Do you also often forget things? Let's learn exactly about Alzheimer's Disease

Do you sometimes forget things? Do you suddenly forget how to make a familiar recipe? Or do you forget to pay your monthly bills? Do you change lanes while driving on a familiar road? If these things happen to you or a loved one, it could be an early sign of Alzheimer 's disease. But don't worry. Not all forgetfulness is Alzheimer's. Let's talk about this in detail.

Is this really Alzheimer's disease? Or is it just normal forgetfulness?

The first thing to understand is that Alzheimer's disease is not just a normal part of aging . It's a disease that affects the brain. Sometimes forgetting where you parked your car or suddenly not remembering a friend's name is normal. But in Alzheimer's disease, this forgetfulness is much more serious.

Imagine, when you are talking to someone you talk to every day, you repeat the same thing over and over again. Or you forget a very simple word and use the wrong word instead. You suddenly have trouble remembering what time it is or where you are. These are common symptoms of early Alzheimer's disease.

But remember, these symptoms can also be caused by other diseases. For example:

• Depression
• Vitamin deficiencies (especially vitamin B12 )
• Thyroid problems
• Some of the medications you take are incompatible with each other.
• Sleep apnea

Why do you need to see a doctor soon?

It's hard to know you have this condition, but there's a big advantage to early detection.

1. It gives you time to plan for the future: Knowing about the disease in advance allows you to discuss and plan with family members about future care, legal matters, and financial matters.

2. Treatment can begin early: While Alzheimer's disease cannot be completely cured, there are medications that can help control symptoms. These may be more effective when started early in the disease.

3. You can join support groups: This is a good opportunity to share experiences and gain comfort from others who are facing the same situation as you.

4. You can participate in clinical trials: You may also have the opportunity to participate in research that tests new treatments.

To do all of this, you first need to correctly diagnose the disease. That's why you need the help of a doctor.

How does the doctor diagnose this disease?

There is no single test that can tell you if you have Alzheimer's disease. That's why your doctor will use several methods to make an accurate diagnosis. The main goal is to see if you have beta-amyloid plaques, a protein deposit that is specific to Alzheimer's disease. Your diagnosis may include one or more of these tests.

• Asking about your medical history
• Mental status check
• Physical exams
• Neurological exams
• Blood tests
• Examination of the brain and spinal fluid (Cerebrospinal fluid - CSF)
• Brain imaging

Things to ask about your medical history

The doctor will ask you and a member of your family the following questions:

• What are the symptoms? (e.g., forgetfulness, slurred speech)
• When did these start?
• How does this affect daily work?
• Does anyone in the family have any of these diseases?
• What medications are you currently taking?
• What other illnesses do you have?
• How is your mental state? (To learn about conditions like depression)

It is very important to answer these questions as accurately and honestly as possible.

What is checked during a physical exam?

Here, the doctor will check your overall health.

• Checking blood pressure, temperature, and pulse
• Listening to the heart and lungs
• Taking blood or urine samples to check for other medical conditions

These tests can rule out other conditions (e.g., vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems) that cause symptoms similar to Alzheimer's.

Neurological Exam

This test looks at the function of your brain and nervous system. It can help determine if your memory is affected by other conditions, such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, or a brain tumor, other than Alzheimer's. It checks your:

• Reflexes
• Body balance and coordination
• Muscle strength and tone
• Speech
• Eye movements

Cognitive and Behavioral Tests

These are a very important part of the diagnosis. These tests measure different abilities of your brain.

• Memory
• Problem-solving skills
• Attention span
• Counting skills
• Planning skills

Your doctor may ask you to memorize a list of words, do simple calculations, or follow a series of instructions. This may involve using standard questionnaires such as the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) or the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Brain Imaging

These scans help to look inside the brain. They are mainly used to check for other causes other than Alzheimer's (such as a brain tumor or signs of a stroke). However, some scans can also show changes that are related to Alzheimer's disease.

Other specialized tests and home tests

Nowadays, a blood test can be used to check the level of amyloid protein to get an idea of ​​Alzheimer's disease. Also, a lumbar puncture , which is a test that takes water from the spine , can check the level of amyloid and tau proteins in the fluid surrounding the brain (cerebrospinal fluid - CSF). These can help detect the disease at a very early stage.

Are home tests really effective?

There are various online tests that claim to "check for Alzheimer's from home." An example is the SAGE (Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam). It asks you to do simple things like write the names of 12 animals and draw a clock face.

But there's a big caveat here. These tests aren't 100% accurate. Sometimes they can give false results, saying "no" to someone who has the disease and "yes" to someone who doesn't.