Alzheimer's disease is one of the most feared diseases. Slowly, step by step, it deprives human memory, and today it is incurable. Also, given the fact that the world population is aging, we can not say that the tendency to the disease is reduced.
The media are full of articles about the causes, symptoms and ways to prevent this disease. But many of them do not show a complete picture of the phenomenon.
Here are the seven most common misconceptions about Alzheimer's and what is actually hiding behind them.
The first myth
- A slight loss of memory - quite normal.
And so it is, in fact, many of us can no longer boast of the exigencies of memory, which we had in the past. But it is important to understand the difference between memory, which is overloaded with information and status, which is the loss of memory. There comes a time when you need some time to remember certain things, but in the end the man restores them in his mind - and it is not memory loss, and age it changes overtaking virtually every one of us.
- What should really be afraid?
Anxiety cost beat when there is a change in thinking. If you forget such things as the names of the closest people, if you are not able to do what is easy to do before, and the reason for that memory problems - you should immediately consult a specialist.
The second myth
- Physical and mental stress and diet can prevent the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease.
Despite the fact that the press in every way promote a healthy lifestyle, claiming that he is one of the ways to avoid the disease, to date it has not been proven by science.
However, studies have shown that eating healthy food, regular aerobic exercise and mental exercise in the form of games, puzzles and puzzles reduces the likelihood of Alzheimer's disease. Also worth noting is the fact that in some cases these positive lifestyle changes can slow the progress of symptomatic in people already suffering from the disease.
At the same time a similar effect - a purely individual phenomenon. Lazy gluttons can enjoy life, but at the same time, vegetarian marathon can become hostage to a terrible disease.
Even more confusing is making an attempt to understand the causal relationships and their interaction. A healthy lifestyle that supposedly reduces the chance of the disease - on the other hand can not be said with absolute certainty that it is a healthy lifestyle is the main preventive method.
People who lead a healthy lifestyle may also have other features of the body that work for them. But you can definitely say one thing -Health lifestyle, not a cure for Alzheimer's disease.
Based on the above described, does not detract from the importance of a healthy diet
Healthy eating - do not limit yourself to eating
, Physical and mental activity, as well as attachment to loved ones. Even if it does not protect against disease, it is certainly important for each person and makes his life even better.
The third myth
- Alzheimer's disease - disease of older people.
Indeed, age - one of the major risk factors. Of the eight people over 65 have at least one suffers from this disease.
But there are also cases where Alzheimer's disease diagnosed in people younger than 65 years. True, it's pretty rare. In practice the described cases, when the disease overtook and 20 years, although Alzheimer's disease with early diagnosis is considered delivered in person to 40-50 years. In the majority of cases it is caused by genetics.
Myth Four
- Alzheimer's disease - genetically determined phenomenon.
There are gene mutations associated with Alzheimer's disease. But the nature of this disease is much deeper and more complex, and it can not be explained only by the presence of the mutated gene.
For example, the gene of apolipoprotein E - it exists in several variations, one of which corresponds to the risk of Alzheimer's disease. But not everyone is a carrier of the gene of variable risk of disease, as well as any not already suffering from this disease have this gene variation. It is worth noting that this is only one of the genes that are associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Thus, it becomes quite clear that it is pointless to blame the one just genetics.
In fact, in some families for many generations the disease is diagnosed in the same age, but genetics can not be regarded as a decisive factor.
Research in this area continues. But remember one thing: none of the genes associated with Alzheimer's disease can not decide the fate of, a major risk factor - is old age.
The fifth myth
- The cause of Alzheimer's disease is depression.
Depression may be an early sign of the disease, but there is no evidence that it is the direct cause of Alzheimer's disease.
Depression is a fairly common phenomenon, people of all ages suffer from this. But not everyone who suffers from depression, ill. The apparent connection between these things not.
The degree of depression
Depression - a little more than a bad mood
It may be different. Patients with Alzheimer's disease have mild, whereas people who are not suffering from the disease, there may be more severe manifestations of depression. Among patients with Alzheimer's disease is extremely rare people with suicidal tendencies.
Myth Six
- Dementia and Alzheimer's disease - the same thing.
Dementia - a collective term that is used in describing cases of memory loss, caused by changes in the brain. Alzheimer's disease - one of the most common forms of dementia, but not the only one. Dementia is not always accompanied by Alzheimer's disease and vice versa.
There are more than 70 reasons that lead to dementia: strokes and strokes, Parkinson's disease, diffuse Lewy bodies, Pick's atrophy, and many others.
Myth Seven
- Dietary supplements protect the brain.
There is no evidence that dietary supplements prevent the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease. In any case, the supplements that were various special tests have not been recognized by experts as a means of preventing this disease.
The composition tested consisted of fish oil supplements
Fish oil - so whether it is useful to think?
, Ginkgo biloba and a higher dose of vitamins. The impact of other additives as much detail has not been studied.
Always tell the doctor about all supplements
Food additives - basic classification
That you are taking, as well as any memory problems that you may have.