Alzheimer’s disease advances at widely different rates. Family history is another risk factor of Alzheimer’s. Several risk factor genes may interact with each other and with non-genetic factors to cause the disease. Cardiovascular Risk Factors The same factors that increase the risk for heart disease and stroke, such as high blood pressure, may also increase the risk for late-onset AD. Most people with mild forgetfulness do not have AD. In the early stage of AD, people may have trouble remembering recent events, activities, or the names of familiar people or things. Oxidative damage refers to cell damage caused by excess free radicals, which are highly reactive chemicals. Free radicals are often formed as a by-product of metabolism, or chemical processes within the cell. Excess free radicals may cause substantial neuronal damage, contributing to AD development. Type 2 Diabetes. A link between AD and type 2 diabetes, the form of diabetes in which insulin levels are high. One theory is that too much insulin in the blood promotes inflammation and oxidative damage in the brain, both of which contribute to AD development.

Symptoms of AD include memory loss, language deterioration, impaired ability to mentally manipulate visual information, poor judgment, confusion, restlessness, and mood swings. Alzheimer’s disease may also include behavioral changes, such as outbursts of violence or excessive passivity in people who have no previous history of such behavior. In the later stages, deterioration of musculature and mobility, leading to bedfastness, inability to feed oneself, and incontinence, will be seen if death from some external cause (e.g. heart attack or pneumonia) does not intervene. Moderate -As the disease progresses to the middle stage, the patient might still be able to perform tasks independently, but may need assistance with more complicated activities. Severe — As the disease progresses from the middle to late stage, the patient will undoubtedly not be able to perform even the simplest of tasks on their own and will need constant supervision. They may even lose the ability to walk or eat without assistance. They might forget to eat and starve.

Treatment Alzheimer’s Disease Tips

1. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-inhibitors reduce the rate at which acetylcholine (ACh) is broken down and hence increase the concentration of ACh in the brain (combatting the loss of ACh caused by the death of the cholinergin neurons).

2. Ginkgo for the treatment of “cognitive impairment and dementia,” a Cochrane Review concludes that “there is promising evidence of improvement in cognition and function associated with Ginkgo According to this review the two randomized controlled studies that focused on Alzheimer’s patients both showed significant improvement in these areas.

3. Tramiprosate (3APS or Alzhemed) is a GAG-mimetic molecule that is believed to act by binding to soluble amyloid beta to prevent the accumulation of the toxic plaques.

4. R-flurbiprofen (MPC-7869) is a gamma secretase modulator sometimes called a selective amyloid beta 42 lowering agent. It is believed to reduce the production of the toxic amyloid beta in favor of shorter forms of the peptide.

5. Leuprolide has also been studied for Alzheimer’s. It is hypothesized to work by reducing leutenizing hormone levels which may be causing damage in the brain as one ages.

6. Antihistamine drug Dimebon has also recently been found to show beneficial effects against Alzheimer’s disease in preliminary trials

7. Vaccines or immunotherapy for Alzheimer’s, unlike typical vaccines, would be used to treat diagnosed patients rather than for disease prevention.

8. Proposed alternative treatments for Alzheimer’s include a range of herbal compounds and dietary supplements.

9. Cognitive and behavioral interventions and rehabilitation strategies may be used as an adjunct to pharmacologic treatment, especially in the early to moderately advanced stages of disease.

10. DNA-based therapy is also Treating Alzheimer’s Disease.

About the Author

Juliet Cohen writes articles for health care clinic and home remedies.

Although the stages of Alzheimer’s are not concrete time periods, knowing generally what to expect over time can be helpful in future care planning for anyone who has a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Here we examine some of the characteristic behaviors observed in the mild, moderate and severe stages of Alzheimer’s disease:

Mild/Early: In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, symptoms such as forgetfulness, a limited attention span and forgetting where things belong are often disregarded as typical signs of aging. Though some of the symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease are similar to those experienced by a healthy person with age, a person with Alzheimer’s disease will exhibit such behaviors with more frequency and severity over time. A person in the mild stage of the disease may become less motivated, resist change and confuse one word with another when speaking. Often, the patient does not realize that he or she is experiencing these changes, and a close family member is the first to notice symptoms. People in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease can usually remain at home, particularly when there is a spouse or other loved one there to help out.

Moderate/Middle: As the disease progresses into the moderate stage, symptoms become more severe, more recurrent and more apparent to other people as well as the patient. The middle stage of Alzheimer’s disease is marked by a decline in memory function, particularly short term memory, though a patient may retain his or her long term memory. Personality changes and an inability to make judgments are also extremely common in this stage. It is in the moderate stage that a person with Alzheimer’s may begin to have difficulty recognizing people they know, or confusing the identity of one person with another. People in this stage of Alzheimer’s do best having a caregiver available full time to help with daily needs and ensure their safety.

Severe/Advanced: Severe Alzheimer’s disease calls for fulltime care from a loved one or a professional caregiver. Patients at this stage have difficulty communicating and frequently do not recognize loved ones. Advanced Alzheimer’s disease causes patients to feel disoriented with their surroundings and exhibit severe mood swings.

Alzheimer’s disease affects every person differently, and all people with Alzheimer’s disease will not experience every described symptom. Though the disease is divided into stages to make understanding its progression easier, there is no set timeline for any one patient’s progression. Today, the progression of the Alzheimer’s symptoms can sometimes be delayed with medications and lifestyle changes.

About the Author

About the Author: John Trevey is the C.E.O. of Uncommon Care, a leading provider of Austin Alzheimer’s care. He is the manager of both The Barton House and the Breckinridge. For more information, please visit http://www.uncommoncare.com.