Alzheimer's Disease in questions and answers

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia (dementia), but there are many misconceptions about this disease in society.

In the interview below, Dr. Kristina Zdanys, a geriatrician from the University of Connecticut specializing in age–related mental health problems, including behavioral and cognitive disorders, puts the dots on the "I", answering questions from a UConn Today blog correspondent about the most modern approaches to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, as well as about the problems associated with patient care.

Question: Since November is Alzheimer's awareness month, what is the most serious misconception about Alzheimer's disease or dementia in general that you would like to tell people about?

Answer: People often believe that Alzheimer's disease is a component of "normal aging". This is not true. Many people forget where they left their glasses, and often this is not a cause for concern. Periodic searches for glasses are not a manifestation of Alzheimer's disease! If a person has Alzheimer's disease, his forgetfulness is aggravated so much that it affects the ability to perform everyday tasks (such as paying bills, taking medications and cooking). This does not apply to normal aging. Part of this misconception can be explained as follows: if so many elderly people suffer from Alzheimer's disease of varying severity (more than 40% aged 85 and older), it can be regarded as part of the aging process. In fact, people should discuss with their doctor any memory disorders in the same way as they discuss coughing or pain manifestations in any part of the body.

Q: What is the difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia? Apparently, many people confuse these concepts.

Answer: Dementia is a general term referring to a number of diseases in which people develop memory disorders that worsen over time and affect their ability to lead a daily life. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, so the two terms are often used interchangeably. Other types of dementia include: dementia with Lewy bodies, vascular dementia and frontotemporal dementia. Each of these diseases is accompanied by memory disorders, but the accompanying symptoms are different. In this case, we can draw a parallel with cancer – cancer is diagnosed in many people, but not all of them have the same tumors.

Question: Is Alzheimer's disease or dementia diagnosed at an earlier age? If so, what is the reason?

Answer: Age is the main risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease. After the age of 65, the risk value doubles every year, as a result of which, after the age of 85, this disease occurs to some extent in more than 40% of people. At the same time, in 6-7% of cases, Alzheimer's disease develops in people under 65 years of age. These cases are classified as "early onset" Alzheimer's disease and are often family-related. I would not say that Alzheimer's disease is getting younger, but I am sure that doctors pay more attention to this issue and screen patients for any signs of memory disorders, which helps to detect this disease at earlier stages.

Question: Recently there have been many statements from respected well-known doctors, according to which certain dietary changes can prevent or even cure Alzheimer's disease. To what extent do such statements correspond to reality?

Answer: To clarify this situation, there is currently no approach to prevent or cure Alzheimer's disease. However, we like to claim that "heart health is brain health." Following a balanced diet, regular physical activity and maintaining social ties are good for overall health. In particular, a healthy diet and exercise can reduce the risk of stroke, which often exacerbates the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Question: Can crossword puzzles and other educational activities prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease?

Answer: Puzzles and educational games do not prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, but they definitely can not do harm. It is very important to "train" different regions of the brain, just as a person works on different muscles in the gym. If you like puzzles, solve them. If you are not interested in them, you can occupy your brain with other things: reading, attending lectures, listening to music or visiting museums.

Question: The results of a study have been published, according to which herpetic rashes on the lips may be associated with Alzheimer's disease. Is it true?

Answer: Herpes rashes on the lips are caused by the herpes simplex virus type I. A recent study has revealed an association between infection with this virus and the development of Alzheimer's disease. However, this is not a cause for alarm. An association between two things does not necessarily mean the existence of a causal relationship. There are many other unknown factors that can contribute to this correlation. In this case, the vast majority of adults are infected with the herpes virus type I. At the same time, most adults do not develop Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a complex disease, and researchers have yet to identify the specific cause of its development. It is most likely that Alzheimer's disease is the result of a combination of many genetic and environmental factors, and the identification of these factors is one of the main goals of modern research.

Question: Regarding the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, are any of the new drugs currently being developed promising?
Answer: Since today about five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease and this figure is growing day by day, research on the prevention and treatment of this disease is being conducted very actively. Currently, there are already several drugs on the market that have demonstrated some success in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease. As in any case, I recommend discussing the risks and benefits of treatment with a specialist doctor.

Question: So much attention is paid to patients with dementia. What about the family members caring for them? What kind of support can they get?

Answer: The emotional burnout of relatives of such patients in the United States has taken on the character of an epidemic. Women make up more than 60% of people caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Many of them, in addition to caring for sick parents, must also look after children while working and performing other duties. Many of them are forced to quit their jobs in order to provide unpaid care to their relatives. Caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease is exhausting both physically and mentally. There are many resources available to support such involuntary caregivers. I usually recommend the Alzheimer's Association website – the Alzheimer's Association (this site has a full–fledged Russian-language version - VM), where people can find a huge variety of resources, including a round-the-clock hotline and information about support groups in this area.

Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of the University of Connecticut:
Alzheimer’s Disease – Setting the Record Straight.

24.11.2014