There is a disease that slowly takes away a person's cognitive, thinking and behavioral abilities, making it impossible for a person to speak normally, eat, and find his way home...
This is "Alzheimer's disease", which may happen to each of us in our twilight years.
According to data from the International Alzheimer's Association, one new Alzheimer's patient is diagnosed every 3 seconds worldwide.
What happens to the brain when Alzheimer's disease occurs
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a slow onset and progressive neurodegenerative disease, accounting for 60% to 80% of all causes of cognitive impairment.
What happened to the patient's brain and nervous system?
At present, the academic community generally believes that in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, beta-amyloid protein abnormally aggregates to form plaques, which have the effect of poisoning neurons and destroying nerve conduction, and can slowly destroy the central nervous system.
In addition, a protein called Tau protein also abnormally aggregates to form fiber tangles, further interfering with the function of nerve cells.
The abnormal deposition of these proteins can cause brain dysfunction in patients.
The World Health Organization estimates that the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in the global elderly population over 65 years old is 4% to 7%. That is to say, 4 to 7 out of every 100 elderly people over 65 years old may suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and the prevalence doubles with every 5 years of age.
Alzheimer's disease is a long marathon. The disease can last for more than ten years or even longer, from mild to severe. Not only will the patient's life be seriously affected, but it will also bring a huge burden to the caregivers.
People with cognitive impairment often say 4 sentences
The most typical manifestation of Alzheimer's disease is progressive memory loss, which may also be accompanied by symptoms such as decreased language, executive, visual-spatial function and abnormal behavior.
People with cognitive impairment or cognitive impairment tend to be forgetful, and the frequency of forgetfulness is very high. It is mainly due to the decline in recent memory. Instead, they remember old things more clearly. People with cognitive impairment tend to say the following 4 sentences.
1 "What? Say it again."
Alzheimer's patients are characterized by severe decline in short-term memory and difficulty in concentration. Even what just happened or what just said will be forgotten by them.
2 "Where is this? How did I get here?"
As the disease progresses, the patient's concept of time and space declines. It is obviously a place that was very familiar before, but suddenly I don't recognize it; I don't realize that I am lost at all, I don't know how to read road signs, and even ask such questions: "Why am I here?" Some patients have a decline in IQ and will not ask for help.
3 "My things are missing, did someone take them?"
Short-term memory decline, often can't find daily items, is also a typical manifestation of cognitive impairment.
Patients will always put things in the wrong place, and the wrong place is becoming more and more unusual, such as putting mobile phones in the refrigerator, socks on the dining table.
Not only can they not find things, but sometimes they suspect someone has stolen their things for no reason: "Where are my keys and glasses? There must be a thief in the house!"
4 "You don't care about me."
The disease affects the patient's cerebral cortex, causing great emotional fluctuations, often losing temper or being particularly sensitive, feeling lonely and uncared for. Abnormal emotional performance is not fixed, some people change from extrovert to introvert, and some people change from introvert to extrovert.
When the disease develops to the middle stage, they will become withdrawn socially-when they can't remember what to say next, they simply stop talking.
Doctors recommend 7 tips to protect your brain
Cognitive impairment cases can be attributed to more than 10 modifiable risk factors:
High blood pressure, obesity, hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, drinking, smoking, depression, lack of exercise, lack of social interaction, diabetes, etc.
Lower your weight
Research has shown that obesity is closely related to brain capacity and cognitive function.
Before the age of 65, the body mass index [BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m) squared] should be controlled between 18.5 and 23.9; over the age of 65, it is not advisable to be too thin, and if there is a significant trend of weight loss, it should be taken seriously.
Train your brain frequently
Continuously learning different content can form positive stimulation to the brain. Learning a new language or photography, practicing yoga, gardening, turning off the navigation when driving daily, reading frequently, taking a different route after get off work, answering the phone with the other hand, and other small changes can stimulate brain vitality.
Try to lower your blood pressure to 130/80
Although blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg is considered high blood pressure, young and middle-aged people should try to keep their blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg, which can significantly reduce the risk of heart and brain damage.
Don't touch tobacco and alcohol
Tobacco, alcohol, and lack of sleep are all culprits of brain damage. Actively quit smoking and drinking; the elderly should avoid falling to prevent head injuries; if there are sleep disorders and cerebrovascular diseases, seek medical intervention as soon as possible.
Make exercise a habit
Perform at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of high intensity exercise per week. You can perform aerobic exercises such as Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, walking, and running according to your own situation.
Hand exercises such as playing the piano, typing on the keyboard, and picking beans can also effectively stimulate specific brain areas, helping to prevent and delay Alzheimer's disease.
Protect your hearing
Hearing loss can affect spatial positioning and speech recognition, and implicate brain function.
Some behaviors can damage hearing and should be avoided as much as possible, including wearing headphones to sleep, listening to headphones for a long time in the subway, the volume of headphones exceeding 60 decibels, listening to headphones for more than 60 minutes a day, and using cotton swabs to clean ears.
Relax your emotions and integrate into the circle
Relax your mind and avoid excessive tension. Active social interaction is encouraged, but it is also good to relax and unwind well when you are alone. After retirement, you should pay attention to avoid boring and monotonous life, and go out of the house every day.
At present, there is no effective means to cure or reverse the course of Alzheimer's disease. It is wise to prevent it in advance, identify it early, and intervene as soon as possible.
