General Health Gold Coast Neurologist, Dr Meenashki Raj, advises that physical and mental exercise can delay and slow the speed of progression, especially very early stages. other Alzheimer’s disease treatments. There is some evidence that individuals with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s who are taking a cholinesterase inhibitor might benefit by also taking memantine. Memantine Regulates the activity of glutamate, a different messenger chemical involved in learning and memory. Delays worsening of symptoms for some people temporarily. Many experts consider its benefits similar to those of cholinesterase inhibitors. Can cause side effects, including headache, constipation, confusion and dizziness. Doctors sometimes prescribe both types of medications, cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, together. Vitamin E Doctors sometimes prescribe vitamin E to treat cognitive Alzheimer’s symptoms. Vitamin E, also known as alpha tocopherol, is an antioxidant. Antioxidants may protect brain cells and other body tissues from certain kinds of chemical wear and tear. In 2014, results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that individuals with mild-tomoderate Alzheimer’s disease who received high doses of vitamin E had a 19 percent slower rate of functional decline than study volunteers who received a placebo. Functional decline includes problems with daily activities such as shopping, preparing meals, bathing, eating, planning, and travelling. Study participants were followed up for an average of a little more than two years. CAUTION: No one should take vitamin E to treat Alzheimer’s disease except under the supervision of a physician. Vitamin E — especially at the high doses — can negatively interact with other antioxidants and medications, including those prescribed to keep blood from clotting or to lower cholesterol. Risk fact ors Scientists have identified factors that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. The most important risk factors – age, family history and heredity – cannot be changed, but emerging evidence suggests there may be other factors we can influence. Age The greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s is advancing age. Most individuals with the disease are aged 65 or older. The likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s doubles about every five years after age 65. After age 85, the risk reaches nearly 50 percent. One of the greatest mysteries of Alzheimer’s disease is why risk rises so dramatically as we grow older. Family history Another strong risk factor is family history. Those who have a parent, brother, sister or child with Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop the disease. The risk increases if more than one family member has the illness. When diseases tend to run in families, either heredity (genetics) or environmental factors, or both, may play a role. Heredity (Genetics) Scientists know genes are involved in Alzheimer’s. There are two types of genes that can play a role in affecting whether a person develops a disease— risk genes and deterministic genes. Alzheimer’s genes have been found in both categories. Genetic testing – risk genes 1. Risk genes increase the likelihood of developing a disease, but do not guarantee it will happen. Scientists have so far identified several risk genes implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. The risk gene with the strongest influence is called apolipoprotein E-e4 (APOE-e4). Scientists estimate that APOE-e4 may be a factor in 20 to 25 percent of Alzheimer’s cases. APOE-e4 is one of three common forms of the APOE gene; the others are APOE-e2 and APOEe3. Everyone inherits a copy of some form of APOE from each parent. Those who inherit APOE-e4 from one parent have an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. Those who inherit APOE-e4 from both parents have an even higher risk, but not a certainty. Scientists are not yet certain how APOE-e4 increases risk. In addition to raising risk, APOE-e4 may tend to make Alzheimer’s symptoms appear at a younger age than usual. Genetic tests are available for both APOE-e4 and the rare genes that directly cause Alzheimer’s. However, health professionals do not currently recommend routine genetic testing for Alzheimer’s disease. Testing for APOE-e4 is sometimes included as a part of research studies 2. Deterministic genes directly cause a disease, guaranteeing that anyone who inherits them will develop the disorder. Scientists have discovered variations that directly cause Alzheimer’s disease in the genes coding three proteins: amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin-1 (PS-1) and presenilin-2 (PS-2). When Alzheimer’s disease is caused by these deterministic variations, it is called “autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease (ADAD)” or “familial Alzheimer’s disease,” and many family members in multiple generations are affected. Symptoms nearly always develop before age 60, and may appear as early as a person’s 30s or 40s. Deterministic Alzheimer’s variations have been found in only a few hundred extended families worldwide. True familial Alzheimer’s accounts for less than five percent of cases. Fact ors you may be able to influence Most experts believe that the majority of Alzheimer’s disease occurs as a result of complex interactions among genes and other risk factors. While age, family history and heredity are risk factors we cannot change, researchers are beginning to focus on risk factors we may be able to influence, through general lifestyle and wellness choices and effective management of other health conditions. Protecting the brain from head trauma: There may be a strong link between serious head injury and future risk of Alzheimer’s, especially when trauma occurs repeatedly or involves loss of consciousness. Protect your brain by buckling your seat belt, wearing your helmet when participating in sports, and “fall-proofing” your home. Heart-head connection: Growing evidence links brain health to heart health. Your brain is nourished by one of your body’s richest networks of blood vessels. Every heartbeat pumps about 20 - 25 percent of your blood to your head, where brain cells use at least 20 percent of the food and oxygen your blood carries. The risk of developing Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia appears to be increased by many conditions Pindara M 20 agazine Summer | 2014/15
Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Three
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