Alzheimer’s disease is the number one cause of dementia. In 2019, Thailand had approximately 670,000 dementia patients. And it is expected to increase to 2,390,000 by 2050. Dementia not only makes patients unable to help themselves in their daily lives. But also causes caregivers to devote a lot of time, energy, encouragement, and money to help their loved ones live happily in their later years. Because there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
What causes Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is caused. By the accumulation of two types of bad proteins call ‘amyloid’ and ‘Tow’ in the brain tissue of patients. When these two types of proteins accumulate more and more. Brain cells die, causing the volume of brain tissue to decrease. ยูฟ่าเบท When a certain level of brain cells die. Brain function will slowly decline until it eventually enters a state of dementia.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
There are many symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, such as memory loss, which is often a leading symptom before other symptoms appear. Relatives or close friends may notice that the patient forgets words, forgets events that have happened in the past 2-3 days. May ask the same questions repeatedly or tell old stories repeatedly. Later symptoms include reduced attention, reduced ability to make decisions or solve problems in daily life, reduced speech, less understanding of language, loss of direction. Reduced ability to socialize. Some patients may have mood or behavior changes. Such as being more irritated, depressed, bored, lethargic, or delusional, such as thinking that someone else has stolen their things.
How to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease
There are five main types of Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis:
- Interview or take a detailed history of the patient and relatives, emphasizing any changes that have occurred in the patient.
- Neurological physical examination
- Check by taking a brain ability test.
- Blood test to find the cause of dementia
- Brain imaging, which is currently recommended. With an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), is an examination using magnetic waves.
All 5 of these examination methods must be done together. By a neurologist, psychiatrist, or medical doctor. Who specializes in treating Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. When all 5 examinations are completed, the doctor will summarize the examination results for the patient. And relatives to know the accurate diagnosis.
Alzheimer’s disease treatment
Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease consists of medication. And non-drug use, which should be done together. Medications focus on adjusting neurotransmitters and chemicals in the brain, which mainly treat symptoms, causing the patient’s brain ability to deteriorate more slowly and dependence on others to decrease. Non-drug treatments include brain training, group activities, computer programs for brain training, psychotherapy, playing games, doing handicrafts, art therapy, music therapy, and writing daily life records. These activities will help support the patient’s brain ability to deteriorate more slowly.