Although we have all heard of Alzheimer's, we never imagine that it could appear in our immediate environment.
Therefore, it is important to understand what this disease entails, and know how to deal with it in the most appropriate way.
You may also be interested in dependency aid for caregivers and people with Alzheimer's.
In this blog we explain some tips that will help you detect Alzheimer's, and the most common treatments to make this disease more bearable.
How to detect Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease that affects memory, thinking and behavior. It is the most common cause of dementiain older people.
As the disease progresses, people with Alzheimer's may have difficulty remembering recent events, making plans, or decisions. In addition, they may have problems when communicating or interacting with others.
Although there is no specific symptom that indicates the presence of Alzheimer's, there are various tests and evaluations that doctors can use to check if a person has symptoms of this disease and determine their severity.
What tests are performed to detect Alzheimer's?
Advances in the detection of Alzheimer's evolve day by day. To identify it, tests based on both the patient's behavior and the results of complex analyzes are used. These are some of the most popular tests today:
- Genetic tests to detect the chances of suffering from Alzheimer's:Some people with Alzheimer's have genetic mutations that increase their risk of developing the disease. Blood or saliva tests can detect these mutations.
- Review of medical history and performance of a physical examination:The doctor may ask questions about the person's medical history to look for signs of other medical conditions that could be causing the symptoms or be prone to developing them.
- Tests focused on cognitive impairment: A cognitive test, as a practical exercise, is used to ask the patient questions to evaluate the person's memory, thinking and reasoning ability.
- Detection of Alzheimer's through brain imaging:Brain imaging, such as computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can help detect physical and visual changes in the brain that often affect people with Alzheimer's.
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis:The doctor may remove a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), located in the space between the brain and the spine, to look for signs that may indicate the presence of Alzheimer's.
- Genetic tests to detect the chances of suffering from Alzheimer's:Some people with Alzheimer's have genetic mutations that increase their risk of developing the disease. Blood or saliva tests can detect these mutations.
How can Alzheimer's be treated?
Currently there is no definitive cure for Alzheimer's, but we can find treatments that help control the symptoms.t
These therapies can help us cope with Alzheimer's in an elderly family member and improve their quality of life. The most common include:
- Taking medication: We can find different treatments that delay the progression of Alzheimer's and its symptoms. These drugs are aimed atimprove memory, control inflammation, and improve blood circulation in the brain. Another common treatment is to block the production of the LRP3 protein, which is believed to be one of the triggers of Alzheimer's.
- Therapy: Physiotherapy, music therapy, occupational therapy or multisensory stimulation help the patient improve their quality of life and gradually stop the symptoms of the disease.
- Personalized attention and care: The Caregivers must be prepared to handle the challengesof working with a person with Alzheimer's, so it is recommended to have professional help. A personalized treatment it is essentialto promote the health of people with Alzheimer's. This may include care at home, in a nursing home, or care in a day center.
- Taking medication: We can find different treatments that delay the progression of Alzheimer's and its symptoms. These drugs are aimed atimprove memory, control inflammation, and improve blood circulation in the brain. Another common treatment is to block the production of the LRP3 protein, which is believed to be one of the triggers of Alzheimer's.
The IMA Health service for people with Alzheimer's
The IMA Health serviceIt helps the elderly and those with long-term treatments, so that they can receive their medication organized by a pharmacist.
The doses will be divided according to the type and amount of medication that must be taken, in a simple way, and indicating the time of day that it must be taken.
This supposesa great help for those people who suffer from this disease, since it makes it easier for them be able to medicate correctly, without complications.