Alzheimer’s Disease - SP Medifort Hospital

Alzheimer’s Disease Treatmen

Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment & Care at SP Medifort

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia, mainly affecting older adults and leading to a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behavior, and daily functioning as brain cells are damaged and destroyed. The disease is marked by abnormal brain changes, including the buildup of amyloid‑beta plaques and tau tangles, which interfere with neuron communication and contribute to cognitive decline. Early symptoms often include memory loss, especially forgetting recent events, followed by confusion, difficulty with language, poor judgment, and personality changes. As Alzheimer’s advances, individuals may lose the ability to communicate, recognize loved ones, and care for themselves. For many families seeking the best Alzheimer’s disease treatment in South India, SP Medifort—recognized as one of the best hospitals for Alzheimer’s disease treatment with comprehensive neurological and cognitive care—offers access to experienced specialists, advanced diagnostics, personalized care plans, and supportive therapies to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can vary and tend to worsen as the disease progresses. The most common symptoms include:

Language and communication problems.
Confusion and disorientation.
Memory loss.
Poor judgment or decision-making.
Personality and behavioral changes.
Loss of initiative and motivation.
Difficulty with problem-solving and planning.

Types of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease is broadly classified based on the age of onset and genetic involvement.

Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease: Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease accounts for less than 10% of all Alzheimer’s cases and occurs in individuals younger than 65 years, most commonly between their 30s and mid-60s. Some cases result from inherited mutations in one of three specific genes, while other cases involve additional genetic factors identified through research. Individuals with Down syndrome are at a significantly higher risk of developing this form of Alzheimer’s disease.
Late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease: Most people with Alzheimer’s disease have late-onset Alzheimer’s, which usually appears at age 65 or older. Although there is no single gene that causes this type, research shows that inheriting one form of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene increases the risk. People who carry the APOE ɛ4 allele are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Familial Alzheimer’s Disease (FAD): Familial Alzheimer’s disease is a rare form of Alzheimer’s, accounting for less than 1% of all cases. It often appears as early-onset Alzheimer’s, affecting people at a younger age. In families with familial Alzheimer’s disease, the condition is passed down through generations, with at least two generations having family members affected by the disease.

What is the main cause of Alzheimer’s disease?

The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are not yet fully understood but probably include a combination of

Genetics: The genes inherited from parents can affect a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, although for most people, this increase in risk is small. However, in some families, Alzheimer’s disease is caused by a single inherited gene, which greatly increases the chance of the condition being passed on.
Age: Increasing age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, with the likelihood of developing the condition rising sharply after age 65. However, Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging, and many older adults never develop the disease.
Amyloid plaques and tau tangles: A hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease is the buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain. Beta-amyloid forms plaques between nerve cells, while tau forms tangles inside them, disrupting brain cell function and leading to their damage and death.
Reduced neurotransmitter levels: People with Alzheimer’s disease often have lower levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in their brains, which can contribute to memory loss and other dementia symptoms. This may be linked to factors such as hormonal changes, genetics, or problems with blood vessels.
Lifestyle and environmental factors: Certain lifestyle and health factors can raise the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. These include being inactive, eating an unhealthy diet, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or diabetes, and having heart problems.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s involves reviewing medical history, a physical exam, and cognitive tests, along with other tests to rule out conditions that may cause similar symptoms. Here is an overview of the steps involved in diagnosing Alzheimer’s:

Medical history: The doctor will review the person’s medical history, including symptoms, family history, and medications. They will also do a physical and neurological exam, checking reflexes, muscle strength, balance, coordination, walking, and senses like sight and hearing.
Cognitive and neuropsychological tests: A series of tests is performed to estimate cognitive function, memory, thinking, and problem-solving capacities. These tests may involve answering questions, performing tasks, and memory recall exercises. Generally used tests include the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
Neuropsychiatric evaluation: Sometimes, a neuropsychiatric evaluation is done to check mood, behavior, and other mental health symptoms that might be linked to Alzheimer’s or similar conditions.
Brain tests: Brain tests, like MRI or CT scans, are used to look for changes in brain structure and rule out other causes of memory and thinking problems.

What are the Alzheimer’s disease risk factors?

Age is the main risk factor for Alzheimer’s, but several other factors can also increase the risk. Some key risk factors include:

Family history: Inherited genes from family members can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Down syndrome: Many people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s, often 10–20 years earlier than usual. This is linked to having an extra copy of chromosome 21, which leads to the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain.
Mild cognitive impairment: Someone with mild cognitive impairment, also called MCI, has a bigger decline in memory or other thinking skills than is usual for the person’s age. But the decline doesn’t prevent the person from functioning at work or socially.
Sex assigned at birth: Overall, there are more women with the disease because they tend to live longer than men
Air pollution: Studies in animals have found that air pollution particulates can speed the breakdown of the nervous system.
Heavy alcohol use: Drinking large amounts of alcohol has long been known to cause brain changes. Several large studies and reviews found that alcohol misuse is linked to a higher risk of dementia, especially early-onset dementia.

What treatment options are available for Alzheimer’s disease?

Treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease include:

Memantine (Namenda): This medicine works in another brain cell communication network and slows the progression of symptoms with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease. It’s sometimes used in combination with a cholinesterase inhibitor. Relatively rare side effects include dizziness and confusion.

Cholinesterase inhibitors: These medicines help improve communication between brain cells by preserving a chemical that Alzheimer’s depletes. They are usually the first treatment tried and can bring modest improvements in symptoms.
Aducanumab-avwa (Aduhelm): This human monoclonal antibody focuses on the fundamental pathophysiology of the disease by decreasing amyloid-beta plaques in the area of the brain.

Tacrine (Cognex): Tacrine (Cognex) was the first FDA-approved drug for Alzheimer’s. It works by slowing the breakdown of acetylcholine, helping brain cells communicate more effectively.