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There are approximately 55 million people worldwide with Alzheimer's disease (8.1% of women and 5.4% of men over the age of 65). The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report projecting that this number will rise to 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050. On World Alzheimer's Day, we'll learn the most important facts about the disease to raise awareness about it, how to treat it, and its symptoms.

Alzheimer's is a brain disorder named after German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described the disease in 1906. He described it as a progressive brain disease that destroys brain cells, leading to problems with memory, thinking, behavior, and social life. The patient's condition usually deteriorates over time, often leading to death, as it is the sixth leading cause of death worldwide.

In addition to the troubling symptoms of Alzheimer's disease mentioned above, Alzheimer's patients may also experience depression and receive medications to alleviate the symptoms, which are caused by the confusion and disability caused by the disease. Alzheimer's disease typically develops at a very advanced age.

They may gradually lose the ability to enjoy things they once loved, and unfortunately, many even lose the ability to recognize their loved ones.

The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease increases dramatically after the age of 65. However, early onset Alzheimer's disease may occur, but this is not a memory loss associated with normal aging.

Alzheimer's patients often exhibit severe changes in behavior. They often become unable to care for themselves and may even be unable to distinguish between people.

Chronic memory loss is usually the first sign of the disease, although the initial symptoms of Alzheimer's disease can vary from person to person.

Stages of Alzheimer's:

Early Alzheimer's: At this stage, symptoms do not appear, and a person may not know they have Alzheimer's until thorough and advanced tests are performed. This stage may last for years before the disease is detected.

Mild Cognitive Impairment: People at this stage experience mild changes in memory and thinking, but these changes do not affect their life or relationships. However, their ability to make sound decisions may be affected and may become more difficult. These symptoms are similar to those of diseases other than Alzheimer's, so more detailed tests may be needed to determine the cause.

Mild Dementia: Alzheimer's disease is often diagnosed at the mild dementia stage when it becomes clear to family and doctors that the person is experiencing significant difficulty with memory and thinking. Symptoms observed during this period include:

Loss of memory for recent events: The person may have difficulty remembering newly learned information and events.
Difficulty solving problems, performing complex tasks, and making sound judgments and decisions.

Personality changes: The person may become quieter or more withdrawn—especially in socially difficult situations—or exhibit unusually intense anger. They may also experience decreased interest and motivation to complete tasks.
Difficulty organizing and expressing thoughts, such as finding the right words to describe things or expressing ideas clearly.

Moderate dementia stage: This includes more memory disturbances and impaired cognitive function. The patient requires assistance with daily living and basic tasks. This stage is characterized by:

• Inability to remember important details such as their current address or phone number.
• Confusion about dates and days.
• Difficulty solving math problems such as subtraction.
• Needs help choosing appropriate clothing for each season or occasion.
• Usually, they can recall basic information about themselves, their name, their children, or their partner.

Final stage: Severe dementia stage: This is the stage of very severe cognitive decline, during which the patient loses the ability to:

• Communicate and talk with the community.
• Personal care such as eating, undressing, and using the bathroom.
• Loss of motor control.
• Loses the ability to swallow and control the bladder and bowels.

Treatment: There is currently no definitive cure for Alzheimer's disease; however, doctors prescribe medications to alleviate symptoms, such as insomnia, anxiety, agitation, and depression.

To provide psychological support to people with Alzheimer's and their families, you can call Shifa Hospital at 15051 and request an appointment with the psychiatric department's consultants, who are available 24/7.