Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common cause of dementia. Dementia describing a specific set of symptoms such as memory loss, difficulties with problem-solving, language or simply thinking. As the disease progresses, proteins build up in the brain to form structures called ‘plaques’. Eventually there is a break between the nerve cells resulting the death of the cells and a loss of brain tissue. ending in a lack of motor skills. Although progression can vary, typically after diagnosis life expectancy is around three to nine years. Fewer than 3% of people live more than fourteen years.
Management
Medications, psychological intervention and care-giving are all available to AD patients. there are currently 5 different medications on offer for AD each have different results and side affects.
Digital biomarker can identify which cases of mild cognitive impairment will develop into Alzheimer’s so that early interventions can be put in place to prevent the onset of the disease.
Getting lost can affect caregivers and families of older people with dementia – now, a Bluetooth tracking device can assist the search for their loved ones.
Research suggests that multisensory integration could be used as a novel marker for preclinical Alzheimer’s disease given reported associations between magnitude of visual-somatosensory integration and important cognitive and motor outcomes.
According to new results in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, patients who start abusing alcohol in later life – after age 40 – maybe doing so due to underlying dementia
Professor Timothy Kwok, Director of the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing, and Research Manager Ms Bel Wong, explain the necessity of dementia day care services during the pandemic.
The healthier pre-industrial lifestyles which Indigenous communities live by present solutions in preventing Alzheimer’s and dementia – as seen in their lower rates of the disease.
Kym Ward, Dementia Project Coordinator at The Brain Charity, offers insight into how to support those living with dementia during times of uncertainty and isolation.
