Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment Options

Dementia and Alzheimer’s are medical conditions that affect millions of lives. Understanding their symptoms, progression, and care options is essential for every family and caregiver. Whether you’re a caregiver or a family member taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia, it’s crucial to understand the distinctions, progressions, and treatment options available.

In this piece, we will explore the basics of Alzheimer’s, including the early symptoms, diagnosis, the difference between Alzheimer’s & Dementia, and how a dementia doctor can help you treat it. This guide is your one-stop resource for everything you need to know about Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disorder and the most common cause of dementia. First identified by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, this condition primarily affects individuals aged over 65. It slowly affects the brain, memory, thinking skills, eating habits, and eventually the ability to carry out simple tasks. According to dementia doctors in the industry, Alzheimer’s results from abnormal buildups of proteins in and around brain cells.

Two different types of proteins, Beta-amyloid plaques and Tau tangles, damage the brain and cause brain shrinkage, disrupted communication, and inflammation. Dementia, on the other hand, is not a single disease. Alzheimer’s, Vascular, and Lewy Body are a few of the types of dementia. It’s a group of symptoms that affect cognitive functions like:

• Memory
• Thinking]
• Communication
• Behaviour
• Problem Solving

Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia

The difference between Alzheimer’s and Dementia is a common confusion several people have. Dementia is an umbrella term for symptoms related to the brain. It directly impacts memory, reasoning, and communication. Alzheimer’s disease causes cognitive decline, the gradual loss or deterioration of mental abilities. With distinct biological markers and progression patterns, Alzheimer’s is a specific type of dementia.

Dementia is a category, and Alzheimer’s is one of the conditions in that category. For instance, all people who have Alzheimer’s have dementia. However, not all people with dementia have Alzheimer’s. Dementia is a general term for brain-related conditions like memory loss, reasoning, or other thinking skills. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that accounts for more than 50 percent of dementia cases.

Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease

While age is the most common reason, Alzheimer’s disease is a complex medical condition with no known causes. It’s caused by a complex interaction of abnormal protein, genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that lead to the damaged function of brain cells over time. Causes that can be risk factors and contribute to Alzheimer’s include:

• Age
• Abnormal protein buildup
• Genetic factors
• Long-term stress
• Cardiovascular health
• Lifestyle & environmental triggers
• Chronic inflammation

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder primarily recognized by memory loss and cognitive decline. The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease evolve in stages and vary in severity. Below are the most common and earliest indicators, eventually leading to full dependency as the disease progresses through different stages of dementia before death. The symptoms evolve in stages and vary in severity. Common signs include:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty planning or solving problems
• Confusion with time or place
• Language problems
• Visual issues
• Poor judgment
• Changes in mood or personality
• Communication problems
• Physical changes

Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is a multi-step process that focuses on several tests to rule out other possible causes. These tests help confirm the patterns consistent with dementia. The process is

led by a dementia doctor who specializes in age-related cognitive disorders. Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s includes:

• Clinical assessments
• Cognitive thinking
• Physical examination
• Brain imaging
• Blood tests
• Amyloid PET scan
• Lumbar puncture/spinal fluid testing
• Lifestyle followup
• Family medical history

Treatment and Support for Alzheimer’s Disease

Better lifestyle choices and medications are the only cure for Alzheimer’s at this point. Popular Alzheimer’s treatment options like Cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., Donepezil, Rivastigmine) and NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor antagonists can slow the progression of the disease. Recently approved drugs like Leqembi and Kisunla have shown results in reducing symptoms but data is limited as both these medications are new in the market.

Kisunla vs Leqembi

Kisunla and Leqembi both target amyloid-beta proteins. Meanwhile, Leqembi has shown benefits in early-stage patients. Kisunla is being explored for its longer dosing intervals, as Kisunla Alzheimer’s trials are still in development, and beneficial results are a concern. A few other non-medication supports that people opt for as an add-on to medications include:

• Cognitive therapies
• Support groups for caregivers
• Structured routines
• Safety adaptations in the home

Prevention & Health Tips

While there’s no guaranteed treatment to remove the risk of Alzheimer’s, the following shared tips may reduce risk or delay onset:

• Stay mentally active (puzzles, reading, learning)
• Practice regular physical activity
• Eat a brain-healthy diet
• Reduce stress
• Get quality sleep
• Maintain social interactions
• Monitor cardiovascular health

Conclusion

Understanding the details of Alzheimer’s and dementia is highly crucial to treating the disease. It’s more than just medical knowledge; it’s about empathy, planning, patience, and empowerment. At Neurology Institute of Huntsville, we leverage new research and advancements, where medications like Leqembi and Kinsula provide hope for a better quality of life.

FAQs

Q. List the latest Alzheimer’s treatment options.

Ans: According to the latest test and study on Alzheimer’s cholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA antagonists, and new drugs like Leqembi and Kisunla are the best Alzheimer’s disease medication and treatment options.

Q. How many stages of Alzheimer’s are there, and which is the longest?

Ans: Alzheimer’s disease progresses in three main stages. From preclinical changes to severe dementia: mild (early), moderate (middle), and severe (late). The timeline and progression of these stages are not fixed and vary individually. The middle stage (moderate) Alzheimer’s can last the longest, often several years.

Q. What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?

Ans: Dementia is a general term or a syndrome; Alzheimer’s is a specific disease. Alzheimer’s disease first affects the part of the brain associated with learning.

Q. Which is worse: dementia or Alzheimer’s?

Ans: Alzheimer’s is generally more severe due to its progressive and irreversible nature.