A while back, the disease was a taboo. It was not a subject to be discussed, and the affected person would become secluded from society or locked up and mistreated. In recent years, however, as the disease has become more common and research more advanced, families of victims have become more open about it and proactive to raise awareness about the condition in order to draw the scientific and medical community’s attention to the disorder and help other members of society cope with their loved ones. One of the other advantages of awareness is to publicize fundraising for research and nursing homes for Alzheimer’s patients. Let us find out more about this devastating disease.

Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disorder of the brain, which causes psychological clutter and confusion, memory loss and unexplainable behavioral changes in patients. It strikes the brain of seniors over 65 years and even earlier. The disease is characterized by plaque buildup in the brain, damaging nerve cells (neurons) in major brain centers in an irreversible way  sometimes rapidly, depending on the individual and inflammation. The plaque is thought to be caused by a protein called beta amyloid, which sticks to nerve fibers like glue and chokes neurons, rendering them ineffective.

Very recent findings indicate that another invasive protein, tau, propagates in a systemic manner from neuron to neuron through neuron’s connective endings (synapses), cutting communication. Synapses empower brain cells to signal to each other through neurotransmitters. Whatever protein is involved, the result is detrimental to the brain of the person and to his or her life, as well as distressing to family and overwhelming to those nursing the patient.

To understand how the damage affects the brain, here is an example. Around the hippocampus (memory area), the sticky substance causes the neurosignals to get jumbled and neurons get damaged, resulting in memory loss (names, words), confusion and physical and mental disorientation. That is how it affects the cognitive senses in the particular area.

Not all types of forgetfulness should be associated with Alzheimer’s disease. There are other causes for that, such as dementia, depression, head injuries, certain medical drugs, disease (diabetes) and unhealthy lifestyles. Worry-driven, many of us blame forgetfulness on Alzheimer’s. To establish that, there are cutting-edge tests and investigations that can diagnose the disorder. These include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Experienced neuropsychiatrists should be able to differentiate Alzheimer’s disease symptoms from other cognitive impairments. The disorder shows deterioration with distinct escalation in many simple daily rituals to the point that the person becomes incapable of operating independently. The disease progresses so fast that acute memory decline occurs, making recent memory practically dysfunctional, like what was eaten, seen or heard a minute earlier. Mental confusion, physical and mental disorientation, tendency to wander aimlessly and inability to find the way to the bathroom are some of the obvious symptoms, especially when combined. There are other signs like hallucinations, difficulty to find the correct word frequently (dysphasia) and sudden mood changes for no apparent reason. Some patients become physically aggressive, irritable or full of anger; others become non-reactive, passive and submissive. Placing things in inappropriate places like kitchen utensils in the bathroom and difficulty in dealing with numbers are also signs of the disease. Incontinence becomes habitual along with disregard to body hygiene. All the above symptoms are involuntary due to the lesions in the involved brain center, which are responsible for such behaviors. The beta amyloid or tau lesions look clearly different from brain shrinkage caused by other disorders; they can be detected through MRIs.

Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, dementia as well as memory and mental decline leave different marks on the brains, like shrunken areas. Clots resulting from a stroke, brain tumors and hypothyroidism can cause other types of damage in the brain. When adequate blood supply is prevented from reaching the brain’s fine blood vessels and cells, neurons begin to show atrophy. Pharmaceutical drugs, antidepressants, alcoholism, emotional stress, heavy metals (mercury), pollutants, radiation, and unbalanced nutrient intake can negatively influence brain health physiologically and psychologically.

Research found Alzheimer’s patients with low measures of certain nutrients like Vitamin B12. Zinc deficiency has been linked to amyloid plaque forming as well. Neurofiber stickiness is thought to appear because of nutrient malabsorption in old age, alcoholism and drug intake, which deplete the body of essential nutrients. Vitamin A and E deficiencies can cause inflammation due to increased free radicals, which ravage neurons. Alzheimer’s patients also show low levels of certain minerals like selenium, potassium and

boron.

Excessive amounts of aluminum, which have been detected in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, has been implicated in triggering the disease even more, especially when combined with nutrient deficiency. The areas of target are the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex, which process language, memory, thinking and judgment. Zinc deficiency encourages abnormal aluminum absorption, offsetting mineral balance in the brain and body.

Mercury, a toxic heavy metal, has been detected in Alzheimer’s patients’ brains in dangerous amounts. Some scientists suspect it to be released from amalgam dental fillings; mercury is one of its components, which is slowly absorbed and accumulated in brain tissue, hence causing damage. Mercury is also found in fatty fish (tuna, swordfish), in polluted oceans, and in contaminated environments. It is also used as a preservative in vaccines and contact lens solutions and cleaners.

I will not overwhelm your brains today with too much information about Alzheimer’s disease. Next week, inshallah, I shall continue with its other suspected causes and provide more details about the disorder as well as ways to counteract it. It is important to learn more about how the body and brain work and what makes them turn against us when we fail to nourish and nurture them in an adequate manner.
 
N.B.: Individuals with medical conditions or on medication should consult their physicians when they decide to introduce anything new in their diet even if it is natural.