Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a type of brain disorder that damages the brain cells. Over the time, it affects a person’s brain skills to a great extent. This includes, remembering, thinking clearly and even taking care of oneself. Age is one of the biggest risk factors for AD. The higher is the risk, the older you become. Studies show that fewer men get AD than women. However, men should be aware of Alzheimer’s disease. Read on to find the causes, symptoms and ways to prevent AD.
Symptoms
The intensity of Alzheimer’s disease varies and depends on the stage of the disease. Mild, Moderate and severe are the three stages of AD. A person with AD has less number of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters play a vital role in brain cell communication. Deposit of fiber and protein in the brain prevents the brain cells from working efficiently.
Few of the early warning signs in men include memory problems, impaired reasoning, difficulty in vision or spatial issues, poor judgment, mood swings, getting lost, unable to remember even the simplest of things, difficulty in learning new things, frequent confusion, showing disability in taking care of themselves.
As the stage progresses, the symptoms worsen and the changes in the cognitive ability of the person is more pronounced.
Diagnosis
Early diagnosis of the disease is helpful in starting the treatment early. Even though there is no cure for AD, medicines will help to slow down or lessen the intensity of symptoms. It can be difficult for a doctor to diagnose a person for AD, since many of the symptoms can be similar to other ailments affecting the brain. The doctors may conduct memory tests, urine and blood tests to identify the problem. They question about the patients overall health history in the past, any suspected changes in personality or behavior. They may perform Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans to assess the causes of the disease. Some of these tests are repeatable in nature to make an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment
Due to the complexity of the disease, currently, there is no cure for AD. However, medical treatments focus in helping the patient to maintain and manage the symptoms. Drugs usually help to slow or delay the onset of symptoms by few months. However these drugs do not affect the underlying process and helps the patient only to a certain extent. Support and love shown by the patients’ doctors, family and friends play an important role in keeping the patients safe and comfortable.
Prevention
One of the best ways to keep AD at bay is to keep the brain healthy and active. Recent researches also indicate that managing a person’s heart disease, changing the lifestyle of a person and accelerating the mind are quite helpful in preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
a. Heart health is brain health
A man can reduce the chances of getting AD by managing cholesterol levels of the heart and keeping the heart ailments away. Studies show that people with lower cholesterol develop AD at a slower rate.
b. Exercise
Exercise not only helps you to maintain your weight but is also linked with lowering the risk of getting AD. Give importance to mental exercise as well. Flex your brain muscle and challenge it in various ways. This keeps your neurotransmitter connections in the brain active. Entertain your brain, have a lot of mental fun such as playing crossword, Sudoku, memory games can go a long way in preventing AD. Learning something new such as a language, skill keeps your brain active.
c. Diet
Give your brain healthy fats from sources such as walnuts, flax seed and salmon. Cut down trans fats from your diet and increase omega-3 fatty acids to keep your brain healthy.
d. Meditation
Relax your mind and body away from stress through meditation. It is one of the best workouts that you can provide to your brain. In reduces stress and helps to improve overall health.
Do not ignore the warning signs of your loved one and wait for a crisis before you visit your doctor. People think that there is no hurry in getting the condition diagnosed since there is no cure for this disease. It is better to treat the condition earlier before it causes more harm to the patient. You will have ample time to prepare for the patient’s future if it is diagnosed earlier. Plenty of support and patience is required to ensure the safety and well-being of Alzheimer Disease patients.
