Alzheimer's

What is it?

Of all the dementias in the elderly, Alzheimer's disease is the most frequent type and accounts for up to 70% of dementia cases.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimer’s progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations

Symptoms

The Alzeimer's Association has developed a check list of warning signs linked to the onset of this condition:

1.Memory loss. Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. A person begins to forget more often and is unable to recall the information later.
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. People with dementia often find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. Individuals may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game.
3. Problems with language. People with Alzheimer’s disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. They may be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead ask for "that thing for my mouth.”
4. Disorientation to time and place. People with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home.
5. Poor or decreased judgment. Those with Alzheimer’s may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers.
6. Problems with abstract thinking. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used.
7. Misplacing things. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
8. Changes in mood or behavior. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may show rapid mood swings – from calm to tears to anger – for no apparent reason.
9. Changes in personality. The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member.
10. Loss of initiative. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual or not wanting to do usual activities. 

In later stages mobility may be affected, leading to an inability to feed oneself and possible incontinence.  Death may eventually result from consequent external causes like heart attack or pneumonia.

Average disease duration is approximately 7-10 years, although cases have been seen to progresss through anything from 4-5 to even 15 years.

Diagnosis is made on history, clinical observation and tests of memory and intellectual functioning over a period of time.  (blood tests and neuroimaging may be used to rule out alternative diseases).

Causes

Scientists know that Alzheimer's disease involves the malfunction and/or death of nerve cells in the brain, where the release of brain chemicals, neurotransmitters (needed or communication between nerve endings) decreases.

Characteristic abnormalities have been found, such as abnormal or accumulated proteins, tangled protein filaments and loss of neurons and synapses. 

A deficiency in the production of acetylcholine, a vital neurotransmitter, is also thought to be at fault, and neurotransmitter research continues.

There is compelling evidence for a genetic predisposition. Research shows that those who have a relative with Alzheimer's are up to 3 times more at risk.

Poor cardiovascular health (such as smoking, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol) contributes to a high risk status.

How can BioTech Healing help?

A person with Alzheimer's may have some of the following deficiences and intolerances: Glutamate-rich food sources (such as MSG), nutritional deficiencies including vitamin A, vitamin C & E,  vitamin B6 and  B12, DHA/EFAs (i.e. from cold water fish) and folate, as well as increased exposure to heavy metals and environmental toxins like aluminium (found in household products and foods), zinc, iron, copper (found in addictive foods and drinks like coffee, cola, chocolate and cocoa products), manganese, and other substances including selenium and sulphur excesses.

Nervous system viruses, and other infections affecting the brain, spinal cord and central nervous system