Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia cause progressive cognitive decline, leading to memory loss, language difficulties, and disorientation. As the condition worsens, personality changes like paranoia and apathy, along with behavioral issues such as rigid movements or inappropriate actions, can arise. These symptoms not only reduce independence but also place a heavy emotional and financial burden on caregivers. Long-term care for a fully dependent patient can be exhausting and may lead to caregiver burnout and depression. So early prevention and rehabilitation training are very important.
The difference and connection between Alzheimer's disease and dementia
1. Different causes:
Alzheimer’s Disease: The exact cause remains unclear, but it is widely linked to brain changes such as beta-amyloid buildup and abnormal tau protein phosphorylation, leading to neuron degeneration. Age, genetics, environment, and lifestyle factors may also contribute to its development.
Dementia: This condition has various causes, including Alzheimer’s disease, cerebrovascular disorders (e.g., stroke, hemorrhage), Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Each type has distinct pathological mechanisms and clinical symptoms.
2. Different symptoms:
Alzheimer’s Disease: Early symptoms typically include memory loss, particularly recent memory decline, followed by language difficulties, disorientation, agnosia (inability to recognize objects), and apraxia (difficulty with movement and coordination). As the disease progresses, cognitive decline worsens, daily functioning becomes impaired, and patients may develop hallucinations, delusions, and other psychiatric symptoms.
Dementia: Symptoms vary depending on the cause, but generally include declines in memory, language, and cognitive abilities, along with behavioral and psychological changes. Different types of dementia have distinct characteristics— for example, Lewy body dementia often presents with hallucinations and Parkinson’s-like symptoms.
3. Different treatment methods:
Alzheimer’s Disease: There is no cure, but medications like donepezil and galantamine, along with non-drug therapies such as cognitive training and psychological support, can help slow progression and improve quality of life.
Dementia Treatment: Treatment depends on the underlying cause. For neurodegenerative dementias like Alzheimer’s, management is similar. However, if dementia is caused by cerebrovascular disease, addressing the primary condition is essential.
What can we do?
In general, leading a healthy lifestyle may help address risk factors that have been associated with these diseases.
Control high blood pressure. High blood pressure, or hypertension, has harmful effects on the heart, blood vessels, and brain, and increases the risk of stroke and vascular dementia.
Treating high blood pressure with medication and healthy lifestyle changes, such as exercising and quitting smoking, may help reduce the risk of dementia.
Manage blood sugar.Higher than normal levels of blood sugar, or glucose, can lead to diabetes and may increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, cognitive impairment, and dementia.Making healthy food choices, getting regular exercise, stopping smoking, and checking glucose levels can help manage blood sugar.
Maintain a healthy weight.Being overweight or obese increases the risk for related health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.Being active and choosing healthy foods can help maintain a healthy weight.
Eat a healthy diet. Aim for a mix of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and seafood, unsaturated fats such as olive oil, low-fat or nonfat dairy products, and limit other fats and sugars.
Keep physically active.Physical activity has many health benefits, such as helping to prevent being overweight and having obesity, heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. Aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week.
Stay mentally active. Lots of activities can help keep your mind active, including reading, playing board games, crafting or taking up a new hobby, learning a new skill, working or volunteering, and socializing.
Stay connected with family and friends. Connecting with people and engaging in social activities can prevent social isolation and loneliness, which are linked to higher risks for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.
Treat hearing problems.Hearing loss may affect cognition and dementia risk in older adults and can make it more difficult to interact with others. Protect your ears from loud sounds to help prevent hearing loss and use hearing aids if needed.
Take care of your mental and physical health. This includes getting your recommended health screenings, managing chronic health issues such as depression or high cholesterol, and regularly checking in with your doctor.
Sleep well. Sleeping well is important for both your mind and body. Try to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night.Talk with your doctor if you are not getting enough sleep, sleeping poorly, or think you may have a sleep disorder.
Prevent head injury.Take steps to prevent falls and head injury, such as fall-proofing your home and wearing shoes with nonskid soles that fully support your feet.Consider participating in fall prevention programs online or in your area. Also, wear seatbelts and helmets to help protect you from concussions and other brain injuries.
Drink less alcohol.Drinking too much alcohol can lead to falls and worsen health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, memory loss, and mood disorders.The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health, recommends that men should not have more than two drinks a day and women only have one.
Stop tobacco use.At any age, stopping smoking can improve your health and lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and lung disease.
What kind of training can we do to help us recover our memories?
1.Play memory games like poker position recall or mandala card color recognition to improve short-term memory.
2.Boost memory retention by reciting short sentences and recalling daily events, like your last meal.
3.Engage in activities like jigsaw puzzles and math exercises to strengthen logical reasoning skills.
4.Follow a Mediterranean diet (rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil) to reduce inflammation and protect brain cells.
5.Do 30–60 minutes of aerobic exercise daily (like walking or swimming) to boost blood flow and metabolism.
6.Get 7–8 hours of quality sleep to support memory and brain repair.
7. Stay organized by using labels to find items easily and a notepad to track your schedule.
Conclusion
Preventing Alzheimer’s and dementia requires long-term lifestyle changes, not quick fixes. A healthy lifestyle—such as following a Mediterranean diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol—can lower the risk of mixed dementia by 30–40%. Managing risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity further reduces the likelihood of developing dementia.
Early prevention focuses on building cognitive reserve. Research shows that continuous learning, social engagement, and cognitive activities like reading or brain games help strengthen neural networks and slow brain aging. For high-risk individuals, such as those with a family history or past brain injuries, regular biomarker screening (beta-amyloid levels) and neuropsychological assessments can support early detection and timely intervention.
