In the article, we will consider what the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease consists of.
Pathology is a neurodegenerative disease and one of the common types of dementia, that is, senile dementia. Most often, the pathology develops after 50 years, although there are cases of diagnosis in an earlier age period. This disease is currently diagnosed in 46 million people worldwide and is projected to increase in the next 30 years. The reasons for the development have not yet been precisely established, just as an effective drug for the treatment of deviation has not yet been created. Symptomatic treatment can mitigate the manifestations, although it is still impossible to stop the progress of this incurable disease.
Below is material on the causes and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
What are the causes of the disease?
With a high degree of certainty, scientists argue that the main reason for the deviation lies in the deposition of amyloid in the brain tissues, which causes disturbances in the neural connection with the death of cells, leading to degeneration.
Amyloid deposits are formed in two versions. An amyloid plaque, which first forms in the hippocampal tissue and then spreads to the entire brain, prevents the organ from performing its functions. Amyloid provokes an increase in the concentration of calcium in the brain. The second type of deposits include neurofibrillary tangles. They consist of an insoluble protein, which also disrupts the normal functions of the brain.
The reasons for the appearance of deposits that lead to the development of the disease are not exactly established. Neurodegenerative pathologies of the brain have been known since ancient times. At the moment, there are a number of hypotheses and assumptions about the mechanism of occurrence of disorders in the brain that are characteristic of this disease. Today, principles of supportive treatment of such patients have been developed.
Overview of Alzheimer's Diagnostics
Early diagnostic procedures help compensate for an existing disorder and slow down the appearance of a neurodegenerative process. In the case of the detection of characteristic neurological signs, a specialist consultation is required in order to identify the cause of their occurrence and correct the pathological condition. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's is crucial.
The problems of detecting an ailment in the early stages
The main reason why the diagnosis of the disease in question is not carried out by doctors at an early stage is a careless attitude to the onset of primary symptoms, as well as a decrease in the patient's ability to adequately assess his condition, which manifests itself at the beginning of the disease.
Forgetfulness along with distraction, motor awkwardness, decreased performance, which is not compensated by rest, should immediately serve as a reason for passing a full examination by specialists. Despite the fact that, as a rule, the average age of onset of Alzheimer's disease is from 50 to 65, the early form usually begins at the age of 40. But medicine even knows cases of the onset of this pathology at the age of 28 years.
If the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in the early stages is carried out, there will be a better chance of success of treatment.
Differential diagnosis
How is differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia carried out? As part of the collection of anamnesis and analysis of patient complaints, specialists differentiate them in accordance with the general clinical picture of the disease. In this case, attention is drawn to the following symptoms:
- progressive failure in memory functions (ranging from short-term to long-term);
- the emergence of apathy and loss of interest;
- decreased performance, loss of activity along with mood swings.
Often, these symptoms reveal additional symptoms of depression, which is caused by an awareness of a decrease in brain functions, and at the same time dissatisfaction with abilities, the attitude of others and their condition.
Tests
Differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is often difficult. This disease, which in its external manifestations may resemble a temporary condition caused by a transient disorder, or some other pathologies. In order to initially confirm the diagnosis, the doctor cannot be based solely on the result of collecting information from the patient and his relatives, therefore, tests are used to clarify Alzheimer's disease with questionnaires from various sources for clarification.
During testing, patients are asked to memorize, and then repeat a few words, reading and retelling an unfamiliar text, making simple mathematical calculations. As part of the testing, patients are asked to reproduce patterns, try to find a common sign, navigate in a temporal, spatial indicator and so on.
Any actions can be easily performed provided that the neurological functions of the brain are preserved, but they cause some difficulties in the presence of a pathological process in the brain tissue. These questionnaires are recommended for interpretation by specialists, however, they can be used independently at home. Some tests with an accurate interpretation of the result are available online.
What else is used in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
Neuroimaging methods as part of differential diagnosis
The clinical picture along with neurological symptoms in different neural diseases can be similar. Alzheimer's pathology requires differentiation from vascular disorders of the brain, the development of cystic inclusion, neoplasms, the consequences of a stroke, and so on. For accurate diagnosis, resort to instrumental examination techniques, in this case we are talking about MRI and CT.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technique
MRI in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is the preferred study option. This method of neural imaging allows you to identify characteristic signs of deviation, such as:
- decrease in the volume of brain matter;
- the presence of inclusions;
- the appearance of metabolic disorders in the brain tissue;
- the occurrence of ventricular expansion of the brain.
MRI is performed at least twice with an interval of one month in order to assess the presence and dynamics of degenerative processes.
Computed tomography as part of the diagnosis
This method is another neural imaging technique used to establish a diagnosis. However, low, in comparison with MRI, the sensitivity of the device makes it possible to recommend this research method for diagnosing the state of tissues at a late stage of the disease, when brain damage is quite significant.
We continue to review the methods for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease.
Additional diagnostic techniques
Positron emission tomography is the most modern diagnostic option that allows you to determine this disease even at an early stage. This technique has its limitations for patients suffering from an excessive concentration of sugar in the blood, because in order to accurately determine the presence of disorders within the intracellular exchange of brain tissue, a patient is administered a pharmacological preparation before the examination.
There are no other contraindications to this study. As part of an additional diagnosis for suspected Alzheimer's disease, EEG can be performed along with laboratory tests of blood, plasma, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid and so on to differentiate from other ailments and assess the condition of patients.
Diagnosis of Dementia in Alzheimer's
Tau protein is an intracellular neural substance that is produced against the background of degenerative pathologies of the central nervous system. It is found in cerebrospinal cerebrospinal fluid in elevated concentrations. This fact is used in the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
The presence of plaques in the brain that contain amyloid beta must be confirmed by histopathological examination. In the formation of such elements from the cerebrospinal fluid, an excessive amount of amyloid beta is consumed. That is why in patients with dementia its concentration in cerebrospinal cerebrospinal fluid is reduced.
Treatment
Unfortunately, this pathology is incurable, therefore its therapy is aimed at combating the symptoms and manifestations of pathological processes and, if possible, slowing them down.
In accordance with the studies performed, categories of drugs were identified that reduce the activity of the formation of deposits that destroy brain cells. In addition, drugs have been identified that help improve patients' quality of life. These include:
- medicines of the anticholinesterase group in the form of "Rivastimin", "Galantamine", "Donezipine" in various forms of release;
- "Akatinol" and analogues that counteract the effects of glutamate on brain cells;
- symptomatic drugs in the form of amino acids, medicines that improve blood circulation and reduce psycho-emotional increased stress, along with the manifestation of a mental disorder in the late stage of dementia and so on.
Recommendations
Alzheimer's disease is a disease in which the human brain loses its functions due to cell death and failure of neural connections. However, the fact was proved that the brain in humans is sufficiently plastic, its elements and departments can partially replace the affected areas, while performing additional functions.
In order to provide the brain with an opportunity for such independent compensation, the number of neural connections must be high, which is observed in people who are fond of mental activities, intellectual hobbies and having a variety of interests. Studies prove that this disease is directly related to the IQ level: the more intelligence (and this indicates the number of stable neural connections in the brain), the less chance there is of a disease.
The relationship between learning a foreign language and developing dementia is known: the more knowledge you have, the lower the risk of getting sick. Even at the initial stage of the disease, you can slow down the development of symptoms if you actively train your memory by reading and retelling information, solving crosswords. Alzheimer's disease is a disease that destroys the neural connection, and its effect can always be countered by the formation and creation of new ones.
The recommendations also include a healthy lifestyle along with physical activity, a balanced diet, and giving up alcohol. It is still unknown what mechanisms provoke Alzheimer's disease, but there is evidence that head injuries can also cause the onset of pathology. Injury prevention is also a protection against Alzheimer's disease - an ailment that violates the quality of life not only of the patients themselves, but also of their relatives or relatives.
We learn the opinion of Arkady Eisler about Alzheimer's disease, diagnosis, treatment and care.
Opinion of Arkady Eisler
The author of the book "Alzheimer's Disease: Diagnosis, Treatment, Care" Arkady Eisler is our compatriot and candidate of technical sciences, and in addition, a writer. For 22 years, he has been collecting exhaustive materials about Alzheimer's disease and the possibilities of its treatment and prevention. The materials and recommendations he systematized for native patients were approved by the Scientific Methodological Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
In the book published by the author, one can find a classification along with the diagnostic criteria of this pathology, its first signs and phases. Also, control strategies are given, medications are indicated to prevent the ailment. In many ways, the work of Arkady Eisler is emotional support and a source of complete information about one of the most tragic ailments of modern times.
Thus, Alzheimer's disease is by far the most common cause of dementia, which develops in old age and old age. In order to maximally protect yourself and your loved ones from its development, you should accustom yourself to the fascination with intellectual work. It is useful to regularly train your memory and solve mental problems. A healthy lifestyle should also not be neglected.
We examined what is the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.