Written By: Dr Arjun Srivatsa | Updated : August 6, 2013 11:57 AM IST
Amol was a successful 45-year-old man. He had everything to live for - a beautiful home, a loving family and a high paying job most people would die for. Even though Amol was great at what he did, he was slowly being known for his forgetfulness. He tried everything from writing things down to setting alarms, but nothing seemed to help. Once known for his uncanny ability to recognise people and faces, Amol now became someone who had to be repeatedly introduced to the same set of people. Worried about what his worsening condition could mean Amol visited his general physician. After asking him regular questions about his family history, Amol's doctor ordered further tests. He was then diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
The incidence of Alzheimer's disease is increasing among the younger lot. Our expert, Dr Arjun Srivatsa, renowned neuro and spinal surgeon and founding trustee of Spine Trust India tells us more about the condition and the symptoms you should look out for.
Alzheimer's is a kind of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour. It is found in close to 80% of those suffering from dementia and is therefore the most common type. It is commonly believed that Alzheimer's is a condition that strikes only the elderly, but this is not necessarily true. While the chances of developing the disease increase with age, it is now seen that younger people are also now being diagnosed with the disease.
One of the first signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss. It is usually a gradual process and gets ignored in a number of cases. This is followed by a decrease in other aspects of cognition such as word-finding, vision/spatial issues and impaired reasoning or judgement. As the disease progresses, newer symptoms start showing. The patient suffers damage in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought. Memory loss and confusion become worse, and the person begins to have problems recognizing family and friends. People with Alzheimer's find it exceptionally difficult to learn new things, carry out tasks that involve multiple steps (like getting dressed) and cope with new situations. They may have hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and may behave impulsively. As they progress to the more severe stages of Alzheimer's disease, the brain completely shrinks and the patient becomes increasingly dependent on others.
Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease:
The diagnosis of Alzheimer's is usually based on collective symptoms and findings. The patient's family history is a strong indication of the condition. Other tests that can be performed are mental status tests and radiological tests.
A recent advancement in the diagnosis of the disease is the use of biomarkers. There are two types of genes that play a role in deciding whether a person will develop a disease or not 'risk genes' and 'deterministic genes'. The genes that are responsible for causing Alzheimer's have been found in both categories. Presence of the deterministic gene guarantees the onset of Alzheimer's and especially runs in families. There are studies that have shown that a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's can be determined early on in life, and can help immensely in diagnosing and initiating early treatment.
Treatment options:
A doctor will treat a patient with Alzheimer's in the following with:
There is a new horizon of treatment with various clinical trials being undertaken around the world. There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for these patients and it is up to the medical fraternity to help diagnose it early so they can be offered definitive treatments.
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