How to protect from Alzheimers

What is Alzheimer's?

   •Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurologic disorder in which brain cells (neurons) die destroying memory affecting thinking, behavioural and social skills that determines a person's ability to function independently, ultimately, losing the ability to carry out the very simplest tasks. 

Symptoms 

• Alzheimer's is indicated by memory problems 

• In the initial stages, there is a striking decline in issues of thinking, such as finding the appropriate words, vision/spatial problems and impaired reasoning or judgment.

  

Cause of Alzheimer's

   •Neurons carry messages across different parts of the brain, and from the brain to muscles and organs in the body. 

In Alzheimer's damage occurs to connections between neurons initially in the Hippocampus, the brain part important in forming memory 

.  •As neurons die, additional parts of the brain are affected forming plaques and tangles

     By the final stage of Alzheimer’s, the damage is widespread, and brain tissue shrinks significantly.

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Prevention

The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is still unknown, but a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk.

Reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease has been linked with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

• Avoid smoking
• Eating healthy food and following a balanced diet 
• Regular exercise  
• Controlled blood pressure 
• Having regular diabetes checkups and keeping them under control 

    •Get enough sleep. for at least seven to eight hours a day

Staying mentally and socially active

It may be possible to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia by:

• reading
• learning foreign languages
• playing musical instruments
• volunteering in your local community
• taking part in group sports, such as bowling
• trying new activities or hobbies
• maintaining an active social life

Interventions such as "brain training" computer games have been shown to improve cognition over a short period, but research has not yet demonstrated whether this can help prevent dementia.

Alzheimer's and its relation with Covid

  Covid vaccines enormously reduce the risk of death and hospitalization in those who have been infected by the novel coronavirus. 

Researchers have found a link between Alzheimer’s Disease and COVID-19. The research found that COVID could play a role in advancing Alzheimer’s in some patients.

      The Alzheimer’s Association said many coronavirus survivors deal with the loss of smell and taste, as well as persistent forgetfulness. This is happening even after people have recovered from the initial illness

    .Researchers say new data points to COVID-19 infections leading to lasting cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s symptoms.

 Analysis of current epidemiological research on PM2.5 and dementia confirmed that exposure to PM2.5 was positively associated with a higher risk for dementia. 

      Hence further epidemiological studies with well-validated outcomes and with standardized exposure assessment models are required to ascertain the relationship between PM2.5 and dementia/AD.