ALZHEIMERS

DISEASE
Saad Saleem
ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
AD has been identified as a protein
misfolding disease (proteopathy), caused by
accumulation of abnormally folded amyloid
proteins in the brain.
The Hallmark present in the brain is

Neurofibrillary Tangles (NFTs)

Alzheimers disease cont

Risk factors:
Age
Family history
Female gender after 80 years
Cardiovascular factors
Diabetes
Obesity
Hypercholsterolemia
Alzheimers disease cont

AD is the most common cause of Dementia

Dementia may be caused in degenerative

disorders such as Parkinsons, AD, etc.

infections such as Neurosyphilis, AIDS, etc.
vascular diseases such as stroke, anoxia,
etc. other causes such as head trauma,
alcoholic dementia
Alzheimers disease cont
Remember this mnemonic:
D- drug use
E- emotional disorder (depression)
M- metabolic and endocrine disorders (dehydration, renal
failure)
E- eye and ear disorders
N- nutritional disorders and normal-pressure hydrocephalus
T- tumor or trauma
I- infection
A- atherosclerosis or alcoholism
Alzheimers disease cont

Early stages, most common symptom is

difficulty in remembering recent events.
Confirmation of diagnosis is by tests that

evaluate behavior and thinking abilities.

In advanced stages, symptoms include

confusion, irritability, aggression, mood swings,

trouble with language, and long-term memory
loss, loss of executive functions, perception
(agnosia), or execution of movements (apraxia)
is also prominent.
There are four stages of AD.
Alzheimers disease cont

Treatment strategies include:

Psychosocial interventions
Medical interventions
Complementary and alternative

interventions
Physiotherapy interventions