There is a disease that slowly takes away a person's ability to perceive, think, and act, making it impossible for a person to speak, eat, and find their way home......
This is known as "Alzheimer's disease," and it can happen in the twilight of each of us.
According to the International Alzheimer's Association, a new Alzheimer's disease patient is added every 3 seconds worldwide.
According to the "China Alzheimer's Disease Report 2024", the number of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive impairments in mainland China is 16.99 million, which has become the fifth leading cause of death among urban and rural residents in China.
When Alzheimer's disease occurs, what happens to the brain
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disease of the nervous system that begins slowly and progressively, accounting for 60%~80% of all causes of cognitive impairment.
What happened to the patient's brain and nervous system?
At present, it is generally believed that in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, the protein of β-amyloid protein abnormally aggregates to form plaques, which has the effect of poisoning neurons and disrupting nerve conduction, and can slowly destroy the central nervous system.
In addition, a protein called tau protein can also aggregate abnormally, forming fibrous tangles that further interfere with the function of nerve cells.
Abnormal deposition of these proteins can lead to brain dysfunction.
The World Health Organization estimates that the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in the global elderly population over 65 years old is 4%~7%. In other words, for every 100 elderly people over 65 years old, 4~7 people may suffer from Alzheimer's disease; And the prevalence doubles for every 5 years of age.
Alzheimer's disease is a long marathon, and the disease can last for more than a decade or even longer, which not only seriously affects the lives of patients, but also places a huge burden on caregivers.
People with a tendency to cognitive impairment often say 4 sentences
Alzheimer's disease, most typically presents with progressive memory decline, but can also be accompanied by symptoms such as decreased language, performance, visuospatial function, and behavioral abnormalities.
People with cognitive impairment or cognitive impairment tend to be forgetful, and the frequency of forgetfulness is very high, mainly due to recent memory decline, but the memory of old things is more clear, people with cognitive impairment tend to say the following 4 sentences.
1
"What? You repeat. ”
People with Alzheimer's disease are characterized by severe short-term memory loss and difficulty concentrating, even if they have just happened or what they have just said, they will forget it.
2
"Where is this, how did I get here?"
As the disease progresses, the patient's concept of time and space declines. It's a place that I was familiar with before, but I suddenly don't know it; I don't realize I'm lost, I don't look at the signs, and I even ask, "Why am I here?" "There are also patients who do not seek help because of a decrease in IQ.
3
"My things are missing, did someone take them?"
Decreased short-term memory and frequent inability to find everyday objects are also typical manifestations of cognitive impairment.
Patients also misplace things all the time, and the misplaced places are becoming more and more unusual, such as putting a phone in the refrigerator or a sock on the dining table.
Not only can they not find anything, but sometimes they suspect that someone has stolen their things for no apparent reason: "Where are my keys and glasses?" It must be a thief from the house! ”
4
"You don't care about me."
The disease affects the cerebral cortex, causing them to have great emotional fluctuations, frequent tantrums or special sensitivity, feeling lonely and uncaring. Emotional abnormalities are not fixed, some people change from extroversion to introversion, and some people change from introversion to extroversion.
By the time they progress to the middle stages of the disease, they become socially withdrawn – and when they can't remember what to say next, they simply don't speak.
Doctors recommend 7 tips to take care of your brain
Recently, the Institute of Global Health and Development of Peking University found that about half of the new cases of cognitive impairment in mainland China can be attributed to more than 10 modifiable risk factors:
High blood pressure, obesity, hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, alcohol consumption, smoking, depression, lack of exercise, lack of social interaction, diabetes, etc.
Bring the weight down
Studies have confirmed that obesity is strongly associated with brain volume and cognitive function.
Before the age of 65, the body mass index [BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m) squared] should be controlled at 18.5~23.9; over 65 years old should not be too thin, if there is a significant trend of weight loss, attention should be paid to.
Train your brain from time to time
Continuous learning of different content can form a positive stimulation for the brain. Small changes such as learning a new language or photography, practicing yoga, gardening, turning off navigation while driving, reading often, changing the way after work, and answering the phone with a different hand can all energize the brain.
Try to lower your blood pressure to 130/80
Although hypertension is considered above 140/90 mm Hg, young and middle-aged people should strive to keep their blood pressure below 130/80 mm Hg, which can significantly reduce the risk of heart and brain damage.
Do not touch tobacco or alcohol
Tobacco, alcohol, and lack of sleep are all the culprits of brain damage, so we must actively quit smoking and drinking; The elderly should avoid falling to prevent head injuries; When there are sleep disorders and cerebrovascular diseases, seek medical intervention as soon as possible.
Turn exercise into a habit
Perform at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week, and you can do aerobic exercises such as tai chi, baduanjin, walking, and running according to your own conditions.
Hand movements, such as playing the piano, hitting the keyboard, and picking beans, can also effectively stimulate specific brain regions, helping to prevent and delay Alzheimer's disease.
Take care of your hearing
Hearing loss can affect spatial localization and speech recognition, implicating brain function.
Some behaviors that damage hearing should be avoided as much as possible, including wearing headphones to sleep, listening to headphones for a long time in the subway, headphone volume exceeding 60 decibels, listening to headphones for more than 60 minutes a day, and picking ears with cotton swabs.
Relax and blend in with the circle
Relax your mind and avoid overstress. Active socialization is encouraged, but it's good to relax when you're alone. After retirement, you need to pay attention to avoid the boring and monotonous life, and go out of the house every day.
At present, there is no effective cure or reversal of Alzheimer's disease, so it is wise to prevent it in advance, identify it early, and intervene as soon as possible.
Source: CCTV Science and Education