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Alzheimer's Disease Its Causes, Treatment, and Medications

Alzheimer’s Disease: Its Causes, Treatment, and Medications

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Alzheimer’s disease is a neurologic disorder that affects the brain. One of the main features of this disease is the presence of plaques and tangles in the brain. Another feature is a loss of connection between neurons or nerve cells in the brain. This disease is one of the most common causes of dementia.  

Several things that are thought to increase your risk of developing the disease may be: 

  • An increasing age 
  • A family history of the disease 
  • Lifestyle factors and diseases associated with cardiovascular disease 
  • Untreated depression can also be one of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease 

 

What causes Alzheimer’s Disease? 

Alzheimer’s disease is understood to be caused by an unusual build-up of proteins around and inside the brain cells. Some of the proteins involved are amyloid that deposits of which makes plaques around brain cells. Tau is also another protein that deposits of which form tangles within brain cells. As the brain cells become affected, there is also a decrease in chemical messengers involved in sending messages between brain cells.   

The level of one neurotransmitter called acetylcholine is particularly low in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Different areas of the brain shrink over time. The leading parts commonly affected are accountable for memories.  

 

Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease 

Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. Memory problems are usually one of the first warning signs of the disease. In addition, people with Alzheimer’s disease may also experience: 

  • Trouble completing familiar tasks at home, at work, or leisure 
  • Changes in behavior, mood, or personality 
  • Trouble handling money and paying bills 
  • Decreased or poor judgment 
  • Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them 
  • Memory loss that disrupts daily life such as repeating questions or getting lost in a familiar place  

 

Risk Factors Of Having Alzheimer’s Disease 

The following are the listed factors of getting the disease: 

Areas affected by the condition: 

  • Finland 
  • United States 
  • Canada 
  • Iceland 
  • Sweden 
  • Switzerland  
  • Norway 
  • Denmark 
  • Netherlands  
  • Belgium  

 

People who are at risk: 

Alzheimer’s disease is most common in people aged 65 years and older. The risk of this disease and other types of dementia increases with age that affects an estimated 1 in 14 individuals over the age of 65 and 1 in every 6 individuals 80 years of age and older. However, around 1 in every 20 cases of the disease affects people from 40 to 65 years of age. It is called an early or young-onset Alzheimer’s disease.  

 

Safety Precautions  

To prevent stressful and harmful situations, consider these safety tips: 

  • Prepare for emergencies. You need to have an emergency contact number in case something came up.  
  • Have a monitoring device to help you in case you need something or an unexpected situation to occur.  
  • Take caution when using a heating device.  
  • Avoid potentially harmful appliances.  
  • Be careful when using a heating device.  

 

Treating Alzheimer’s Disease 

Alzheimer’s disease is not an avoidable condition. Conversely, there are various lifestyle risk factors for the disease that can be modified. The changes in diet, habits, and exercise help = to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease which may as well lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Change lifestyle choices that may reduce the risk of the disease include the following: 

  • Eating a diet of healthy oils, fresh produce, and foods low in saturated fat  
  • Exercising regularly 
  • Following treatment guidelines to manage high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes 
  • Asking your doctor for help to quit smoking if you smoke 

Studies have made known that preserved thinking skills later in life and a low risk of having the disease are associated with participating in: 

  • Reading 
  • Creating art 
  • Dancing 
  • Playing an instrument 
  • Playing board games 
  • Social events 
  • Other activities that require social and mental engagement 

 

Medications for Alzheimer’s Disease 

Various medications may be prescribed in people with Alzheimer’s disease to help improve some symptoms temporarily. These medications may include: 

  1. Acetylcholinesteraseinhibitors 

These medications increase levels of acetylcholine which is a substance in the brain that helps nerve cells connect. Certain drugs that can be prescribed for people with early- to mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease are: 

  1. Memantine

This drug works by blocking the effects of an excessive amount of a chemical in the brain called glutamate. 

  1. Risperidone

This should be used at the lowest dose and for the shortest time possible as it has serious side effects. 

  1. Haloperidol

This should only be used if other treatments have not helped. 

Alzheimer’s disease

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Alzheimer’s disease is a common type of Dementia. The term “Dementia” is used to describe the loss of memory and trouble handling things such as thinking and reasoning.  People with this type of disease have a hard time responding to their daily activities.

Dr. Alois Alzheimer first discovered the “Alzheimer’s Disease” in 1906. Having this condition unable a person to respond likes normal people. Extra care is needed because some parts of their brain control their thoughts and memory.

CAUSES

There is no exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Environmental and Lifestyle are factors that contribute to this condition. Alzheimer’s disease is capable of damaging the brain and its brain cells. It can caused a person’s brain to become smaller. There are two types of abnormalities that occur in the brain: Plaques and Tangles.

SYMPTOMS

Memory problems are the first signs of having Alzheimer’s disease. This condition is not normal in aging. A person with this disease may experience the following:

  • Memory loss, or unable to remember familiar places
  • Asking and repeating the same questions
  • Trouble handling money
  • Misplacing things that are being used regularly
  • Changing mood/mood swings
  • Repeating things you do over and over
  • Forgetting things and having trouble to remember later
  • Trouble to respond in daily activities
  • Confusion of time and place

Experiencing the above symptoms doesn’t mean you have Alzheimer’s disease. It is better to consult a Physician. Seeking doctor’s advice may help you develop a plan for your care.

TREATMENT

Alzheimer’s disease has no cure. Medications are useful to help treat mental functions. Caregivers can also help improve the life of a person having this kind of condition. Treatments can be done in different ways:

  • Help them to maintain mental function
  • Manage their behavioral symptoms
  • Delaying the symptoms of the Alzheimer’s Disease

MEDICATIONS

Cholinesterase inhibitors and Memantine (Namenda) are drugs used to treat mental function.

Cholinesterine inhibitors – is a medicine that helps in communicating cell to cell in the brain. These are the common forms of this drug.

  • Donepezil (Aricept)
  • Galantamine (Razadyne)
  • Rivastigmine (Exelon)

Memantine (Namenda) – slows down the progression of the symptoms. It is used to lessen the severe forms of the disease.

Caring for a person with this disease at home can be a hard task to do. Each day brings a new obstacle to the caregivers that cope with the behavioral change of a person. Alzheimer’s disease needs extra care as the disease gets worse day by day.

BURDEN OF ALZHEIMER’S

Alzheimer’s disease has an increasing rate of death, unlike other diseases. This condition has shown to be underreported on death certificates. It’s one of the top 10 causes of death in the US and it’s the 6th leading cause of death among adults.

Buy Rivastigmine

Medication for Mild-Moderate Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s disease

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Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important functions. It starts slowly and become worse over the time. Early symptoms show difficulty in remembering recent events.

Parkinson’s disease includes loss of brain cells that produce a natural chemical dopamine. Early symptoms show tremors, slow movement and problem walking.

Rivastigmine is used for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

How do Rivastigmine works?

Acetylcholine is a natural chemical. This natural chemical present at the nerve ending help to send messages between certain nerve cells. It is necessary for the process of memory, thinking and reasoning. The people with above disease show the lower level of this natural chemical. This affects the functions of the brain.

The above drug binds to the enzyme and inactivates it. This prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine at nerve endings. The increase in the concentration of the natural chemical helps to increase the communication between nerve cells. The action of above drug provides temporary relief from the symptoms of Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease.

How to take Rivastigmine?

Rivastigmine is an oral drug available in various strength.

  • Strength: -1.5 mg, 3 mg, 4.5 mg.
  • Adult Dosage: –
  • Initial Dose: – 1.5 mg two times in a day.
  • Maximum dose: – 12 mg in a day.
  • Children Dosage: – Not applicable.

Comments: –

  • Your doctor decides the dose depending on the condition and tolerance of the patient.
  • Your doctor may increase the dose by 1.5 mg per dose over a period of 2 weeks.
  • Take the pill with food.

What are the uses of Rivastigmine?

  1. It is used in the treatment of dementia in Alzheimer’s disease.
  2. Treats the symptoms of the Parkinson’s disease.
  3. Improves the function of nerve cells in the brain.
  4. Prevents the breakdown of natural chemical acetylcholine. This helps to improve symptoms of above disease.

Increase the level of the above natural chemical.

  1. Increase in levels helps in the process of memory, thinking, and reasoning.
  2. Increase efficacy of patient. This allows remaining independent for a longer period.

What are the precautions in taking Rivastigmine?

  • Certain medical condition may create complication in using Rivastigmine.
  • Ask your doctor if you have/are,
    • Allergic to the above drug.
    • Breathing or other lung problems.
    • Stomach or intestinal problems.
    • Heart disease.
    • Seizures
    • Problems urinating.
    • Dental or other upcoming surgery.
    • Pregnant
    • Breastfeeding.
    • The drug may make you feel dizzy. Avoid work that needs to be alert.
  • Limit use of alcohol.
  • Inform your doctor, the list of medicine you take.

Cost of Rivastigmine (Generic & Brand)

Generic and Brand drug contain same active ingredient as Rivastigmine. They show the same effect. But the Generic drug is cheap as compared to Brand ones. Brand makers spend a huge amount on research and development. Other cost includes packing, pricing, and marketing.

Generic medicines do not include these expenditures.

  • Cost of Generic Rivastigmine.

Quantity                 Strength                   Price              price per unit

30 pills                 1.5 mg                        $ 17                     $ 0.57

30 pills                   3 mg                         $ 21                     $ 0.7

30 pills                 4.5 mg                        $ 25                    $ 0.83

  • Cost of Brand Exelon.

Quantity                Strength                  price                   Price per unit

56 pills                 1.5 mg                      $ 240.77                  $ 3.99

56 pills                 3 mg                         $ 276.96                  $ 4.82

30 pills                 4.5 mg                     $ 113.14                    $3.77