Understanding Alzheimer’s: How You Can Take Charge of Your Brain Health

Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia, is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys memory and thinking skills, eventually leading to an inability to carry out simple or everyday tasks. It’s the most common type of dementia, which is the loss of cognitive functioning and behavioral abilities to a degree severe enough to affect a person’s daily life.

More than 55 million people are living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia worldwide, including over seven million adults age 65 and older in the United States. According to the Alzheimer's Association, as many as two-thirds of Americans have at least one major potential risk factor for dementia. While experts believe there is no single cause of Alzheimer’s, there are actions you can take to reduce your risk of cognitive decline and developing dementia.

With June being Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to learn more about this disease and discover ways that you can take charge of your brain health. The fight to end Alzheimer’s starts here, and taking action now can make a big difference later.

What are the Symptoms of Alzheimer’s?

Those that have witnessed the effects of Alzheimer’s firsthand know how complex the disease can be, especially as it progresses. Initially, the symptoms can seem like things that are typical of aging—trouble remembering recent events, difficulty thinking clearly, or losing track of details. However, Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging.

Understanding the symptoms and warning signs of Alzheimer’s can help identify the disease early and lead to improved treatment. Symptoms include issues with:

• Memory: Memory loss is the primary symptom of Alzheimer’s, with signs that include repeating questions or statements, forgetting conversations or events, getting lost in familiar places, misplacing items or putting things in places that don’t make sense, forgetting the names of family members, having trouble finding the right words.
• Thinking, concentration, and reasoning: Trouble concentrating and thinking is a primary sign of Alzheimer’s, especially when it comes to multitasking. Abstract concepts and numbers can be particularly challenging, which is why people with the disease may struggle with managing finances.
• Planning and performing normal tasks: Alzheimer’s affects the way that a person completes tasks that were once familiar. As the disease progresses, they may go from having difficulty cooking, planning, or playing simple games to forgetting how to dress, bathe, or complete other everyday tasks.
• Making judgements and decisions: Because Alzheimer’s affects the way the brain processes information, it can cause a person to make choices that are inappropriate or even uncomfortable for themselves or others. For example, they may say the wrong thing in a social setting, wear clothing that doesn’t make sense for the season, or struggle with making decisions while driving.
• Personality and behavior: Alzheimer’s affects more than just memory and cognitive ability—it also impacts behaviors, personality traits, and mood. For example, a person who never showed signs of depression may be depressed or lose interest in activities. Other signs include mood swings, anger or aggression, loss of inhibitions, changes in sleep patterns, wandering, distrust of others, social withdrawal, and delusions.

As Alzheimer’s becomes more advanced, the symptoms a person experiences worsen. They can keep some skills, however, which are known as preserved skills. These may include hobbies like singing, dancing, drawing, crafting, listening to music, or telling stories.

What Causes Alzheimer’s?

Despite extensive research on the topic, the exact causes of Alzheimer’s disease are still unknown. However, scientists believe that, in most cases, Alzheimer’s is caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. There is a small group (less than one percent of people with Alzheimer’s) where the disease is caused by a specific genetic change that almost guarantees that it will develop.

At a core level, Alzheimer’s is linked to proteins in the brain functioning abnormally. Researchers looking at the cause of Alzheimer’s focus on the role of two proteins in particular: plaques (beta-amyloid), and tangles (tau proteins). Experts believe that these proteins play a role in blocking communication between nerve cells and disrupting processes needed for cells to survive, thus causing memory failure, personality changes, and other issues as nerve cells continue to die.

Although the specific cause of Alzheimer’s remains to be understood, there are several risk factors that are linked to a higher likelihood of the disease developing. These risk factors include:

• Age
• Family history and genetics
• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
• Heavy alcohol use
• Down syndrome
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Poor sleep patterns or sleep apnea
• Air pollution exposure
• Obesity
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
• Lack of physical exercise
• High blood pressure
• Hearing loss
• Untreated vision loss
• Lack of social engagement
• Low education levels

How is Alzheimer’s Diagnosed?

Alzheimer's begins 20 years or more before memory loss and other symptoms develop. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s at this time, healthcare providers can recommend treatments to manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. This highlights the importance of early recognition, as the earlier a diagnosis is made, the earlier treatment can begin.

Healthcare providers use a few different methods and evaluations to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Because patients with neurocognitive impairment (like dementia) are often unreliable reporters of their own symptoms, providers will speak to people close to the patient in order to get a better idea of what symptoms may be present and to what degree. Screening tools, such as the Older Adult Cognitive Screener™ (OACS™), are often administered to obtain valuable insight into a patient’s functioning. These screeners are given to knowledgeable observers of the patient, such as a friend, family member, or home health nurse.

Patients will also be asked about their current health, medical history, and symptoms or recent changes. They will undergo a physical exam as well as a neurological exam, allowing their provider to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms and issues with memory. Additional tests may include:

• Brain MRI
• CT scans
• PET scans
• Cognitive tests
• Urine tests

What Does Alzheimer’s Treatment Look Like?

Once a healthcare provider has all the information they need to make the diagnosis, they can begin working on a personalized treatment plan based on the unique needs of the patient. They will also help set realistic goals, both short term and long term, to help manage expectations and track progress. The OACS Change Report tracks change over time, giving providers a clear method of monitoring the progression of the disease so that they may adjust their treatment recommendations accordingly.

In addition to lifestyle changes, providers may also prescribe certain medications to manage Alzheimer’s symptoms. These include cholinesterase inhibitors (such as Donepezil, Galantamine, or Rivastigmine), which block an enzyme that can speed up the damage that Alzheimer’s does to the brain. Intravenous (IV) infusions like Lecanemab or donanemab may be given to target amyloid proteins, thus slowing down Alzheimer’s progression. Additional recommendations may include NMDA antagonists like Memantine, as well as symptom-management medications like antidepressants, antipsychotics, and antiseizure medications.

Science has already made vast strides in terms of how Alzheimer’s is managed, and clinical trials and research continue to be done to find new ways of treating—and possibly one day curing—the disease.

Can You Reduce Your Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s?

While some risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, such as genetics, are out of your control, others can be modified to lower your risk. For example, science shows that adopting certain lifestyle changes may reduce the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s. The following habits are recommended to improve your brain health:

• Exercise regularly – Physical exercise is as good for your brain as it is for your body. Even something as simple as a daily walk can make a big difference.
• Protect your head from injury – Take precautionary actions to avoid hard falls or hitting your head. Wear a helmet when necessary, wear your seatbelt when in a moving vehicle, and pay attention when walking on slippery surfaces.
• Challenge your mind – Learning really is good for you, especially when it comes to your brain health. Education reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, as does challenging your mind in other ways.
• Quit smoking – Smoking increases the risk if cognitive decline, but quitting—at any age—can lower that risk back to levels close to those who have not smoked.
• Manage diabetes – Type 2 diabetes is considered a risk factor for Alzheimer’s and dementia, but it can be managed through healthy lifestyle habits such as eating healthy, exercising, and taking medication if necessary.
• Control your blood pressure – If you have high blood pressure, speak to your health care provider and do what you can to lower your numbers.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet – According to the National Institute on Aging, many studies suggest a link between diet and cognitive benefits. Research has shown that diets rich in fruits and vegetables (and low in red meat and processed foods), such as the Mediterranean diet, may reduce dementia risk by up to 23%.
• Get good quality sleep – Sleep and mental health are closely intertwined, and sleeping well can help promote good brain health. Practice healthy sleep habits, such as staying off your phone before bed, and talk to a doctor if you have severe trouble sleeping.
•  Maintain a healthy weight – Obesity increases the risk of Alzheimer’s, so do what you can to maintain a weight that is healthy for you.

Looking Ahead: The Value of Raising Awareness

This Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, we’re drawing attention to the power of education and early detection. This is where tools like the OACS play an important role in helping healthcare providers make essential decisions and recommendations, potentially adding years to a patient’s life.

If you or someone you know has been affected by Alzheimer’s, you are not alone. The impact of this disease is felt by everyone, so do what you can to raise awareness and reduce your risk. There is hope ahead, and it starts with taking action today.