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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : June 10, 2014 4:47 PM IST
A new study has revealed that depression builds up beta-amyloid plaque in the brain that could cause Alzheimer's in aged people. Many people develop depression in the latest stages of life, but until now doctors had no idea that it could point to a build up of a naturally occurring protein in the brain called beta-amyloid, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. (Read: What every dementia or Alzheimer's caregiver ought to know)
Alzheimer's disease is a currently incurable neurodegenerative disease with marked protein aggregates including beta-amyloid and tau. The disease begins developing years before noticeable cognitive decline and memory loss. On the other hand, depression has been proven to have its own neurodegenerative effects on the brain, but the researchers have found an undeniable connection between beta-amyloid in depressed elderly patients with cognitive deficits and advancement to Alzheimer's disease. (Read: 7 reasons for forgetfulness you might not now about)
Axel Rominger, MD said that the results clearly indicate that mild cognitively impaired subjects with depressive symptoms suffer from elevated amyloid-levels when compared with non-depressed individuals. Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent form of dementia. It is estimated that 44.4 million people are living with dementia worldwide and this number is expected to increase to approximately 75.6 million in 2030. (Read: 'Depression is as common as the common cold nowadays')
What are conditions that ail elderly?
here are 10 diseases that commonly ail the elderly:
Alzheimer's: This is a condition that is characterised by the loss of memory. According to Dr Arjun Srivatsa, leading neurologist, '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.' Commonly seen in the elderly, this condition is largely misdiagnosed since loss of memory is commonly thought to be due to old age. Dr Srivatsa says, '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 recognising family and friends.' (Read: What every dementia or Alzheimer's caregiver ought to know)
Advancements in its treatment: Currently, doctors have identified that the earlier the condition is identified, the better the prognosis of the patient is. Current treatment of the condition is based on treating the symptoms of Alzheimer's but they do not eradicate the cause of the condition. Newer drug therapies that will target the affected area and will be administered as a cocktail of medications, much like therapy for HIV, are being researched. Since they are only in the animal testing phase and have not been tested on humans, these drugs are still shrouded by speculation.
Parkinson's: According to Dr Vijay Chandran, renowned neurologist, 'Parkinson's disease is an illness, which affects the brain, in which certain nerve cells which play an important role in motor functions of the body are lost or die. The loss of nerve cells takes place slowly, and gradually spreads to several areas of the brain, as a result, new symptoms gradually develop over time and the initial symptoms become more difficult to control.' This condition is commonly seen in the elderly due to the fact that as we age, our body tends to degrade as well. Classified by the presence of tremors, the hallmark of this disease is the presence of tremors even while the patient is still. Dr Chandran says, 'Patients with Parkinson's disease may also have difficulty maintaining balance, walking and tend to fall even when they are slightly off-balance, however, this usually occurs much later in the disease. Other common symptoms include a change in the quality of voice, stooped posture and change in handwriting. (Read: 10 conditions that ail the elderly)
With inputs from ANI
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