Alzheimer’s disease is a brain progressive disorder that affects the brain cells and
destroys the thinking skills, and memory skills. Brain cells degenerate causing disruption on a
person’s social and behavioral skills. Severe symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease cause failure to
perform simple daily tasks. More than 50% of dementia is caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia is a syndrome that leads to slowly decline of the cognitive functions. It mainly affects
the thinking capacity, memory, comprehension, learning capacity, language, orientation, and
decision making process. The consciousness of people with this syndrome is not affected in any
way. Cognitive impairment is accompanied with loss of memory control, motivation, and effect
on social behavior. It’s one of the diseases that cause dependency and disability in older people.
The essay will focus on prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease symptoms progress at different rate for each person. But generally the
symptoms progress slowly for years and most of the time confused with other conditions.
Symptoms such as forgetting things easily, disorientation and confusion, speech and language
problems, hallucinations, disturbed sleeps, and mood swings may be experienced by an
Alzheimer patient. Conditions such as infections, stroke, some medicines, and delirium may
worsen the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is mainly caused by abnormal and excessive protein deposit such as
amyloid and tau protein around and in the brain cells. The deposit of these proteins in the brain
decreases the neurotransmitters especially acetylcholine; a chemical that send signals and
messages between brain cells. Low levels of acetylcholine neurotransmitters leads to shrinking
of the different areas of the brain overtime which cause vision and language problem first and
PREVENTION OF ALZHEIMER DISEASE 3
eventually memory loss. According to Bendlin et al. (2010 ), some factors such as age, downs
syndrome, head injuries, family history, and cardiovascular disease may increase the risk of
getting this disease.
Since cardiovascular is one of factor that can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, we
can easily reduce the risk of contracting cardiovascular disease. Conditions such as heart attacks
and strokes can be reduced to improve the cardiovascular health. Other ways of improving
cardiovascular health include; having a healthy diet, exercise, quit smoking, avoid alcohol, and
go for healthy test regularly. Eating healthy food and reducing the amount of saturated fats we
take in reduce cholesterol in the blood and risk of coronary disease, high blood pressure and
obesity conditions which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Taking in vitamins such as
B12 and vitamin E supplements has been found to reduce Alzheimer’s disease (Devore et al.,
2010). Some mineral supplements such as iron and copper should be avoided unless prescribed
by the physicians. Although, copper and iron minerals are essential in enzyme functions and
formation of proteins and hemoglobin respectively; excessive intake of these minerals
contributes to problems in cognitive functions.
Smoking leads to formation of plaque in blood vessels and clotting of blood in the blood
vessels which eventually cause the cardiovascular disease. Alcohol increase temporary blood
pressure and heart beat. Long term increase of blood pressure and heart beat causes irregular
heart beat rate and weakens heart muscles which can be the reason of cardiovascular diseases.
Lastly, to reduce cardiovascular disease one need to be tested frequently so as to treat the
underlining conditions of cardiovascular disease.
PREVENTION OF ALZHEIMER DISEASE 4
Regular exercise will significantly reduce the Alzheimer’s disease. Aerobic exercise
reduces chances of memory loss and improves cognitive functions. Mental activity keeps the
brain active and reduces risks of cognitive impairment in future. A person can keep his/ her brain
active by playing video games, playing musical instruments, learning foreign language,
participating in sports activities, or socializing with others to avoid loneliness. Sleeping disorders
should be evaluated carefully and treated because it also affects cognitive functions in the old
age.
Some factors that increase Alzheimer’s disease are unavoidable. Nobody can prevent
aging. Although Alzheimer’s is not a must while aging, old age increases the risks of getting this
disease. Alzheimer’s disease can also be inherited from parents. Genetic inheritance of
Alzheimer’s is not avoidable. People who suffer from Down syndrome are likely to develop
Alzheimer. The three copies of chromosomes lead to synthesis of beta-amyloid protein which
causes degeneration of brain cells resulting to Alzheimer.
Although Alzheimer’s disease does not have cure, healthy diet steps and exercise reduce
the risks of this diseases such as avoiding cigarette chemicals and alcohol may prevent risks of
Alzheimer. Underlying conditions that can cause cardiovascular problems may be treated since it
the major risk factor of Alzheimer. In general, poor lifestyle poses other health risks factors
which promote Alzheimer. Any sleeping disorder should be treated early enough to avoid risk of
Alzheimer in old days. Also Alzheimer’s symptoms may be treated to improve life quality for
people with Alzheimer.
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References
Bendlin, B. B., Carlsson, C. M., Gleason, C. E., Johnson, S. C., Sodhi, A., Gallagher, C. L., … &
Wharton, W. (2010). Midlife predictors of Alzheimer's disease. Maturitas, 65(2), 131-
137.
Devore, E. E., Grodstein, F., van Rooij, F. J., Hofman, A., Stampfer, M. J., Witteman, J. C., &
Breteler, M. M. (2010). Dietary antioxidants and long-term risk of dementia. Archives of
neurology, 67(7), 819-825.