When aged people forget things, they are teased saying-"hope you don't have Alzheimer's!" But Alzheimer's disease is no joke.
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the cognitive and behavioural capabilities of the brain. Targeting seniors over 65, Alzheimer's is often confused as an age-related disorder which is not. Alzheimer's disease symptoms are often left undetected and worsen over time, and may even result in death.

Resulting in memory decline, Alzheimer's cripples the aged person mentally, not allowing him/her to be able to perform his regular activities. Eventually, the affected patient needs full- time assistance as he loses his ability to recognize even himself!

Nearly 44 million people in the world are affected by Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. It is one of the top 10 fatal causes that cannot be cured, prevented or even delayed!

What is Alzheimer's disease?

Identified over a hundred years ago in 1906 by Alois Alzheimer, this neurodegenerative disease is the cause of 60-70% of dementia. Almost half of the seniors above 85 get Alzheimer's.

The cause of Alzheimer's is primarily genetic although other factors like hypertension, head injuries and depression are also cited.

Alzheimer's disease symptoms are more pronounced only 4-5 years after the onset of the disease and this is why they often go undetected. Early detection of the disease can help to reduce the severity of its effects with proper medication.

Alzheimer's disease symptoms

1. Memory loss that affects the daily routine

• Forgetting names and appointments and remembering them later.
• Forgetting important dates and events
• Misplacing their belongings
• Forgetting familiar locations and routes
• Asking for the same information again and again
• Relying more on memory aids like phones, reminders or on family members for tasks they used to handle on their own.

2. Difficulty in planning and organization

• Difficulty in handling many monthly bills and expenses
• Trouble with numbers
• Difficulty in organizing for a trip like getting their things together
• Difficulty in following a recipe or plan

3. Difficulty in doing regular tasks

• Changing TV settings
• Switching off the gas, geyser or washing machine
• Forgetting how to use a microwave or vacuum
  

4. Difficulty in remembering date and time

• Confusion on the date or day of the week
• Not remembering the time when they last ate etc.
• Not understanding why something is happening/not happening then

5. Trouble with images, space and stance

• Difficulty in reading
• Unable to assess the distance - how near or far the object is- this can be dangerous if they are climbing steps
• Unable to distinguish colours and contrast

6. Trouble with words

• Not finding the right word to express
• Unable to continue a conversation due to loss of words
• Forgetting spelling or mispronouncing words

7. Poor judgement

• Not able to judge strangers
• trusting strangers with cash or belongings

8. Shabby appearance

• Forgetting to brush, comb etc
• Wearing mismatched outfits or not wearing shoes on both feet etc

9. Social Withdrawal

• Not appearing in public or attending events
• Avoiding talking to people

10. Mood changes

• Angry, suspicious, depressed or reclusive

Stages of Alzheimer's disease

• Pre-clinical stage - before the symptoms occur
• Mild cognitive stage- when mild symptoms appear
• Dementia

Activities for Alzheimer's patients

Family members and caregivers must evolve these activities for Alzheimer's patients to help them combat the disease

• Counting coins
• Crossword, Sudoku  or even Solitaire on the computer
• Naming items or recalling events
• Looking at books
• Playing or singing music
• Cleaning the house-wiping the table, folding the patio
• Gardening

The only way to help people with Alzheimer's is to create awareness of the disease, understand their symptoms and help them to cope with their illness in a caring manner.

Get more information about FirstHospitals @ www.firsthospitals.in

Cloudy skies are great but not cloudy vision. Yes,  cloudiness of the clear lens of the eye is called cataract and it affects a person's eyesight.
The World Health Report claims that 20million people in the world are affected by age-related cataract. Around 3.8 million people in India are blind due to cataract. In fact, cataract accounts for 51% of the world's blindness.
About 10 million eye cataract surgery operations are being conducted each year in the world. Thanks to experienced eye doctors who are striving hard to eliminate this eye disease, the Cataract Surgical Rate (CSR) has doubled in the last 10 years.

Cataract - Causes

Cataract is the cloudiness of the eye lens which is caused by the building-up of protein in the eye.
The lens of our eye is made of protein and water. The protein is arranged so as to allow the light to pass through the lens. But with age, the protein bunches itself together to cloud the area of the lens, thus impairing the vision. If left unattended immediately, the cataract may spread and block out the entire vision. Ophthalmology specialists insist on immediate eye cataract surgery as the cataract may harden with time, making it difficult to be removed.
Cataracts can be classified into different types based on their causes

1. Age-related cataract - this type of cataract forms as you get older
2. Congenital cataract - this cataract is present at birth due to infection, genetic reasons or poor foetal development
3. Secondary cataract - this cataract is formed due to other medical conditions like diabetes
4. Traumatic Cataract - this cataract is formed due to injury.

The cataract usually affects people aged over 40. The risk factors causing cataract are

• Advancing age
• UV radiation from sunlight or electronic diseases
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Alcoholism
• Earlier eye injury or inflammation
• Prior eye surgery
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Prolonged use of corticosteroids or diuretics
• Prolonged use of statin to reduce cholesterol
• Excessive myopia
• Family history
  

Types of cataract based on their location

1. Subcapsular cataract - this occurs at the back of the lens. Patients with diabetes taking steroids are more prone to this type of cataract.
2. Nuclear cataract - this occurs at the centre of the lends and is associated with aging.
3. Cortical cataract - this occurs in the white cortex surrounding the central nucleus of the lens. It starts from the periphery and moves towards the centre like the spokes of a wheel, forming white wedges.

Cataract - Signs and symptoms

• Dim, blurred or cloudy vision
• Difficulty in night vision
• Sensitivity to light or glare
• Need for brighter light for reading
• Seeing a halo around the light
• Fading or yellowing of colours
• Double vision in a single eye
• Changing the spectacles or contacts frequently
• Nearsightedness in older people
  

Cataract treatment with eye cataract surgery
Once formed, a cataract can be cured only by immediate eye cataract surgery. there are many techniques for eye cataract surgery like
1. Phaco-emulsification
Here the affected eye lens is emulsified using a hand-held ultrasonic device and aspirated from the eye.
2. Manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS)
Here the entire eye lens is expressed out of the eye manually by creating a self-healing scleral wound.

3. Extra-capsular cataract extraction (ECCE)
Here the entire eye lens is removed leaving the posterior lens capsule intact for implanting the intra-ocular lens.
4. Intra-capsular cataract extraction
Here both the eye lens and its lens capsule are removed and an artificial plastic intraocular lens is sutured or placed in the anterior chamber.
5. Femtosecond laser extraction
Here a laser is used to make a precise incision using Optical Coherence Tomography, keeping the remaining eye capsule intact.

Cure cataract immediately by heading to the best ophthalmology specialists today.