Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia, resulting in severe loss of memory and cognitive ability and abnormalities in behavioral pattern. Three cardinal factors can be associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s- Age, Genetics and Family history. During the course of the disease, excessive amount of the chemical substance glutamate is released which in turn causes excessive brain cell damage and degeneration. There is no cure for the disease although the rate of damage can be slowed down by proper medication. Mostly people over 65 years of age are the victims of this incurable disease.

Dementia or memory loss is rather a symptom that can be due to a plethora of reasons and Alzheimer’s is one of those. It can also be due to Parkinson’s, traumatic injury etc. In every case, there is degeneration of the nerves resulting in incoordination of activities.

Key Characteristics of Alzheimer’s Disease:

• Memory Loss: The most common early symptom is difficulty remembering recent events. 
• Cognitive Decline: Alzheimer’s affects thinking, reasoning, and judgment, impacting language, attention, and other cognitive functions. 
• Behavioral Changes: Individuals may experience changes in personality, mood, and behavior. 
• Progression: The disease progresses through stages, from mild cognitive impairment to moderate and severe dementia. 

Researchers have primarily identified one gene Apolipoprotein E (APOE) for the onset of Alzheimer’s in older people. The disease is irreversible and leads to severe conditions like loss of speech and basic motor functions. However, in many cases, it is nonidentifiable at the early stages. Present-day city lifestyle often contributes to the onset of this nervous disorder. Therefore a healthy lifestyle is often suggested to avoid chances of Alzheimer’s.

 There is no particular diagnostic technique to pinpoint this disease. Doctors mostly rely on the symptoms to diagnose the disease. However, CT scan (Computed tomography scan), PET scan (Positron emission tomography scan) or MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) are often conducted to diagnose the condition of the brain resulting from the Alzheimer’s.

There is no proper medication to cure this disease. However, associated symptoms like depression, hallucination, agitation, aggression etc can be treated by antidepressants, antipsychotics, tranquilizers etc. Doctors often use drugs like donepezil or memantine to treat Alzheimer’s. Memantine is known to reduce the release of glutamate and thereby lessens brain degeneration.

Alzheimer’s has no cure, but two treatments — donanemab (Kisunla™) and lecanemab (Leqembi®) — demonstrate that removing beta-amyloid, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, from the brain reduces cognitive and functional decline in people living with early Alzheimer’s. Other treatments can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with living Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. Today, there is a worldwide effort underway to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset and prevent it from developing.

There are over 55 million people worldwide living with dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form, accounting for 60-70% of those cases. Therefore, the number of Alzheimer’s patients globally is estimated to be between 33 million and 38.5 million. Alzheimer’s disease is a growing concern in India, with an estimated 5.3 million people currently living with dementia, the most common cause of which is Alzheimer’s. The prevalence of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in India is around 7.4% among adults aged 60 and older. This number is projected to significantly increase, potentially doubling by 2030 and tripling by 2050, posing a major challenge to the healthcare system. 

Alzheimer’s patients are to be treated with utmost care, empathy and love. No medication but proper care, disciplined lifestyle, socialization, active participation in cognitive exercises can reduce the damages caused by this disease. Care and love are often seen to produce magical effects on patients. So next time you meet a person suffering from Alzheimer’s, don’t forget to give him a hug and show that you care.