The causes and manifestations of Alzheimer's disease and the mental illnesses it can cause

Alzheimer's disease (AD)(named after the German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer (Alois Alzheimer)) is the most common type of dementia and can be defined as a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by nerve plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, which are caused by the accumulation of amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) in the most affected areas of the brain, the medial temporal lobe and neocortical structures. Alois Alzheimer found the presence of amyloid plaques and the loss of a large number of neurons when examining his first patient, who, on his deathbed, suffered from memory loss and personality changes, and described the condition as a serious disease of the cerebral cortex. Emil Kraepelin named the disease Alzheimer's disease for the first time in his 8th edition of the Handbook of Psychiatry. The gradual loss of cognitive function may be caused by brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) or other factors (such as poisoning, infection, lung and circulatory abnormalities), which can lead to reduced oxygen supply to the brain, nutritional deficiencies, vitamin B12 deficiency, tumors, etc.

AD is considered to be a multifactorial disease associated with multiple risk factors, such as increasing age, genetic factors, head injuries, vascular diseases, infections, and environmental factors (heavy metals, trace metals, etc.). The underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease pathology (Aβ, NFT, and synapse loss) remain unknown. Several hypotheses about the etiology of AD have been proposed, but two are considered to be the main etiological factors: some consider impaired cholinergic function to be a key risk factor for AD, while others consider altered production and processing of amyloid beta protein to be the main triggering factor. However, there is no accepted theory to explain the pathogenesis of AD.

Aging factors

AD is aging. Young people rarely have the disease, and most cases of AD start late after age 65. Aging is a complex and irreversible process that occurs through multiple organ and cell systems, with a decrease in brain volume and weight, synapse reduction, and ventricular enlargement in specific regions, accompanied by SP deposition and NFT. In addition, several conditions may occur during aging, such as impaired glucose metabolism, dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, depression, and cognitive decline.

Genetic factors

years and have been found to play an important role in the development of AD. 70% of AD cases are related to genetic factors: most cases of EOAD are inherited in an autosomal dominant mode, and mutations in dominant genes such as amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenin-1 (PSEN-1), progerin-2 (PSEN-2) and apolipoprotein E(ApoE) are associated with AD.

Environmental factors

Aging and genetic risk factors do not explain all cases of AD. Environmental risk factors, including air pollution, diet, metals, infections, and many other factors, may cause oxidative stress and inflammation, increasing the risk of developing AD. Here, we report the most important environmental factors and their relationship to AD.

Disease factors

Several risk factors are associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, elderly people with AD often suffer from cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, diabetes, etc. All of these conditions are associated with an increased risk of AD.

Alzheimer's disease can usually be divided into the following areas:

Alzheimer's are memory loss, decline in intellectual function and personality changes. Early in the onset of the disease, symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are characterized by easy tiredness, depression, and anxiety. The changes in Alzheimer's disease are gradual, not sudden. As the disease progresses, the symptoms of Alzheimer's accelerate and become more severe and pronounced enough to seek help. The course of the disease, and the rate at which Alzheimer's symptoms progress from simple forgetfulness to severe dementia, can take five to ten years.

The first potentially terrifying Alzheimer's symptom for sufferers is the realization that their memory is changing. Simple forgetfulness is not a symptom of Alzheimer's, but forgetting the names of people you see regularly is an Alzheimer's symptom. Alzheimer's symptoms begin with mild memory loss and confusion, but then Alzheimer's symptoms eventually lead to severe and irreversible mental disorders. The symptoms of Alzheimer's can lead to the destruction of a person's ability to remember, reason, learn and imagine. Eventually, the forgetful symptoms of this Alzheimer's disease cause family members' names and familiar items like combs and watches to be forgotten.

Difficulty in abstract thinking is another symptom of Alzheimer's that initially begins with everyday chores such as unbalanced checkbooks, and then Alzheimer's symptoms develop into not understanding and recognizing numbers.

Difficulty finding the right words is a symptom of Alzheimer's disease, which challenges patients to find the right expression and challenges their ability to understand the conversation. This Alzheimer's symptom can affect reading and writing skills.

Alzheimer's is a loss of time and date, even in familiar surroundings. Eventually, this Alzheimer's symptoms can lead to running away from home.

loss of judgment is a symptom of Alzheimer's that hinders solving everyday problems, such as cooking on the stove, and this Alzheimer's symptom is extremely difficult in anything that requires planning, decision-making, and judgment.

personality change is a symptom of Alzheimer's that manifests as mood swings, distrust, stubbornness and social withdrawal. Depression is a symptom of Alzheimer's disease that co-exists with agitation. In severe cases, such Alzheimer's symptoms can progress to anxiety, aggression, and inappropriate behavior.

Short-term memory is often affected by Alzheimer's and dementia, and they forget their last names and how to do simple everyday tasks. However, they retained long-term memories of Alzheimer's and dementia, remembering past events. Patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementia lose their verbal communication skills, and they communicate their feelings, preferences and needs through body language and facial expressions. Perception is another area affected by Alzheimer's disease and dementia as they try to understand and interpret the world around them.

Depression

40 to 50 percent of people with Alzheimer's will develop depression, compared to just 7 percent of the general population. The high incidence of Alzheimer's disease is related both to the changes in the brain caused by the disease and to the shock of early diagnosis of the disease.

Anxiety and paranoia

These symptoms may manifest as emotional distress, excessive exercise, aggression, destructive irritability, and loss of self-control. Anxiety and agitation are more pronounced early in the disease, as people begin to recognize their loss and the severity of the disease. Later, they may worry about being left alone or abandoned, and any changes in daily life can also trigger anxiety and excitement.

Sleep disorders

Alzheimer's disease is prone to sleep disorders, and the severity of sleep disorders is affected by delusions, hallucinations, agitation and other mental and behavioral symptoms.