Prof. Dr. M. Zülküf Önal from Medicana Health Group Neurology Department pointed out that women have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than men.
Alzheimer's is known as a progressive neurological disease that affects millions of people worldwide. According to World Health Organization data, approximately 55 million people worldwide have dementia, and this number is expected to reach 139 million by 2050. Prof. Dr. M. Zülküf Önal from the Department of Neurology at Medicana International Ankara Hospital noted that this progressive disease, which occurs when nerve cells in the brain are damaged, is characterized by memory loss, impaired thinking abilities and behavioral changes, and gave information about Alzheimer's disease.
“Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia”
Önal stated that Alzheimer's is a progressive brain disease that causes memory, thinking and behavioral problems, “Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia and accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Although there is currently no absolute cure for Alzheimer's, new information about the biology of the disease is emerging and paving the way for future treatments. There is no single cause of Alzheimer's disease. It is probably caused by multiple factors such as genetics, lifestyle and environment. The biggest risk for Alzheimer's disease is age. A person's risk of developing the disease increases significantly after the age of 65. About one-third of people aged 85 or older have Alzheimer's disease,” he said.
“The risk is higher in women than in men”
Pointing out that the risk increases if more than one family member has Alzheimer's disease, Prof. Dr. Önal gave the following information
“Women are more likely to develop Alzheimer's than men. This difference can be partly explained by the fact that women live longer. Age, family history and genetics are risk factors that cannot be changed. But research offers clues about other risk factors that people can influence. Eating a healthy diet, staying socially active and exercising body and mind can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. Not using tobacco and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption are also beneficial for brain health.”
Early diagnosis possible with smell test
Underlining the importance of early and accurate diagnosis to determine the type of dementia, Önal noted that although there is no absolute cure for the disease, there are medicated and non-medicated measures to slow the rate of progression. “The diagnostic process may include a comprehensive medical history, mental state and mood tests, physical and neurological examination, and tests (such as blood tests and brain scans) to rule out other causes of dementia-like symptoms. On the other hand, early diagnosis is now possible with a smell test. Skin biopsy is now used in the differential diagnosis of dementia types.”
The rate of disease progression varies from person to person
Stating that Alzheimer's disease progresses gradually with a series of symptoms that increase in severity over time, Önal shared the following information:
“Alzheimer's affects more than memory and thinking. A person's quality of life can be affected by various behavioral and psychological symptoms that accompany dementia, such as sleep disturbances, irritability, hallucinations and delusions. Some medications focus on treating these non-cognitive symptoms for a while, but it is important to try non-drug strategies to manage behaviors before adding medications. In addition to non-pharmacological treatments, there are a number of supportive treatments that involve stimulating the brain with electrical, magnetic and, most recently, sound waves. There are also many treatments with phytotherapy. On the other hand, it has been shown that drugs used to control high cholesterol can prevent Alzheimer's. Promising results have begun to be obtained in gene therapy. Controlled coffee consumption has also been shown to prevent Alzheimer's.”
Solving crosswords and sudoku does not prevent the disease
Neurology Specialist Prof. Dr. Zülküf Önal stated that occupations such as crossword puzzles and sudoku do not prevent the disease and that there is no rule that Alzheimer's will inevitably occur in every elderly person and that it can also occur at a young age. Stating that exercises that provide mental vitality can be done to prevent the disease, Prof. Dr. Önal listed the things that can be done to prevent the disease as follows:
“It is very important to read frequently, to tell what one has read, learned and experienced during the day, and to share it with those close to him/her. Normalization of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels should be ensured. Weight control should be done. Exercise for at least half an hour a day. Exercises to improve mental faculties should be done. It is necessary to be cautious against head trauma. Avoid substance abuse, smoking and alcohol. Avoid sleep disorders, especially sleeping too little or sleeping too much. Unless depression is treated, the risk of dementia increases. If there is a genetic predisposition in the family, it should be taken into account in the diagnosis.”
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