seek specialist advice quickly and find out if further testing or monitoring is needed.

Learning to live with Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease poses a great challenge to patients and their family members, even though many methods are currently available to manage the disease, and new treatments are likely to be available soon.

With proper care, family support and patience under the supervision of the right specialist, quality of life can be maintained for people affected by Alzheimer's. As with any chronic illness, learning to live with Alzheimer's is inevitable for the patient and family members. The number of senior citizens in