Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that cannot be stopped or reversed. This disease greatly affects thinking, memory, learning, and organizing skills and eventually affects people’s ability to carry out simple daily activities. Also, this disease’s symptoms worsen over time. In fact, scientists believe the disease process may go on for 10 years or longer before the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear.
In the human brain alone, there are 100 billion nerve cells and other cells. The nerve cells work together to fulfill all the communications needed to perform such functions as thinking, learning, remembering, and planning.
A few of Alzheimer’s disease prevalent symptoms are Memory loss, inability to sleep, difficulty learning and remembering new information or recent events, and difficulty reading, writing, and working with numbers. As Alzheimer’s disease affects each area of the brain, certain functions or abilities are lost. Once an ability is lost, it can be rarely be relearned. Although the disease may result in some saddening changes, it does not affect the person’s ability to appreciate, respond to, and experience joy, anger, fear, love, or sadness.
There are two forms of Alzheimer’s Disease, namely: Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease and Familial Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer’s disease. The former is the more common form of the disease and accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all the cases. The role of hereditary in this form is unclear and is the subject of much research, while the latter is a less common form of the disease and accounts for 5 to 10 percent of known cases. In certain families, this form is passed directly from one generation to another.
Few of the factors for the development of the disease are Age, Genetics, High Blood pressure, High Cholesterol, Diabetes, Smoking, and Obesity. Researchers believe the presence of the last five risk factors mentioned above might reduce the clearance of amyloid protein from the brain, which then increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Having said this, the presence of a number of these risk factors while a person is in his/her 50s or above can be associated with a high risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
It is a common knowledge that Alzheimer’s robs people of their ability to remember, but other truths about the disease remain unknown. When memory started to decline, how hard it is to talk about someone’s experience battling this disease? Some of Alzheimer’s memories have turned into memorable stories of hope and resilience. Such stories as Jack Weaver’s book about Alzheimer’s disease resonates, a source of reflection and inspiration that amid the hardship, there would always be a light at the end of the tunnel.
There are ways to reduce the risk of MENTAL DECLINE. One must consider that HEALTHY LIFESTYLE plays a significant factor in combating the risk of Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases. Furthermore, here are a few things you must consider doing for the rest of your life to prevent such harmful disease :
STAY SOCIALLY ACTIVE. Find a time to reconnect with the people who are dear to your life. May it be your friends or family members. Join some group activities such as work services, exercise classes, choir, book clubs, and other social activities where you can find time to talk and share what you are thinking; it is also healthy for your mental health as well.
STAY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE. It is believed that exercising or doing outdoor activities increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which may directly affect the brain cell health. Remember that when doing something outdoor or exercising in a gym, you should wear the necessary gear for your protection and less harm that you can get from these activities, especially when it is extreme and wild.
STAY MENTALLY ACTIVE. One should encourage one’s self to read. It is very crucial since reading exercises our mind, especially our thoughts. Reading can also be a type of mental activity that is beneficial to a thinking mind in every role it plays. There are some other mental activities aside from reading that you can do to stay mentally active. Activities such as board games, crossword puzzles, playing musical instruments, or other activities that require your brain’s power.
Follow the DASH Diet or any HEALTHY Diet that includes antioxidants. Consume alcoholic beverages in moderation— no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two per day for men.
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