What is Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia and How to Prevent

 What is Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia and How to Prevent

What is Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia and How to Prevent

1. Alzheimer's Disease

 Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline. AD causes the death of nerve cells in the brain and eventually leads to dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and approximately half a million people are currently diagnosed each year. As population ages, the number of individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease is expected to grow exponentially over the coming decades. Currently, there are no effective treatments for the disease once symptoms begin to emerge.

 2. Amyloid beta plaques

 Amyloid beta plaques are protein deposits that accumulate inside neurons in AD patients' brains. These types of plaques are associated with senile plaque formation and are considered a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Many studies have shown that amyloid beta plaques correlate with the degree of memory impairment, suggesting they may play a role in causing memory loss and cognitive deterioration. Research indicates that these plaques become more prevalent in older adults and increase at a faster rate than normal aging.

 3. ApoE-ε4 gene

 The apolipoprotein E-ε4 (ApoE-ε4) gene is located on chromosome 19 and contains two alleles: APOE-ε4 and APOE-ε3. When present in combination with the APOE-ε4 allele, individuals are classified as having ApoE-ε 4/4, while those who do not carry the APOE-ε 4 allele are classified as APOE-ε4/3. In the United States, Caucasians are more likely to present with ApoE-ε 2/2, whereas African Americans are more likely to present as ApoE-ε 3/3 or ApoE-ε3/4. Individuals who carry the APOE- epsilon 4 allele are three times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease compared to those without this allele. Additionally, the APOE- ε4 allele increases risk of late onset Alzheimer’s disease by 11% and early onset Alzheimer’s by 42%.

 4. Brain

 The human brain is composed of about 100 billion neurons, each with its own axon terminal. A neuron terminates on either a pre-synaptic or post-synaptic membrane in order to send signals to or receive messages from other neurons. Each neuron carries its own electrical charge, resulting in a specific pattern of activity called electrophysiology. Neurons communicate with each other through chemical synapses. Synapses are specialized sites on a neuron where another neuron sends a signal to the first neuron via a neurotransmitter. Once a signal is received, the first neuron releases a neurotransmitter that travels across a synaptic gap to activate receptors on the second neuron.

 5. Dementia

 Dementias are medical disorders affecting the mind that cause intellectual impairments, personality changes and behavioral problems including memory loss, confusion, irritability, disorientation, impaired judgment, emotional liability and hallucinations. There are five major dementias—dementia with Lewy bodies, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease—that are caused by different factors. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60–70 percent of cases of severe dementia. Other dementias affect fewer people, but their effects are just as devastating.

 6. Neuropathology

 Neuropathological features include cortical atrophy, cerebral angiopathy, senile plaques, neuritic plaques, cerebrovascular amyloidosis, fibrillary tangles and argyrophilic grains. Senile plaques are extracellular aggregations of small insoluble protein molecules called β-amyloids. Argyrophilic grain disease is a type of tauopathy caused by abnormal accumulation of phosphorylated microtubule-associated Tau protein. Cerebral angiopathy refers to degeneration of blood vessels, particularly the capillaries. Fibrillary tangles consist of aggregated forms of the microtubule-associated protein Tau. Cortical atrophy (shrinkage) occurs due to neuronal loss or decreased use of the brain. Vascular dementia is linked to cerebrovascular diseases like stroke or atherosclerosis. Frontotemporal dementia is primarily characterized by atrophy of frontal and temporal lobes.

 7. Neurotransmitters

 Neurotransmitters are chemicals released by nerves and endocrine glands that regulate mood, movement, behavior, gland function, and many other bodily processes. They are stored in presynaptic vesicles to be released into a narrow space between nerve endings and target cells, known as a synaptic cleft. Neurotransmitters are divided into excitatory (glutamate and acetylcholine) and inhibitory (gamma-aminobutyric acid, glycine, serotonin and noradrenalin). Excitatory neurotransmission stimulates nerve impulses in the receiving cell, while inhibition suppresses them.

 How to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

What is Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia and How to Prevent

1. Antioxidants

 Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from damage and free radicals. The cannabis plant produces antioxidants in its leaves and buds, which contribute to their medical effects. These antioxidant compounds are called cannabinoids and have been shown to help fight Alzheimer’s Disease.

 2. Essential fatty acids (EFAs)

 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are lipids that our bodies cannot produce and need to get from food. EFAs have many roles in the body, including immune system function and brain functioning. EFAs are critical for proper nerve transmission and are necessary for maintaining normal cognitive function.

 3. Omega-3 & 6 fatty acids

 Omega-3 and Omega-6 are two types of essential fatty acids. There are a wide variety of foods that contain these two types of fatty acids, but they both act in different ways. Omega-3 fats improve neurological functioning and provide anti inflammatory benefits. On the other hand, omega-6 fats reduce inflammation and are involved in the production of hormones. Many studies show that people who consume more omega-3 fatty acids experience fewer mental problems than those who do not.

 4. Choline

 Choline is a vitamin B complex that helps maintain cognitive function. Without choline, our brains tend to lose memory over time. Choline performs several tasks in the central nervous system such as helping our nerves transmit messages and regulating neurotransmitters. A diet rich in choline may slow down age related decline in memory and thinking skills.

 5. Vitamin D

 Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that affects bone health. In addition to supporting bone health, Vitamin D also supports strong immunity and normal cellular activity.

 6. Zinc

 Zinc is vital for maintaining optimal physical health. It is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the human body and is necessary for protein synthesis. Some examples of zinc’s role in the human body include: DNA synthesis, immune system function, wound healing, hormone regulation, muscle contraction, and blood glucose levels.

 7. Selenium

 Selenium is a mineral that is essential for humans due to its involvement in numerous physiological processes. Dietary selenium supplements have been proven effective in treating symptoms associated with certain neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and muscular dystrophy.