In addition, the progressive aging of the population will increase in coming decades in a very considerable number of people over 65 years. It is estimated that about 30-40 even years to double the current figure, which would be more than a million and half people affected by the disease in Spain.
BUT WHAT IS ALZHEIMER?
We have spoken on countless occasions of what is and what causes this disease, but such an important day, not get tired of tell thee. Alzheimer's is a degenerative process probably produced by the deposition of amyloid beta protein and generates a gradual loss of neurons and their connections. Except in the rare cases where the disease is caused by a genetic mutation, Alzheimer's disease has no known cause. For distribution to the brain causes cognitive symptoms, behavioral symptoms and ultimately loss of functional capacity and limit the autonomy and independence.
As you know, the risk factors of this disease are many: population, advanced age, gender (female), illiteracy and medical history, especially those known as cardiovascular risk factors (diabetes, smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol and other depression, menopause, etc.).
Some of the most common symptoms of this disease: progressive memory loss, inattention, difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with language, disorientation in time and space, difficulty in recognizing objects and people, and so on.
TREATMENT AND RESEARCH
Alzheimer's disease is treatable, but has not yet found a cure. There are four drugs that have shown efficacy in improving cognitive-behavioral symptoms and functional. These are drugs that can 'stabilize' one to two years the evolution of symptoms and may even delay the need for admission to residence. Dr. Pablo MartÃnez-Lage Alvarez, coordinator of the behavior and dementia of the Spanish Society of Neurology new window, gives us his opinion on how important it is time to catch the disease:
"Early diagnosis becomes a fundamental tool for improving quality of life of patients. The problem is that often the initial stage may be overlooked. As the disease has a varied form of appearance does not follow a unique pattern and has a gradual development, it is sometimes difficult for the patient or his family to distinguish the early symptoms of Alzheimer changes of old age. "
"It's important to know that age by itself does not cause dementia. The age may decrease the speed at the time to learn or remember when, but does not explain the loss of memory, does not justify the everyday memory failure, repeated and persistent. When someone asked if a loved one, whether he or she is starting with an Alzheimer's that it's time to go to the doctor and that is the time when the physician must be prepared to give a professional response based on clinical evaluation and a proportionate and appropriate diagnostic studies as well as full respect for rights and autonomy of the person consulting. "
The doctor continues:
"Although in recent years there have been significant advances in our understanding of disease, as well as early diagnosis is necessary to continue to promote efforts to promote health education of the population about what the early symptoms and promote effective coordination between health primary and specialist to ensure the best response to the demand for diagnostic of the person who complains about memory leaks. The diagnostic and therapeutic clinical research remains crucial to one of the diseases that increase in incidence in the coming years. "
"In particular, in Spain, clinical research has been showing for years a significant delay compared to other developed countries. Is necessary to enhance the clinical units of dementia, brain banks, clinicopathologic studies, projects anatomical and functional neuroimaging and clinical centers that support research. "
Source and credits: cuidadoalzheimer.com
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