when to suspect and tips for accompanying a pandemic

Having or having a family member with Alzheimer’s disease is not easy. Given the difficulties inherent in the disease, which can be worsened by precautionary measures due to the risk of contagion of COVID-19, on the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day, experts call for special attention to be paid to possible behavior changes don’t stop cognitively stimulating those who go through it.

In this context, from the Center for Cognitive Neurology (CeNeCo) of the British Hospital Neurology Service, they urge to raise awareness of the various difficulties associated with this disease during a pandemic.

“The appearance of mood disorders it is favored by the new context, which manifests itself in greater anxiety and depression; the development of disruptive behaviors, such as agitation, agitation, psychomotor arousal and confusional states. In this sense, it is extremely important to be attentive to possible changes in behavior in people with Alzheimer’s disease, ”they say.

As Alejandro Andersson, neurologist and director of the Buenos Aires Institute of Neurology, explains, Alzheimer’s disease is the main cause of dementia, that is, the deterioration of higher functions or cognitive abilities.

“This involves not only memory, but also all aspects of life. In advanced cases, patients find themselves with a sort of ‘blank stare’ and are unable to recognize their loved ones, ”he adds.

Suffer it one out of ten adults over 65, a figure that translates to about 400,000 people in the country, according to the doctor.

A progressive disease

“At an early stage, Alzheimer’s disease progress in silenceAlthough there are no symptoms, pathological changes occur in the brain that go completely unnoticed, ”they report from the British.

“The following stages progress to severe cognitive decline, which includes behavioral symptoms, which often strongly disrupt the daily activities and family routine of the patient due to the progressive loss of functional autonomy “, they add.

Taking into account that the loneliness in which many elderly people live can aggravate an already complex situation, they recommend integrating psychoeducational measures, family support, behavior modification and cognitive stimulation.

Don’t skip checks is another piece of advice: “It is imperative not to neglect the surveillance and control of comorbid diseases, as their decompensation will adversely affect general health; it will accelerate cognitive deterioration and conduct disorders; and it will increase the risk of contagion and development of more severe disorders. forms of COVID infection, “they warn.

The recommendations provided by the aforementioned hospital to promote self-esteem booster and the preservation of functional independence are:

– Learn more about the guidelines of a healthy lifestyle. Both practicing a Mediterranean diet and promoting physical activity, social interactions and cognitive stimulation not only improve quality of life but also significantly (approximately 50%) decrease exposure to risk factors for suffering from the disease. Alzheimer’s.

– Intensify care for the elderly, to avoid domestic accidents due to the general condition and pathologies of aging, regardless of the degree of cognitive decline.

For this, they recommend to anticipate the possibility of: loss of visual acuity, hearing difficulties (which can interfere with communication and social interaction), functional alterations, muscle atrophies, loss of reflexes and motor slowdown avoiding potentially dangerous postures and tasks.

– Implement preventive measures at home And avoid slippery or uneven floors, narrow doors, poor lighting, hallways with excessive obstacles, carpeting, excess furniture, furniture with a glass surface, among others.

– Promote sleep hygiene: promote a restorative night’s rest. For this, it is advisable to exercise regularly, establish fixed sleep schedules, avoid alcohol consumption, among others.

Prevention, diagnosis and treatment

“Firstly, cognitive disorders are observed in the patient or his family, then they are measured objectively and precisely with neurocognitive assessments. Memory problems are not always synonymous with dementia. Neurocognitive testing is the best way to know if you are dealing with the frequent mild forgetfulness or pathological forgetfulness of Alzheimer’s disease, ”says Andersson.

Concerning the causes, he specifies: “The disease consists of the deposit, between neurons, of toxic forms of a protein called betaamyloid, which ends up breaking down its internal skeleton. When a neuron undergoes this process, it infects its neighbor and sets off a chain reaction, “he explains.

Regarding his beginnings, the professional explains as detailed above that the process starts in silence, up to twenty years before its manifestation, in the form of mild cognitive disorders, then moderate and finally severe.

It is important to emphasize that this is a pathology that does not distinguish between socio-economic classes or ethnicity, which affects men and women – discreetly predominant in the latter – and is more frequent from the start. 65 years.

Why do some people develop the disease and not others? “To a greater or lesser extent, genetic always play. A clear history of Alzheimer’s in the family increases the risk of suffering from it, and a low level of education or a poor intellectual activity during the life is another risk factor for dementia, “he explains. .

“There are images of great genetic penetration known as Familial Alzheimer’s and others known as sporadic Alzheimer’s – he continues – where genetics play much less, giving rise to environmental factors. They are in the majority “, he underlines, and advises in this sense not to neglect the art of living.

Regarding treatments, the professional refers to the medications (donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine) “which stimulate and increase the availability of acetylcholine in the synapses of memory circuits and others (memantine) which regulate glutamate”.

And he adds: “Omega 3 fatty acids, in particular DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), facilitate the synthesis of neuronal membranes, useful for new neuronal extensions and synapses”.

On the other hand, he maintains that he is currently aiming for “precision treatments: personalized medicine for each individual based on the analysis of biomarkers (plasma and images) and the characteristics of each patient’s condition.