Alzheimer's disease — a progressive form of senile dementia characterized by a gradual loss of cognitive abilities. The disease usually affects people older than 65 years. The causes of Alzheimer's disease are still not fully understood. Heredity, viruses, injuries, specific reactions of immunity, exposure to toxic substances — factors that, according to scientists, can cause the development of pathology. Paradoxically, this disease is most common in developed countries with a high standard of living. Alzheimer's disease is rare in African and Asian countries.
Irreversible processes occur in the brain of a patient with Alzheimer's disease, which lead to the death of nerve cells and shrinkage (atrophy) of the tissues of the cerebral cortex.
The main symptom of the disease — forgetfulness. The patient confuses the names of objects and names. Noticeable difficulties in planning and organizing one's own time. Gradually, the patient loses interest in once favorite activities. Speech suffers: the patient picks up words for a long time, using the same intonation, but different in meaning. Coordination of movements is disturbed. The ability to read and write is still preserved. All this is characteristic of the first stage of the disease.
Symptoms and signs of advanced Alzheimer's disease. The patient needs constant care and assistance. Contact in many cases is unproductive — the patient loses the ability to meaningful speech and can only utter individual words or phrases. It is difficult for the patient to walk and sit, muscle stiffness increases. In some cases, weakening of swallowing and chewing reflexes is possible.
At the last stage of Alzheimer's, intercurrent diseases (hypostatic pneumonia, infected bedsores, intestinal paresis) occur, which greatly complicate the course of the main pathology.
There are currently no drugs that guarantee full recovery. Treatment begins with the correction of somatic disorders and metabolic pathology. Restoration of blood supply to brain cells, purification of blood plasma from toxic products, improvement of the general condition significantly reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and mostly stop the progression of the pathological process. Symptomatic treatment is aimed at eliminating such manifestations and conditions as depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, depression, cognitive disorders.
At the initial stage, recommended drugs — cholinesterase inhibitors, which will reduce the clinical symptoms of nervous system disorders. At the stage of moderate changes, psychotherapeutic methods of treatment, namely: presence simulation, art room, memory therapy, etc., will be a good addition. We remind you that the care and attention of relatives is extremely important for the patient. Our specialist will provide valuable recommendations to the patient's relatives at a personal appointment. In addition, the doctor will tell you how to support the patient's physical activity.
There is no unequivocal answer: everything depends on the stage of the disease, the general condition of the patient and his care. Timely treatment aimed at improving microcirculation and activation of metabolic processes in the brain will help slow down the development of the disease and increase the patient's life expectancy.
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