Alzheimer’s Disease: Can there ever be a Cure?
Alzheimer’s Disease is one of the most dreadful disease known to man. Not old by origin this disease first appeared in the year 1901 in a patient by the name of Auguste Deter.the doctor treating her was Dr. Alois Alzheimer’s who performed variety of test on her and found that she had normal memory loss. But later her condition got worst and any ability to do any activity was almost impossible for her. This disease affects approximately 4 million people in USA alone.The symptoms start as normal forgetfulness and later memory loss, confusion and followed by orientation problems and the three D’s that is delusion, depression and dementia. It is commonly starts in older people from the age range from 65 upto 80yrs . It has a term of about ten years as a person cannot survive Alzheimer’s Disease longer than that. Research proves that the factors that may be responsible are age and family history.
Alzheimer’s Disease is usually caused by formation of plaques like structures filled with amyloids in the hippo campus, frontal, temporal and parietal cortex of the brain that are responsible for memory retention and thinking ability.It should be differentiated from other diseases like Frontal – temporal dementia, vascular dementia or strokes and some times severe depression. Some diseases like Mild cognitive impairment may be mistaken as Alzheimer’s Disease and in few cases it later leads to Alzheimer disease. Deficiency of certain vitamins like Vit B12 or folate also can be mistaken as dementia but it can be cured by Vit supplements.
The families and the close ones of the diseased are the most suffering. Firstly to see the condition of their loved one deteriorating and failing to recognize them and then the high cost of the treatment and expensive care facilities. Most of the people around the patient are stressed out and go in to depression.But still there is no cure for such a dreadful disease and the chances of reversal of the disease is almost not proved yet.
To engage in activities like social work or to mix up with people, to talk to them and to make new friends. By doing this the frontal lobes in the brain are active and there will be delay in the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease. The lobes in the brain are also stimulated by by doing mathematics or to solve cross words or to do any intellectual activities so that acts like brain exercise. Even eating fish or a seafood and even egg containing Omega-3 fatty acid also improves brains stimulation and acts like a preventing measure. Who knows one day there will be a cure for this disease.
