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Alzheimer Diseases (AD)

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD), is one form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior.

Memory impairment, as well as problems with language, decision-making ability, judgment, and personality are necessary features for the diagnosis.

Ayurveda terms Alzheimer’s disease as Ismriti nasha. It caused by the depletion of dhatus or tissue elements and upward movement of the excessively accumulated Vata or bio energies. In Alzheimer's disease, the vata is severely provoked in the majja dhatu, the tissue layer which includes the central nervous system and all other tissues, which are contained within bone. The vata dries and thus degenerates the brain. In addition, the vata passes from the majja dhatu to the mano vaha srotas, or "mind-carrying channels," causing thought disorders such as paranoia and delusions as well as memory loss and confusion.

Incidence:
 
You are more likely to get Alzheimer's disease (AD) if you:

  1. Are older. However, developing AD is not a part of normal ageing.

  2. Have a close blood relative, such as a brother, sister, or parent with AD.

  3. Have certain genes linked to AD, such as APOE epsilon4 allele

The following may also increase your risk:

  1. Being female

  2. Having high blood pressure for a long time

  3. History of head trauma

Cause :

The cause of AD is not clear. Genes and environmental factors seem to play a role. 
Symptoms Dementia symptoms include difficulty with many areas of mental function, including:

  1. Emotional behavior or personality

  2. Language

  3. Memory

  4. Perception

  5. Thinking and judgment (cognitive skills)

Dementia usually first appears as forgetfulness. Mild cognitive impairment is the stage between normal forgetfulness due to aging. People with MCI (Mild cognitive impairment) have mild problems with thinking and memory that do not interfere with everyday activities. They are often aware of the forgetfulness. Not everyone with MCI develops AD. 






 

 

 

There are two types of AD:

  1. Early onset AD: Symptoms appear before age 60. This type is much less common. However, it tends to get worse quickly. Early onset disease can run in families. Several genes have been identified.

  2. Late onset AD: This is the most common type. It occurs in people age 60 and older. It may run in some families, but the role of genes is less clear.

The early symptoms of AD can include :

  1. Difficulty performing tasks that take some thought, but used to come easily, such as balancing a checkbook, playing complex games (such as bridge), and learning new information or routines

  2. Getting lost on familiar routes

  3. Language problems, such as trouble finding the name of familiar objects

  4. Losing interest in things previously enjoyed, flat mood

  5. Misplacing items

  6. Personality changes and loss of social skills

As the AD becomes worse, symptoms are more obvious and interfere with your ability to take care of yourself. Symptoms can include :

  1. Change in sleep patterns, often waking up at night

  2. Delusions, depression, agitation

  3. Difficulty doing basic tasks, such as preparing meals, choosing proper clothing, and driving

  4. Difficulty reading or writing

  5. Forgetting details about current events

  6. Forgetting events in your own life history, losing awareness of who you are

  7. Hallucinations, arguments, striking out and violent behavior

  8. Poor judgment and loss of ability to recognize danger

  9. Using the wrong word, mispronouncing words, speaking in confusing sentences

  10. Withdrawing from social contact

People with severe AD can no longer :

  1. Understand language

  2. Recognize family members

  3. Perform basic activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, and bathing

Other symptoms that may occur with AD:

  1. Incontinence in physical organs.

  2. Swallowing problems.