Alzheimer's disease (Home) | Diagnosis | Treatment
By Oluwasola Samuel, Freelance health writer. Medically reviewed by: A. Odutola, MB. BS., PhD, FRCSEd.
An elderly African woman receiving support from a caregiver. Image credit: Freepik
Alzheimer's disease is a journey no one expects to go through as they age. It's more than just memory loss; it's a life-changing condition that affects a person’s higher order brain (cognitive) function.
For many, it starts slowly with signs like forgetting words or struggling to remember familiar faces or routes. This can be frustrating, confusing, and exhausting for anyone involved.
The good news is that there is a lot you can do when you are equipped with the right information about this condition.
In this article, you will learn about Alzheimer's disease from the following viewpoints:
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain condition. It affects a person's memory, thinking, and behaviour. If this condition becomes severe over time, it could stop or limit you from carrying out basic daily activities like cooking, eating, bathing, or brushing.
Alzheimer's disease is responsible for 60%–70% of dementia cases, making it the most common cause of dementia. [1] Alzheimer's disease usually causes changes to the brain many years before symptoms begin to show.
How common is Alzheimer's disease in sub-Saharan Africa?
Alzheimer's disease places an increased burden on the healthcare system in Africa. The World Health Organisation and other studies estimate that millions are already affected, with numbers expected to grow in the coming decades.
In 2015, approximately 2.13 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were estimated to be living with dementia, a category that includes Alzheimer's disease. [2] This number is predicted to increase to around 3.48 million by 2030 and 7.62 million by 2050. This projected growth is due to the growing and ageing population in Africa and lifestyle factors that may increase the chances of having dementia.
However, dementia prevalence varies across countries in sub-Saharan Africa. For example, a study in rural Uganda estimated a dementia prevalence of about 20% among older adults. [3] In Nigeria, on the other hand, the prevalence report was lower. [4] The rate was approximately 4.9% among the older population. In addition, it was also reported that dementia was commoner in women (6.7%) and men (3.1%).
Africa faces a unique challenge in tackling this condition. The reasons include increasing numbers of people with poor awareness of the condition, limited diagnosis and treatment resources and generally poor healthcare infrastructure, etc.
Alzheimer's disease is categorised based on age. There are two main types, which are:
About 5% of people with Alzheimer's disease have early-onset Alzheimer's disease. [5] This type of Alzheimer's disease affects people younger than 65. It usually affects people between 30 and 60 years old. Researchers believe it's linked to an inherited genetic mutation. People with Down syndrome - a brain disorder that is present at birth - are at higher risk of having early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
This is the most common type of Alzheimer's disease. Most people with Alzheimer's disease have late onset. Symptoms begin to show in their mid-60s in those 65 years and older. Researchers believe that late-onset Alzheimer's disease results from factors like genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. However, the exact cause is not fully understood.
Aside from these two common types, there is a less common one called:
This type of Alzheimer's disease is rare compared to others. It affects less than 1% of people with Alzheimer's disease. [6] Changes in the PSEN-1 gene are mostly the cause. [7] These changes increase the amount of amyloid-B production, which later forms plaques in the brain.
Alzheimer's disease follows a progressive pattern, but each person experiences the symptoms differently.
It's important to note that the staging of Alzheimer's disease is only to categorise it. Still, in the real sense, the stages described below often overlap due to the continuous nature of the disease.
Below are the different stages of Alzheimer's disease according to Mayo Clinic:
At the preclinical stage, your brain begins to change long before symptoms start to show. These changes include the buildup of certain proteins (amyloid and tau) that destroy your brain cells, but you or those around you may not notice any signs or symptoms.
This stage of Alzheimer's disease can last for years or even decades before symptoms begin to show. The preclinical stage can only be detected through specialised testing.
2. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease
People at this stage usually have mild cognitive impairments. Symptoms may be noticeable but not too obvious to interfere with their daily activity or relationships. If you are at this stage, you may forget things you ought to know or find it difficult to make sound decisions. Changes will be noticeable, but these changes will not affect your everyday life much.
Alzheimer's disease is often diagnosed at this stage. The signs and symptoms become noticeable to friends and family. At this stage, you could begin to misplace your belongings more often, struggle to remember words during conversation, get lost in familiar places, or experience memory loss of recent events. All these are significant signs and symptoms that show you have problems with your memory or thinking.
During this stage, memory loss is more severe, and you may begin to exhibit changes in behaviour. You may get confused and forgetful. You may also get confused about the time or where you are. At this stage, you will need a caregiver to help you carry out your daily activities.
In the last stage, your mental function continues to decline. This decline affects your ability to move or perform physical activities like sitting, walking, standing, etc. In addition, you may find it difficult to communicate in a way that makes sense. You will require assistance to carry out personal and daily activities and self-care.
The signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease vary based on the stage you are in. Symptoms often start mild and become severe over time as the condition progresses.
Symptoms of established Alzheimer's disease include:
Alzheimer's disease develops in the brain due to the buildup of abnormal proteins called amyloid and tau. Amyloid protein forms deposits (plaques) outside the brain cells, while tau protein forms collections (tangles) within the brain cells. These plaques and tangles are responsible for causing the brain cells to die.
The first part of your brain that's usually affected is the part responsible for memory.
The human brain consists of billions of nerve cells. They all work together and are responsible for shaping your movements, behaviour, basic autonomic functions like your heart beat, bowel and urinary movements, etc. The nerve cells also process information for such acts like thinking, planning, learning, recall, and being aware of your inner and outer environment
When these nerve cells begin to die, communication is lost between them.
As more brain cells die, some parts of the brain are affected more than the other, and those affected parts begin to shrink.
The exact reason for the deposits of abnormal proteins (amyloid and tau) in the brain of a person with Alzheimer's disease is yet unknown. Researchers believe that certain factors like environment, genetics, age, and lifestyle may play a major role.
Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease →
Related:
Dementia: What Africans should know
10 things Africans should be doing to lower dementia risk
Published: December 4, 2024.
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