Are you at Risk of Alzheimer`s Disease?

Most of the patients of the Alzheimer`s disease do not show any early symptom of the disease. This degenerative disease is on rise and is responsible for death of many people across the globe every year.

Alzheimer`s disease is more common in women than men. Though the aging process is a critical factor in causing the disease, it may be result of inheritance of a gene, thus affecting younger adults. The gene on the chromosome number 19 bears a variant which may or may not cause Alzheimer`s.

Those who smoke, have been suffering from diabetes, are above the age of 65 are all at a great risk of developing Alzheimer`s disease. Being alone may put the person in depression and this puts one at a higher risk to Alzheimer`s disease. Lack of enough sleep, excess alcohol and a  disturbed lifestyle can greatly damage brain cells.

There is a normal pressure system active in the brain. When that is disturbed, as in normal pressure hydrocephalus, it can cause Alzheimer`s disease. The disease can also happen because of vitamin B 12 deficiency and anemia.

The disease sets in gradually. The most noticeable early sign of Alzheimer`s disease is being absent minded. Try to analyze if it is due to stress or exhaustion. If it continues, consult the doctor immediately.

It may start with poor memory and inability to remember daily chores and responsibilities. The patient may not be able to remember a certain procedure which he/she has been doing since several years. This may lead to irritability and aggression. The patient with early symptoms may appear confused and can be found saying, “I forgot”. It could get worse, example, a parent may forget that that the toddler is alone in the car.

As the disease progresses, the patient may not be able to recognize distant relatives and may finally refuse to recognize their immediate relatives.

A normal brain shows areas of red and yellow widely scattered, representing the brain tissue. These areas are sign of healthy functioning of the brain tissue. In an Alzheimer`s patient, the red and yellow areas appear reduced and more darker areas are visible. This shows that the functionality of brain cells has reduced considerably.