Are There Any Specific Habits That Increase Alzheimer’s Risk?

Over time Alzheimer’s disease will cause issues with memory, thinking, learning, and organizing skills. Dementia stands as a common cause for this and elderly people are more prone to this condition. There are certain therapies and medications available to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Further, this blog will drive you through specific habits that trigger Alzheimer’s risk. 

What is Alzheimer’s disease? 

Alzheimer’s is a brain-related condition that gradually reduces memory, thinking, learning, and organizing skills. Even this condition disturbs an individual’s ability to perform basic daily activities. After some time, the Alzheimer’s symptoms will worsen. Typically, individuals over the age of 65 are commonly affected by Alzheimer’s disease. 

These days Alzheimer’s disease has become a prevalent one among the aging global population. Globally, numerous people are living with this condition, and these numbers are expected to increase in the upcoming years. So if you feel like you are experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease consider visiting the best neuro doctor in Coimbatore to prevent yourself from advanced stages like memory loss.

What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia? 

Often we will be confused by both the terms Alzheimer’s and dementia, but actually, they are different from each other. Notably, dementia is not a specific disease, it is one of the terms that describes a wide range of symptoms. These signs disturb the individual’s ability to do daily activities. Common signs of dementia are: 

• Changes in memory 
• Thinking skills will be reduced 
• Poor judgment or reasoning skills 
• Focus and attention will be decreased 
• Changes in behavior 

Simply, dementia is one of the general terms, while Alzheimer’s disease is a specific brain disease. It is marked as a sign of dementia that slowly worsens over time. Firstly, Alzheimer’s disease disturbs the brain area that is linked with learning, so thinking and reasoning skills will be affected. Symptoms will get severe when the disease progresses like confusion, changes in behavior, and other issues. 

Who is more prone to Alzheimer’s disease? 

Usually, individuals over the age of 65 are more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease. The higher your age above 65, the chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease will be high. Also, individuals can develop this disease before the age of 65, even in their 40s or 50s, this condition is known as early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. But this is a rare condition that only affects less than 10% of the global elderly population. 

What are the stages of Alzheimer’s disease? 

The stages of Alzheimer’s disease will vary based on the symptoms. Not everyone will experience Alzheimer’s disease in the same way, the progression of disease will differ from person to person. Also, a single person will never experience all the symptoms. So at times, doctors will find it difficult to place an individual with Alzheimer’s disease in a specific stage, because the stages may overlap. 

Doctors state the stages of Alzheimer’s disease in terms of dementia: 

• Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease 
• Mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease 
• Mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease 
• Moderate dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease 
• Severe dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease 

What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease? 

As we mentioned above, the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease greatly vary based on the stage of the condition. Further, the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease involve a slow decline in: 

• Memory 
• Handling complex tasks 
• Language 
• Understanding visual form 
• Behavior 
• Personality 

Individuals with memory loss or other signs of Alzheimer’s will find it difficult to recognize their mental decline, but those signs will be more obvious to the surrounding ones. So whenever facing such issues, consider visiting the doctor immediately. 

What are the causes of Alzheimer’s disease? 

The unusual development of proteins in an individual’s brain causes Alzheimer’s disease. Those amyloid and tau proteins will make your brain cells die. There are over 100 billion nerves and other cells in the human brain. Those nerve cells will work together to do all the required communications to perform functions like thinking, learning, remembering, and planning. 

Individuals will experience the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease when their nerve cells are gradually dying. Usually, this nerve death starts in one area of the brain and spreads to other areas. But still, it’s unclear what causes these proteins to develop. The early-onset Alzheimer’s can be caused due to genetic mutations. Genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors are likely causing Alzheimer’s disease. 

What are the specific habits that increase Alzheimer’s disease? 

• Sedentary lifestyle 

One of the significant risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease is a sedentary lifestyle. Brain health can be boosted by doing regular physical activity. When exercising, blood flow to the brain increases, which helps nourish brain cells and keep them healthy. Conversely, a lack of physical activity reduces brain volume, notably in areas responsible for memory and learning. 

When we are not moving our bodies, our brains will be affected. Lack of physical activity can result in obesity, hypertension, and other conditions connected with cognitive decline. After some time, all these conditions will affect the brain and increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. 

• Unhealthy diet: 

The food we eat will greatly impact our brain health. Also, diets with highly processed foods, sugars, and unhealthy fats have been linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. These foods will result in inflammation and oxidative stress, both are harmful to the brain. 

While diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can assist in protecting the brain. These foods offer vital nutrients that support brain function and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. 

• Chronic stress: 

Stress is a part of life, but the issue comes into the frame when it becomes chronic, it can cause adverse effects on the brain. Prolonged stress results in the release of cortisol, a hormone that can highly affect the area of the brain that is responsible for memory and learning. 

Over time, persistent stress will worsen Alzheimer’s disease by exacerbating other risk factors, like inflammation and reducing brain plasticity. Thus, managing stress is a crucial part of maintaining brain health. 

• Poor sleep patterns: 

Sleep is vital for brain health, when sleeping the brain will clear toxins that accumulate during the daytime, like beta-amyloid, a protein that is linked with Alzheimer’s disease. Without sufficient sleep, toxins can build up and contribute to several health issues. 

Persistent sleep disorders, like insomnia or sleep apnea, have been linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. So poor sleep patterns can result in memory issues, mood changes, and other symptoms that are often noticed in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. 

• Social isolation: 

Simply, we humans are social creatures, so social interaction is crucial for maintaining brain health. Social isolation and loneliness have been linked with an increased risk of cognitive disease. When engaging in social activities, we stimulate our brains, making them active and engaged. 

Being socially active will assist you in protecting yourself from Alzheimer’s disease by promoting mental stimulation and emotional well-being. Further, activities like group hobbies or volunteering can be mainly beneficial. 

• Smoking and alcohol consumption: 

We all know how smoking negatively affects our lungs and heart, but it also affects the brain. Oxidative stress and inflammation will be worsened due to smoking, and these can result in an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Also, moderate alcohol consumption has some protective effects, only binge consumption is linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. More alcohol consumption can affect brain cells and disrupt the brain’s communication pathways. 

• Lack of mental stimulation: 

Physical activity is crucial for the body, likewise, mental exercise is crucial for the brain. Try to engage in activities that challenge the mind like puzzles, learning new skills, or reading, all these help in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Frequent mental stimulation assists build cognitive reserve, which is the brain’s ability to adapt and function even when there is any damage. Simply, the more we challenge our brains, the better equipped we are to handle the effects of aging and disease. 

How to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease? 

Opting for a healthy lifestyle is the best way for Alzheimer’s disease prevention. That comprehensive approach includes: 

• Maintain your blood pressure: 

Individuals of all ages should maintain their blood pressure because it improves brain health and thinking. Men have more hypertension when compared to women. You can try following a healthy diet, maintaining an ideal weight, being physically active, quitting smoking, limiting consumption of alcohol, and getting sufficient sleep to lower your blood pressure. 

• Regular physical activity 

Engaging yourself in physical activity is one of the effective ways to safeguard yourself from Alzheimer’s disease. Try to exercise at least for 150 minutes per week, by engaging in activities like walking, swimming, or cycling. 

• Following a healthy diet: 

Following a healthy diet can also help in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Your diet should contain fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, all of these will support your brain function. 

• Managing stress: 

Following stress-reducing techniques like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga can help keep cortisol levels in check and safeguard your brain from the harmful effects of persistent stress. 

• Improving sleep routine: 

Good sleep hygiene, even maintaining a regular sleep schedule and developing a restful sleep environment is significant for brain health. Try to sleep at least for 7 to 9 hours to support cognitive function. 

Is Alzheimer’s disease hereditary? 

As we mentioned above, still the cause of Alzheimer’s disease remains unclear, but researchers have identified several factors that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s including genetic factors. 

Having a form of apolipoprotein E gene increases the risk, these genes have several forms, and one of those will increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Notably, if your parents have Alzheimer’s disease ,you are at a higher risk of developing this condition. 

How to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease? 

Doctors will do several tests to diagnose if an individual with memory-related issues has Alzheimer’s disease. This is due to several other conditions, notably neurological conditions that can cause dementia and other signs of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Firstly, doctors will inquire about your previous conditions for a better understanding of your health. Further, they will inquire about: 

• Overall health 
• Current medications 
• Medical history 
• Ability to perform daily activities 
• Mood, personality, and behavioral changes 

Further, doctors will also: 

• Neurological and physical exams.  
• Mental status exam, which includes tests to assess memory, attention, language, problem-solving, and basic math. 
• Other standard medical tests like blood and urine tests, to diagnose possible causes of the symptoms. 
• Brain imaging tests like brain CT, brain MRI, or positron emission tomography, to assist in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or to find other possible conditions. 

When to see a doctor? 

Several conditions can lead to memory loss, among which few may be treatable. If you are worried about your thinking skills, and memory problems, discuss with your doctor. If any of your family members or friends are suffering from memory-related issues, talk to them and ask about going together to talk to a healthcare professional. Getting treatment in the best neuro hospital in Coimbatore will assist you in getting the desired outcomes. 

Conclusion: 

In conclusion, we can say that Alzheimer’s disease is one of the growing concerns, but there are certain steps to reduce the risk. By understanding the causes of Alzheimer’s disease we can make conscious choices to adopt healthier lifestyles, we can safeguard our brain health, and potentially lower our chances of developing this debilitating disease. Also, remember that it’s never too late to start making positive changes that can benefit your brain.