Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes memory loss and cognitive decline. The document outlines the symptoms, causes, complications, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The causes involve plaques and tangles of proteins in the brain. Diagnosis involves physical and neurological exams, brain imaging and other tests. Current treatments can temporarily improve symptoms but do not stop the progression. Lifestyle factors like exercise, diet and social interaction may support cognitive function.

1. Alzheimer's disease
& its treatment
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Complication
Prevention
Diagnose
Treatment
Lifestyle & Home remedies

2. Overview
•Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes
the brain to shrink (atrophy) and brain cells to die. In this,
continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that
affects a person's ability to function independently.
•The early signs of the disease include forgetting recent events or
conversations. As the disease progresses, a person with Alzheimer's
disease will develop severe memory impairment and lose the ability
to carry out everyday tasks.
•Approximately 5.8 million people in the United States age 65 and
older live with Alzheimer's disease. Of those, 80% are 75 years old
and older. Out of the approximately 50 million people worldwide
with dementia, between 60% and 70% are estimated to have
Alzheimer's disease.
•Medications may temporarily improve or slow progression of
symptoms.
There is no treatment that cures Alzheimer's disease or alters the
disease process in the brain

3. Sympto
ms
Memory loss is the key symptom of Alzheimer's disease. Early signs
include difficulty remembering recent events or conversations. As
the disease progresses, memory impairments worsen and other
symptoms develop.
Others are:
Memory loss
Difficulty in concentrating and thinking
Affect moods and behaviors
Mood swings
Changes in sleeping habits
Social withdrawal
Delusions
Depression
Irritability and aggressiveness

4. Cause
s
The exact causes of Alzheimer's disease aren't fully understood. But at a basic level,
brain proteins fail to function normally, which disrupts the work of brain cells
(neurons). These abnormal proteins
(Beta-amyloid & Tau)accumulate mostly due to reduced clearance, but in some
cases, due to overproduction, and cause neuronal damage. There is marked
cholinergic deficiency in the brain, though other neurotransmitter systems,
especially glutamate and neuropeptide, are also affected.
Researchers trying to understand the cause of Alzheimer's disease are focused on
the role of two proteins:
Plaques. Beta-amyloid is a fragment of a larger protein. When these fragments
cluster together, they appear to have a toxic effect on neurons and to disrupt cell-to-
cell communication. These clusters form larger deposits called amyloid plaques,
which also include other cellular debris.
Tangles. Tau proteins play a part in a neuron's internal support and transport
system to carry nutrients and other essential materials. In Alzheimer's disease, tau
proteins change shape and organize themselves into structures called neurofibrillary
tangles. The tangles disrupt the transport system and are toxic to cells.

5. Complication
•Restlessness and agitation
•People diagnosed with AD commonly have periods of agitation
and anxiousness.
•Inability to recognize family members
•Inability to understand language
•Inability to perform the basic activities of daily life
•Depression.
•Infections.
•Wandering.
•Malnutrition and dehydration.
•Increased infections within the body
•language problems, such as trouble finding the names of familiar
objects
•Withdrawing from social contact
•Difficulty swallowing both foods and liquids
•Hallucinations, arguments, striking out, and violent behavior
•Getting lost on familiar routes

6. Preventio
n
•Stopping smoking.
•Keeping alcohol to a minimum.
•Eating a healthy, balanced diet, including at least 5 portions
of fruit and vegetables every day.
•Exercising for at least 150 minutes every week by doing
moderate-intensity aerobic activity (such as cycling or fast
walking), or as much as you're able to.
•Making sure your blood pressure is checked and controlled
through regular health tests.

7. Diagnose
A diagnosis depends the following tests:
Physical & Neurological exam
Lab tests
Mental status and neuropsychological testing.
Brain imaging
Imaging of brain structures include the following
Computerized tomography (CT)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET
Amyloid PET imaging
Tau PET imaging
Future diagnostic test
Researchers are working to develop tests that can measure
biological signs of disease processes in the brain.

8. Treatment
The mechanism by which Drugs are believed to act are:
1. Increasing global/regional cerebral blood flow(CBF)
2. Direct support of neuronal metabolism.
3. Enhancement of neurotransmission.
4. Improvement of discrete cerebral functions,e.g. memory.
All cerebroactive drugs are tested for their vasodilator activity.
The basic assumption has been that improvement in cerebral
circulation is possible, real and therapeutically useful. However,
precise measurements have shown that in many cases such
claims are merely expectations. In stroke a global vasodilator
effect may even be harmful by worsening cerebral edema

9. The cerebroactive drugs may be grouped into:
a. Cholinergic activators:
Tacrine, Rivastigmine, Donepezil,
Galantamine
b. Glutamate (NMDA) antagonist:
Memantine
c. Miscellaneous cerebroactive drugs:
Piracetam, Pyritinol (Pyrithioxine), Dihydroergotoxine
(Codergocrine), Citicoline,
Piribedil, Ginkgo
Alternative Medicine -
Vitamin E
Omega-3 fatty acids.
Curcumin.
Melatonin.
Ginkgo.

10. Lifestyle and home
remedies
Healthy lifestyle and home remedies can perform a highly satisfactory
result in maintaining the cognitive function & these are:
Physical Exercise: Regular exercise is an important part for
treatment of AD. Daily walk is beneficial as people suffer from AD
usually get trouble in walking.
It generally improve mood and behavior and promote muscle strength.
And it is good to maintain the sleep cycle because people those suffer
from AD taking medicine, so it can affect their sleep.
Exercise can maintain your whole body during illness.
Healthy food & Drinks: Due to the suffering from Alzheimer's
Disease People usually forget to eat something & because of illness the
feel laziness while preparing meals. They also forget to drink water this
generally leady to illness, weakness and dehydration.
•Go for healthy option that are easy to prepare and eat.
•Drink plenty of water and keep hydrated.
•Have Milk Shake , smoothies & Protein Diet.

11. Social interactions: Social engagement with people and
these kind of activities may be helpful for enhancing their will
power and improving their mood as well.
It is important for the betterment of person with Alzheimer
Disease. These activities are:
Strolling with others.
Dancing
Listening to music
Reading books
Events
Gardening
Travelling for short trips
Playing
Doing such kind of activities for the person with AD are highly
supportive and meaningful .