The Brain Connection and Alzheimer’s disease

My experience with a close member of my family diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer’s disease propelled me make a research of sorts about the disease. The lady is in the right side of seventies who had been a very talented and well-informed person throughout her life has of late become dependant on her husband just three years her senior. She was just an independent lady who did not depend on her husband for carrying on her daily routine.

The disease though not a crippling one, causes a lot of emotional disturbances for the close family.  Seeing a totally changed person from what she had originally been, from a great organiser to one who is totally dependant makes the family really desperate. Support from close members is a blessing. The person affected has mild cognitive impairment. She fails to remember recent conversations or situations. The affected person starts misplacing things such as spectacles or toothbrush. The individual also suffers from sudden mood swings and at times is in a depressed mood. Even a great cook can forget some favourite recipes due the problem. Personal hygiene is not a great importance to the afflicted individual, she no longer involves in grooming herself. She needs to be reminded of her daily routine. She seems to withdraw herself from society in which she is so much involved just a couple of years ago. But researchers are trying to show light on ways of cure for the disease.

 There are more ways of preventing the disease than finding a cure.   Being a regular at exercise, keeping weight in check, being able to keep one’s blood pressure and cholesterol under control are basic things to be followed.  Eating the right type of food is of immense importance. This is an unwritten rule for averting any major damage to a healthy life. Alzheimer’s usually affects one among ten people who has crossed 65 years and half of the population that has crossed 85 years. It is necessary to keep the brain active throughout one’s life. Age does not matter. Learning a new language, reading a novel or any book, emailing, searching for information on Google, playing a crossword puzzle or playing  Sudoku really exercises the brain. People involved in any such activity can vouch for a life unaffected by such diseases. Having an elder member in the family afflicted with such disease should be an alarm signalling the onset of similar afflictions later in life.

Alzheimer’s is caused by the accumulation of a toxic protein amyloid in the brain. Brain scans can vividly show the accumulation of proteins in the brain. All it needs is the help of a doctor to provide medication to improve the memory of the patient and also the sympathetic care of family members.