Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, causing impairment in memory, thinking and behavior. In the United States, approximately 5 million people develop Alzheimer’s disease each year, and the disease simultaneously involves an additional 15 million people in caregiving each year. As one of the nation’s preeminent neuroscientists, James E. Galvin, professor in the School of Clinical Biomedical Sciences at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and Christine E. Lynn Professor of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University, presents eight true and false propositions about Alzheimer’s disease.
The last tweet introduced a concise test (which can quickly and reliably evaluate the presence of dementia), also proposed by Prof. Galvin. The test can be completed even by a layman, can be completed in 3-5 minutes, can detect the presence of dementia, and can distinguish whether the dementia is extremely mild, mild, moderate or severe.
Here are 8 true and false propositions about Alzheimer’s disease, which is true or false, please evaluate your own understanding of these issues: 1. Memory loss is a normal aging phenomenon.
2, I am just a little sad, it does not matter.
3, the culprit of memory problems must be Alzheimer’s disease.
4, genes determine fate.
5, physical exercise, diet moderation and brain use can reduce my risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
6, Fish oil, high-dose vitamins, ginkgo and other health supplements can effectively treat memory problems.
7, My math skills are not as good as they used to be, but this is to be expected from my people.
8, I should be worried about my reduced interest in socializing and hobbies.
Let’s see how Professor Galvin analyzes the truth or falsity of these 8 questions above.
1. Memory loss is a normal aging phenomenon.
False.
Although people do things more slowly as they age, forgetting is not usually part of aging. It may take you longer to remember where you left your keys, what you had for breakfast, or to recall your daytime meetings, but you can always recall the above information, and even if you can’t remember it you know where to find it quickly. Note that if there is persistent difficulty learning to remember new things on a daily basis, this may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly, while many cognitive abilities slow down with age, the ability to speak (learn and use new words) grows throughout life.
2. I’m just a little sad, it doesn’t matter.
Wrong.
Many older adults have symptoms of depression. If depression occurs later in life, it may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease and may appear 2-3 years before the onset of noticeable memory loss. If you feel sad, depressed or frustrated, feel a loss of interest and energy in your hobbies or activities, experience changes in sleep or appetite, or have feelings of guilt, feel worthless, or feel low self-esteem, it is time to seek medical attention. Depression is a very treatable condition, and no one should suffer for it.
3. The culprit for memory problems must be Alzheimer’s disease.
Wrong.
Although Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of memory problems, it is only 1 of more than 100 conditions that can affect a person’s ability to remember and think. Many diseases that affect the brain, such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or multiple sclerosis, can affect memory. Many conditions that affect other parts of the body can also affect your memory, such as diabetes, thyroid disease, or vitamin deficiencies. Also, many prescription and over-the-counter medications, either on their own or in combination with medications, can affect memory, thinking, concentration, and focus. You should bring all of your medication information (including over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements) with you when you consult your doctor about your cognitive condition so that he or she can better understand your condition.
4. Genes determine fate.
Errors (partial errors).
Many memory disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are diffuse, meaning they occur randomly in older age groups. Some studies suggest that your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease increases if your mother has Alzheimer’s disease, but the biggest risk factor is still age. about half of all 85-year-olds develop Alzheimer’s disease, which of course means that the other half do not develop the disease. However, about 2-5% of Alzheimer’s disease cases are due to genetic factors such as mutations. Most of these cases are early onset (age of onset <65 years). If you think you may be in this situation and have a strong family history of Alzheimer's disease, seek medical attention. 5. Physical activity, dietary moderation, and brain use can reduce my risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Correct (partially correct). Large population studies have shown that people who participate in board games, are socially active (visiting museums, attending concerts), try new activities (painting, music), physical activity at a frequency of at least three times a week, and use a heart-healthy diet (coarse grains, fruits, fish, vegetables) may reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by up to 50%. Other studies suggest that a shift to these lifestyles may slow the progression of symptoms in people who already have Alzheimer’s disease. However, my personal opinion is that it is unclear whether these activities really protect us or whether not doing them is a reflection of the disease. On the other hand, it never hurts to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle. The rule of thumb is to remember which things are good for the heart and which things are good for the brain. 6. Fish oil, high-dose vitamins, ginkgo and other supplements can be effective in treating memory problems. False. Countless studies have shown that none of these supplements have shown a benefit for memory loss treatment, nor do they reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. There is no definitive conclusion as to whether these supplements can reduce the risk of developing the disease. If you look carefully, all advertisements for supplements include these two statements: “These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA,” and “This product is not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure disease.” Look carefully, these statements are written right there, usually printed in smaller type or read over very quickly! 7. I’m not as good at math as I used to be, but that’s to be expected from my people. Mistakes. While it may take longer to break even or figure out the hotel bill, you should be able to accomplish these things even in your old age. Emerging problems with problem-solving skills, decision-making or the ability to execute a plan may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease. 8. I should be concerned about my diminished interest in socializing and hobbies. Correct. Hobbies and interests change over time. However, if a person loses interest in former hobbies and activities, avoids work or social activities, or has problems doing familiar tasks (e.g., baking, sewing, playing bridge), this may represent the beginning of memory impairment manifestations of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or depression.