Risk Factors
Plenty of research has been conducted on the reasons that culminate into the onset of the Alzheimer's disease. The common risk factors emerging from these studies show advancing age, lesser education, and the apolipo protein E epsilon4 allele as significant factors leading to the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Similarly the same studies reveal that wine and coffee consumption, use of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and regular physical activity can lead to reduced chances of Alzheimer's disease. Some of the other predominant factors thought of as risks leading to Alzheimer's disease are;
- Age - Alzheimer's usually affects people older than 65, but may, affect those younger than 40. Less than 5 percent of people between 65 and 74 have Alzheimer's. For people 85 and older, the number increases nearly 50 percent.
- Heredity -The risk of developing Alzheimer's appears to be slightly higher if a first-degree relative - parent, sister or brother - has the disease. Although the genetic mechanisms of Alzheimer's among families remain largely unexplained, researchers have identified a few genetic mutations that greatly increase risk in some families.
- Sex - Women are more likely than men to develop the disease, in part because they live longer.
- Lifestyle- The same factors putting you at risk of heart disease, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, may also increase the likelihood that you'll develop Alzheimer's disease. Poorly controlled diabetes is another risk factor.
- Education levels - Studies have found an association between less education and the risk of Alzheimer's. Some researchers theorize that the more you use your brain, the more synapses you create, which provides a greater reserve as you age.
- Head injury - The observation that some ex-boxers eventually develop dementia suggests that serious traumatic injury to the head (for example, a concussion with a prolonged loss of consciousness) may be a risk factor for Alzheimer's. Several studies indicate a definite link between the two, but others show no link.
Conventional Treatments of Alzheimer's disease
To date there is no confirmed or total cure for the Alzheimer's disease. However detailed planning and medical as well as social management on the part of the caregivers might help ease the burden of the patients. It has also been seen that good nutrition, mental activities, regular exercise, and greater social interaction as opposed to social isolation are important in bettering the situation.
Below are numerous medications, which are intended to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's, by helping to slow memory loss, control behavior problems, or improve sleep. It is important to work with physicians who have considerable knowledge and experience in using these medications.
Antioxidants
In a process called oxidant stress, cells produce free radicals, highly reactive molecules that can overwhelm and damage normal cells. Vitamin E and other antioxidants have been studied in patients who have Alzheimer's disease. The use of Vitamin E is controversial. A physician will determine if Vitamin E is appropriate.
Cholinesterase Inhibitors
In the brains of people with Alzheimer's, there is a dramatic drop in the level of the chemical acetylcholine, which transmits messages in the brain. This chemical is important for attention and memory. The enzyme acetylcholinesterase rapidly breaks down acetylcholine. The enzyme can be blocked with cholinesterase inhibitors, which may help improve cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms and might affect the long-term course of the disease.
Memantine
Glutamate is a chemical in the brain that acts on receptors known as NMDA receptors. There is evidence that overstimulation of these receptors may be bad for brain cells. The medication memantine, which blocks NMDA receptors, has recently been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.
Antipsychotics or Neuroleptics
These drugs can help control behaviors caused by Alzheimer's, such as agitation, anger, hallucinations and delusions (seeing and hearing nonexistent things), and insomnia (inability to sleep). Many of these drugs have significant side effects.
Antidepressants and Anxiolytics
Some medications help treat depression and anxiety in patients with Alzheimer's. Because some drugs may increase anxiety or agitation, patients should be closely monitored. The drugs may also cause insomnia, tremors, nausea and other side effects.
Sleeping Medications
As Alzheimer's progresses, a common behavior is to become increasingly agitated, confused and restless toward the end of the day, which is often called "sundowning." Patients with Alzheimer's disease may also wake or even wander at night. If the problem can't be managed through adjusting living environments, patients may benefit from sleep medications.
Drugs used for treatment of Alzheimer's disease
In the early and middle stages of this disease, certain drugs that are FDA approved are prescribed in an attempt to slow down the process or even give relief from mood swings or anxiety, depression and sleeplessness. However mild the effects of these drugs, they can sometimes temporarily lessen the onslaught of the disease.
- donepezil (Aricept®)
- rivastigmine (Exelon®)
- galantamine (Razadyne®, formerly known as Reminyl®)
- tacrine (Cognex®)
- memantine (Namenda®)
Patients Medical Alzheimer's Disease Treatment
At patients medical, it is our endeavor to treat Alzheimer's disease through traditional and holistic Medicine. Please keep in mind there is a lack of any effective medical treatment of the disease as well as the fact that the supplements used by us for treatment are without chemical side effects.
Our treatment is based on the works of Dr. Perlmutter who has remarkable experience in treating neurodegenerative diseases with the use of Glutathione in treating symptoms of diseases such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, stroke, ALS, irritable bowel, chronic fatigue and Multiple Sclerosis.
You might even try reading David Perlmutter's books, which are sure to help you in this regard. His books, The Better Brain Book, LifeGuide and Volume 1 - Your Guide to a Longer and Healtheir Life, his website Brainrecovery.com are able guides for Alzheimer's disease.
Supplements used by Patients Medical for Alzheimer's Disease
The supplement used at Patients Medical for treating the Alzheimer's disease is Ceriva. This supplement is a well researched product that contains "HUP-A", which is a natural plant based isomer, which has proved in our practice to be effective in improving memory and providing support for those patients who suffer from different kinds of memory loss problems.
Definitions of Various Terms
- Neurodegenerative- A varied assortment of central nervous system disorders characterised by gradual and progressive loss of neural tissue
- Cognitive- psychology of, pertaining, to or characterized by cognition.
- Dimentia- An organic mental disorder characterized by a retardation of intellectual abilities that involve memory, judgment impairment of memory, as and is followed by behavioral changes.
- Down syndrome- It is a congenital disorder in which a person is born with three copies of chromosome 21. Symptoms include, severe mental retardation, slanting eyes, short fingers a broad short skull, and broad hands.
- Chromosomes- Self-replicating genetic structures of cells that contain the cellular DNA that bears in its proteins.
- Folate- A molecule that acts as a carrier of one carbon units in intermediary metabolism.
- Acetylcholine- A chemical that is found in vertebrate neurons which carries information across the synaptic cleft, the space between two nerve cells.
- Estrogen- A generic term for 'oestrus', it produces steroid compounds, the female sex hormones.
Next Steps:
While you may find this medical information useful, as the next step we strongly recommend that you make an appointment to see one of our physicians to ensure that your health issues are properly addressed.
To schedule an appointment with our physicians, please call our patient coordinator at 1-212-679-9667, send the form below or an email to: info@patientsmedical.com. We are currently accepting new patients and look forward to being of assistance.
We are located at: Patients Medical PC, 800 Second Avenue, Suite 900 (Between 42nd & 43rd Street), Manhattan, NYC, New York, NY 10017.
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Article Last Updated: 06/26/2009