Stating that one in every 5 people over the age of 70 in Turkey has Alzheimer's symptoms, Neurology Specialist Dr. Serdar Taşdemir said, “Doing mental and physical activities from a young age, doing regular sports, reading frequently, learning new information, taking up new hobbies and participating in social activities play an effective role in delaying Alzheimer's.”
Stating that Alzheimer's is a brain disease that starts with near-term memory problems and affects other mental areas, making daily life activities difficult, Neurology Specialist Dr. Serdar Taşdemir from İSÜ Medical Park Gaziosmanpaşa Hospital underlined that the disease, which starts insidiously, can reach a level that can become bedridden.
“By 2050, 135 million people in the world will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease”
Pointing out that Alzheimer's, named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, who defined the disease, is more common over the age of 65, and that the incidence increases with age, Uzm. Dr. Taşdemir said, “So much so that it can be seen in one in every 2 people over the age of 90. Worldwide, 45 million people have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This number is estimated to be around 135 million by 2050. In Turkey, it is thought that one in every 5 people over the age of 70 has Alzheimer's symptoms and it is more common in women.”
“Irregular diet and diabetes increased Alzheimer's disease”
Stating that although the number of Alzheimer's patients is increasing, the incidence in the elderly population, especially in developed countries, has decreased compared to previous years, Uzm. Dr. Taşdemir said, “The prolongation of life span is the most important factor in the increase of the disease. Irregular nutrition, sedentary life, uncontrolled blood pressure and diabetes, chronic diseases are other important factors that increase the frequency of Alzheimer's disease.”
“The risk is higher in introverts and people with low education level”
Uzm. Dr. Taşdemir explained the causes of Alzheimer's as follows: “Due to the accumulation of tau proteins and beta amyloid protein particles, communication in brain cells is disrupted. Deaths occur in cells. The amount of acetyl choline, which plays an important role in memory, decreases in damaged brain regions. The disease starts insidiously and progresses as the damaged brain regions increase. Although it is not known exactly how these damages start, the disease can be triggered by genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Family history of Alzheimer's disease, limited social environment, introverted mood, history of head trauma, sedentary life, low education level and smoking and alcohol use can be listed as triggering factors.”
“Recommendations to delay Alzheimer's”
Stating that there is not yet a treatment that completely eliminates and stops Alzheimer's disease, but that it will be possible to delay the disease with a healthy life, Uzm. Dr. Taşdemir made the following suggestions:
“Doing mental and physical activities from a young age, doing regular sports, reading, learning new information, taking up new hobbies, participating in social activities, adopting healthy eating habits, adopting healthy sleeping habits, avoiding smoking and alcohol, having follow-ups of chronic diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure and heart diseases, and using medications if necessary.”
“Read books, solve puzzles, do sports”
Stating that it is possible to strengthen the brain against Alzheimer's with some brain activities, Specialist. Dr. Taşdemir said, “Learning new information, reading books, writing, dreaming, solving puzzles, playing games that increase mental activities such as chess strengthen the brain against Alzheimer's. In addition, physical activities such as sports, dance, painting, gardening can also increase brain activity.”
Stating that treatments in Alzheimer's disease partially slow down the disease but do not completely cure it, Uzm. Dr. Taşdemir said, “Various treatments can be organized according to the clinical symptoms of the patient. Treatments are mostly aimed at increasing the amount of acetyl choline that has decreased. Different drugs can be used in the later stages according to the course of the disease and the symptoms of the patient.”
“There is hope for new treatment alternatives in the coming years”
Finally, referring to the latest innovations in Alzheimer's treatment, Specialist. Dr. Taşdemir said, “Newly developed drugs offer positive results to reduce amyloid plaques accumulated in the brain. It has been shown to slow down the disease in patients with early stage amyloid accumulation. Some drugs that are currently in use in the USA and the UK are promising for new treatment alternatives in the coming years.”
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