Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia which mostly affects people of older age groups. It is an irretrievable state of mind which obstructs the person’s memory. The slowly progressive disease affecting the person’s brain is due to an increase in the type of beta-amyloidal protein which makes the never cells dead. The most prominent risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s disease is increased age. But genetic factors sometimes also play a role in this.
Symptoms and effects of Alzheimer’s disease
The Alzheimer’s disease develops very slowly. Many people associate the loss of short term memory with old age, but this factor has to be taken seriously because this is from where the problem actually starts. In the early stages, the person may forget to turn off some electric appliance, may start forgetting little chores on the daily schedule and even some of the names of family members. People with the Alzheimer’s disease will slowly start to withdraw themselves from the social gatherings and will indulge less in social activities. This happens during the early stages but as the disease progresses, the person will start having trouble in calculations; they will make little out of figures on some bill or something similar. Even reading and writing will start becoming more of a problem. In extreme cases, some patients have also been known to lose their control of bladder and bowel movements.
Patients will find it difficult to;
• Complete sentences
• Find appropriate words to deliver their speech
• Make judgments
• Dress up
• Follow directions
• Distinguish between different tastes, smells et cetera.
Treatment:
Before the doctor will begin with the treatment, many factors will have to be considered including the patient’s age and overall health, the stage of the disease and to what extent it has affected the patient’s thinking and cognitive condition and the patient’s tolerance to certain medications.
There are four drugs which come under the category of Cholinesterase Inhibitors. These have been approved by the FDA and have been formulated to regulate and control the symptoms caused by the Alzheimer’s disease. Cholinesterase Inhibitors will help reduce the progression of the cognitive impairment which is the result of this disease and will prove to be a great help for patients in their early or even middle stages of the disease. These four drugs are mentioned below;
• Aricept: although all four drugs have been approved by the FDA but this particular drug has been approved as a proper treatment for severe cases of Alzheimer’s disease. It may include side effects such as diarrhea, dizziness and tiredness.
• Cognex: this prevents the breakdown acetylcholine in the brain. The side effects might include constipation, diarrhea or muscle aches.
• Exelon: this is prescribed mostly for the earlier stages of the disease and works the same way as Cognex. Drowsiness and weight loss might be some undesirable side effects.
• Razadyne: this is also used for early or moderate stages of Alzheimer’s disease. And this will also include side effects such as headache, tiredness.