Is it Alzheimer's or just signs of Ageing?

As we age, it's natural to experience some changes in our cognitive abilities. We may occasionally forget where we placed our keys or struggle to recall someone's name. But what if these forgetful moments start becoming more frequent, affecting our daily lives and causing concern? Could it be a normal part of aging, or should we consider the possibility of Alzheimer's disease? In this blog, we'll explore the signs of aging and Alzheimer's, helping you understand the differences and providing valuable insights into this often confusing topic.

The Aging Brain…

With each passing year, our brains undergo various changes that can impact memory and cognitive functions. It's not uncommon for older adults to experience occasional memory lapses or difficulty multitasking. These changes occur due to natural age-related factors such as reduced blood flow to the brain, fewer neurotransmitters, and general wear and tear on brain cells. While these changes can affect cognitive abilities, they are usually mild and don't significantly disrupt daily life.

Recognizing Normal Age-Related Memory Changes

To distinguish between normal aging and potential Alzheimer's disease, it's crucial to understand the typical signs of age-related memory decline. Here are a few common characteristics:

• Occasional forgetfulness: It's normal to occasionally forget details like where you left your glasses or parked your car. These lapses are often momentary and don't disrupt your overall memory.

• Word retrieval difficulties: Struggling to find the right words occasionally is common in older adults. You might experience "tip-of-the-tongue" moments, but the words eventually come to mind.

•  A mild decline in multitasking abilities: As we age, multitasking becomes a bit more challenging. It may take longer to switch between tasks, but with concentration, you can still accomplish them.

• Memory loss with a prompt: Forgetting a piece of information but remembering it when reminded is a typical sign of normal aging. It may take a little more effort to retrieve the memory.

Red Flags for Alzheimer's Disease

While some memory changes are part of the normal aging process, certain warning signs might indicate the presence of Alzheimer's disease. Here are some key indicators to watch out for:

• Progressive memory loss: Memory loss that worsens over time and affects daily life is often a red flag. Forgetting important dates, repeating questions, or relying heavily on memory aids are signs of concern.

• Challenges with problem-solving: Difficulty completing familiar tasks, such as managing finances or following a recipe, may indicate cognitive decline beyond what's expected with age.

• Disorientation and confusion: Getting lost in familiar places, forgetting the current date or time, or experiencing difficulty understanding spatial relationships are potential symptoms of Alzheimer's.

• Personality and mood changes: Noticeable shifts in mood, behaviour, or personality, such as becoming easily agitated, withdrawn, or displaying unusual aggression, can be associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Seeking Professional Guidance

If you or a loved one exhibit any of the red flags mentioned above, it's important not to ignore them. Consulting a medical professional, such as a neurologist or geriatrician, is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate care. They can conduct comprehensive assessments, including memory tests and brain imaging, to determine whether the symptoms are due to normal aging or a more serious condition.

Risk Factors and Prevention

While aging is the primary risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, it's important to note that not all older adults will develop the condition. Certain factors can increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's, including a family history of the disease, genetic predisposition (such as the presence of the APOE e4 gene), and certain lifestyle choices. Engaging in regular physical exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, staying mentally active, and managing chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

The Importance of Early Detection

One of the challenges with Alzheimer's disease is that it often goes undiagnosed in the early stages. People may attribute memory lapses and cognitive changes to normal aging, delaying the opportunity for early intervention. However, early detection is crucial for accessing appropriate medical care, treatment options, and support services. If you suspect Alzheimer's or notice concerning signs, don't hesitate to seek professional evaluation.

Supporting Cognitive Health

Whether you're experiencing normal age-related memory changes or are concerned about Alzheimer's disease, there are various steps you can take to support your cognitive health:

• Stay mentally active: Engage in activities that stimulate your mind, such as puzzles, reading, learning new skills, or playing musical instruments. These activities help keep your brain active and strengthen neural connections.

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Adopt a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management techniques are also vital for brain health.

• Socialize and connect: Stay socially engaged with friends, family, and community. Participate in social activities, join clubs, volunteer, or consider taking up new hobbies that involve interaction with others.

• Stay organized: Use calendars, reminders, and other organizational tools to help manage daily tasks and important appointments. Keeping a routine and creating to-do lists can also support memory and cognition.

• Seek mental stimulation: Engage in activities that challenge your brain, such as learning a new language, playing strategy games, or participating in educational programs or workshops.

The Role of Support Networks

Coping with age-related memory changes or the possibility of Alzheimer's disease can be emotionally challenging. It's important to rely on support networks, including friends, family, and support groups. These networks can provide a safe space to share experiences, exchange information, and offer emotional support. Remember, you're not alone, and seeking help is a sign of strength.

The Bottom Line

Distinguishing between normal aging and potential Alzheimer's disease can be perplexing, as the line can sometimes blur. However, understanding the signs of aging and being aware of the red flags for Alzheimer's is crucial for early detection and appropriate care. By staying proactive about cognitive health, seeking professional guidance when needed, and nurturing a supportive environment, we can navigate the complexities of aging with grace and resilience. Remember, our minds are capable of remarkable things, and with the right care, we can age gracefully while preserving our cognitive abilities.

Related Blogs:- https://www.advancells.com/success-rate-of-stem-cells-for-managing-alzheimers/

https://www.advancells.com/relationship-between-thyroid-and-dementia/

How Dangerous is being blue all the time?

As the scientific world is looking forward towards exploring the mysteries of dementia and other relative diseases; significant research has been carried out to confirm that the late-life depression is easily associated with dementia or to the more severe version of dementia identified to be as Alzheimer’s disease. As per the latest data suggested by a clinical investigation by a team of scientist at Harvard medical research, the condition ageing population to be suffering from Alzheimer’s has poised to expand without any bounding.
Overview
When a feeling of sadness, hopelessness as well as suicidal tendency dominates in a person’s life, quite persistently; then in medical language the person is being suffered from depression. So far, depression is believed to be contributing towards mental illness; however, people with dementia are being reported to be suffering from multiple physical symptoms like loss of energy, changes in appetite, constant fatigue, loss of memory, etc.
Statistics suggest that almost one out of five individuals from developed countries are suffering from depression, which can later transform into dementia as well as Alzheimer’s disease.
Type of depression common with Age
Scientific analysis has further confirmed that depression is significantly common in people, who are aged. Although, multiple causes or risk factors have been proposed to be responsible for depression in younger population; some of the commonly reported may be:
The sudden death of a spouse, or a close member of the family
Financial losses, debt, etc.
Chronic illnesses, and side effects of certain medicines.
Unusually high level of stress
Survival from stroke
Scientists have further reported that 36 out of every 50 individuals, who have experienced late-life depression due to any of the factor described above; may go on to develop vascular dementia as well as Alzheimer’s disease.
Depression and Dementia: The underlying mechanism
While unraveling the casual relation of depression and dementia, the marvels of the medical world could so far explore that about 40% of people with depression can later on contract with Alzheimer or dementia. Accordingly, multiple theories have been proposed in that direction, some of which have been noted herewith:
One theory proposes that depression should be referred to be as the early sign of dementia.
Another theory believes in the fact that chronic depression may lead to neuronal damage to the brain, which can, later on, initiate dementia or Alzheimer.
Third and the last theory points out towards the altered brain volume due to chronic depression and stress, as the leading cause of dementia.
Treating depression before dementia
It is always better to get consciously advised by an expert or psychiatrist; however, many people avoid being treated for depression due to mental blockage or stigma of suffering from mental disorders. People may possibly think that “I am not crazy to go to the psychiatrist, at the same time I don’t want people to think about me that I am crazy!”
At the same time, if someone appears to have on the threshold of depression; it is very important to look forward to possible treatments, like behavioral therapy, stem cell therapy as well as talk therapy.
Although the science of stem cells is recently emerging out, it has proven its potential in differentiating into many neuronal cells and further prevent the damage associated with the same. Further to which, stem cells are identified to be responsible for guiding our happy hormones to secrete in a proportionate manner to reduce the early signs of depression.
Thus, it is always better to get treated for depression within the definite time frame, but at the same time, it is also important to maintain healthy lifestyle habits, exercise pattern, healthy diet and socialization to prevent being into a state of depression for a longer period of time.

Loosing Memory! Find out the possible cause

Loosing Memory! Find out the possible cause.

I often found my grandmother struggling to recognize people she is friend with. Most of the times forget things in her daily life. Everyone occasionally experience forgetfulness. In fact I lose many things at times because of absence of mind. While mild memory loss tends to increase with age and is generally no cause for concern. But sometimes regular Memory Loss can be due to serious illness. As you age, you may find that you have memory lapses from time to time. This is natural if you forget the name of something you just came across, or you may misplace things more often. While memory loss from normal ageing doesn’t affect your ability to function but if this is being progressive, you have to think once again about your health!

In general, there are factors which can cause memory loss like vitamin B-deficiency, sleep deprivation, use of alcohol or drugs, anesthesia from recent surgery, cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, or bone marrow transplant, head injury, and brain surgery etc. While some of these conditions are treatable and memory loss can be reversed but there are few conditions which are hard to cure like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Furthermore, progressive memory loss is a symptom of dementia. Symptoms like difficulty with reasoning, judgment, language, and thinking skills are common in patients affected with dementia. People with dementia can also exhibit behavioral problems and mood swings. Dementia usually starts gradually and gets more noticeable as it progresses. It can be caused by a variety of diseases, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s disease which impairs memory and affects reasoning, judgment, the ability to learn, communicate, and perform everyday functions. People with Alzheimer’s disease can quickly become confused and disoriented. Long-term memories are usually stronger and last longer than memories of recent events. Although it can strike earlier, this progressive disease generally affects people over age 65.It is advised to consult a doctor if memory loss is interfering with your daily activities, threatening your safety, progressing, or accompanied by other physical symptoms. If left untreated memory loss can lead to a variety of diseases and severe conditions.

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's. But drug and non-drug treatments may help with both cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Conventionally only supportive treatments were present to temporarily relieve the pain or the symptoms, additionally there are many support services available for the effective management of some activities and programs such as day care services or nursing programs. Although the damage in terms of death of neurons cannot be halted or reversed with these treatment approaches till the discovery of stem cells.

The stem cell therapy approach mainly focuses on delivering the sufficient number of Adult Autologous Stem Cells which will travel into multiple areas of the brain where the damage has occurred. These transplanted stem cells are potential to transform into new brain cells which are needed for the replacement of damaged cells. They also help in creating a micro environment that will secret some of the enzymes required for making connections to replace lost parts of the complex network.

Advancells “a pioneer in stem cell therapy” have been successfully treating patients with neurodegenerative disorders using autologous stem cells. They are providing very comprehensive, individualized treatment pattern which is best suited for the patients undergoing dementia/Alzheimer's treatment.

Coping with normal and abnormal age-related memory problems

We all experience sort of forgetfulness in our lives like misplacing keys, be blanked on an acquaintance’s name, forget passwords, etc. While we are young we don’t really think about these lapses and ignore by saying you need to eat more almonds, but as we grow old, it becomes quite thoughtful. Although aging comes with certain brain changes, major memory problems are not one of them. For that matter it is pretty important to know the difference between normal age- related forgetfulness and symptoms that may be a sign of a developing degenerative issue.

Lack of memory and forgetfulness is commonly observed among elderly people. For example you start telling about an incident happened recently when you realize you can’t remember the location or names of people. Even after you travel to a place daily, you forget the directions to your home. You often find yourself blank in the middle of your kitchen or in your house, wondering what you went in there for.

However, memory lapses can be frustrating, but most of the time they aren’t cause for concern. Age-related memory changes are not the same thing as dementia. Our brain is capable of producing new brain cells at any change, so considerable memory loss is not an expected result of aging. But your lifestyle, health habits and daily activities have a huge impact to the health of your brain. To treat normal memory loss you should have a healthy lifestyle such as getting enough sleep, avoid smoking, stay social and walk whenever possible.

However if your memory loss affect your ability to function, it may be a sign of dementia.

The primary difference between age-related memory loss and dementia is that the former isn’t disabling. Dementia is marked by a constant, disabling decline in two or more intellectual abilities such as memory, language, judgment, and abstract thinking.

When memory loss becomes so pervasive and severe that it disrupts your work, hobbies, social activities, and family relationships, you may be experiencing the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, or another disorder that causes dementia, or a condition that mimics dementia.

Additionally, Alzheimer is the severe version of dementia. It is a kind of progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with the gradual loss of cognitive functions such as thinking, memory, reasoning and behavioral skills. The Alzheimer Disease initially affects its victim subtly with the preliminary symptoms being disorientation and memory loss, but in later stages the disease can progress to an extent of complete dependency on others for the basic activities of daily living.

Currently there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Although drugs are available that can help with some of the symptoms temporarily, there are no drugs that delay or halt the loss of neurons. Over the last two decades extensive research and drug development efforts have identified potential new drugs but unfortunately large clinical trials with these substances have failed, raising new questions about how the disease is represented and understood in the laboratory. New advancements in medical technology; StemCell Therapy have widened the scope and made an available relief to Alzheimer’s severity.  The stem cell therapy approach mainly focuses on delivering the sufficient number of Adult Autologous Stem Cells which will travel into multiple areas of the brain where the damage has occurred. These transplanted stem cells are potential to transform into new brain cells which are needed for the replacement of damaged cells. They also help in creating a micro environment that will secret some of the enzymes required for making connections to replace lost parts of the complex network.