Until I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, I knew very little about it. I associated memory loss with Alzheimer’s, but that was about the extent of my knowledge. I believe most people without direct experience with Alzheimer’s have the same limited information.
As an Alzheimer’s patient, I have made Alzheimer’s awareness my mission. I know the importance of understanding Alzheimer’s at an early age. Numerous ways exist to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. Knowledge is required to take the correct steps to reduce your risk.
As I approach the one-year anniversary of my Alzheimer’s diagnosis, I will write a series of articles about Alzheimer’s. The articles will include an overview of Alzheimer’s, how lifestyle habits can reduce your risk, understanding genetic risks, and early testing options. The articles will be written from my perspective as an Alzheimer’s patient and will include personal reflections on my life.
Let’s begin by answering a question I am often asked: What is Alzheimer’s disease?
The short answer is that Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Alzheimer’s is much more than a single-sentence definition, though.
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a progressive, terminal brain disorder with no known cause or cure.
The disease slowly destroys memory, thinking skills, and the ability to carry out simple daily tasks. There is no standard progression. Alzheimer’s affects people differently.
In my case, I struggled with memory lapses for several years before my diagnosis. Because I knew little about Alzheimer’s, I assumed my memory issues were associated with aging. As the disease progressed, I experienced problems with writing. I would leave words out of texts and emails. I believe Alzheimer’s compromised my ability to make good business and personal decisions. These symptoms progressed very slowly over five or more years.
Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia. It accounts for between 60 and 80 percent of all dementia cases. Most people with Alzheimer’s also have brain changes associated with one or more other types of dementia. This is called mixed pathology or mixed dementia.
Dementia is a group of symptoms that consistently occur together. The symptoms of dementia include:
Loss of memory
Inability to speak
Trouble solving problems and making decisions
Difficulty concentrating
Struggling to understand and express thoughts
Confusion
Apathy
Poor judgment
Impulsive behavior
Some people have one or more of these symptoms and are not diagnosed with dementia. The symptoms must be severe enough to interfere with daily activities. Symptoms must also represent a change from previous abilities and cannot be attributable to another medical condition.
Characteristic brain changes indicate someone has Alzheimer’s dementia, which is known as Alzheimer’s disease.
Brain Changes Indicating Alzheimer’s Disease
Amyloid plaques: Abnormal clumps of protein fragments that build up between brain cells.
Tau tangles: Twisted fibers of another protein that build up inside cells.
Cell death: These clusters damage and kill neurons, starting in the memory-controlling hippocampus and spreading.
To learn more about Alzheimer’s symptoms, pathology, and treatments, please visit my research publication.
If you experience any of these symptoms and they affect your daily life, you should see a doctor. If you are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, treatments are available that may slow the progression of the disease. I encourage you not to delay seeking an evaluation.
As my memory worsened and my writing mistakes became frequent, I ignored them even though a part of me suspected something more than age was at play. I always had an excuse not to visit my doctor: too busy, too much travel, or that it wasn’t really a problem.
Eventually, I went to my primary care doctor. After a cognitive test, extensive blood tests, and an MRI scan, he referred me to a neurologist. I discovered that many neurologists are booked for ten to twelve months in advance. I lucked out and secured an appointment at Duke Neurology fairly quickly.
After extensive cognitive testing and a PET scan, my neurologist, Dr. Andy Liu, delivered the shocking news that I had early-stage Alzheimer’s.
Tomorrow, I will write about Alzheimer’s risk factors and how you may be able to reduce your risk with specific lifestyle habits.
I encourage sharing this article with your friends and family who may be unaware of Alzheimer’s disease.