As a person gets old certain conditions like Alzheimer's or dementia usually make a person forgetful. Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of cognitive impairment in older adults.
A person affected by the disease may have difficulty remembering recent events or the names of people they know. As the disease progresses, the symptoms worsen and can disrupt your daily routine, making the person irritated and helpless.
It is a neurological disorder in which brain cells degenerate and die, resulting in a steady decline in memory and mental function. Every disease advances this condition can make a person agitated all the time. This usually happens to older adults approaching their 40s and 50s or people over 50 or 65. But nowadays with the kind of diet we have the rigorous lifestyle we follow, and the instant media consumption, the disease can happen earlier too.
Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease develop slowly and worsen over time, affecting daily tasks and the quality of life of the patient. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is crucial for early diagnosis and management. Alzheimer’s symptoms are generally categorized into three stages: mild, moderate, and severe, each displaying distinct characteristics and challenges.
Causes of Alzheimer's Disease
Usually, this disease is caused by progressing age but there are a few factors like genetics, down syndrome, high cholesterol level, high blood pressure, or even lifestyle changes that can cause this disease.
- Genetics: A family history of Alzheimer's increases the risk, although most cases do not have a direct genetic link.
- Down Syndrome: Individuals with Down syndrome have a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer's, though the exact reason is yet to be understood.
- Aging: The risk of Alzheimer’s increases with age, especially for those over 65 years.
- High Cholesterol and Blood Pressure: Elevated levels of cholesterol and high blood pressure can also elevate the risk of Alzheimer’s.
- Lifestyle and Environmental Factors: Certain lifestyle habits and environmental factors may influence the development of Alzheimer's over time, though these are risk factors and not direct causes.
Mild Alzheimer’s Symptoms
- Memory Loss: Difficulty remembering new information, events, names, and places.
- Language Problems: Struggling to find the right words to express thoughts.
- Misplacing Items: Frequently losing personal belongings.
- Planning and Organizing Issues: Trouble making plans or organizing tasks.
- Problem-solving Difficulties: Challenges with solving problems.
- Slower Completion of Daily Tasks: Taking longer to complete routine activities.
- Recognition: Usually can recognize familiar faces and travel to known places.
Moderate Alzheimer’s Symptoms
- Increased Memory Loss and Confusion: Forgetting personal history and confusion about the current date or season.
- Poor Short-term Memory: Difficulty retaining new information.
- Recognition Difficulty: Problems recognizing close friends and family.
- Repetition: Repeating stories or events as a result of forgetting easily.
- Math Challenges: Struggling with simple calculations.
- Self-care Dependence: Needing help with personal care.
- Personality Changes: Experiencing mood swings, agitation, depression, or anxiety.
- Delusions: Unjustified suspicions about others and constant fear of meeting people.
- Incontinence: Experiencing urinary or bowel incontinence.
- Sleep Disturbances: Changes in sleep patterns.
- Wandering: Tendency to wander anywhere and get lost.
Severe Alzheimer’s Symptoms
- Significant Memory Loss: Near total loss of memory.
- Lack of Awareness: Unaware of surroundings and environment.
- Complete Dependence: Needs extensive care for all daily activities.
- Limited Communication: Speech reduced to few words or phrases.
- Increased Vulnerability to Infections: Prone to infections like pneumonia.
Stages of Alzheimer's Disease
This disease happens in stages. There are no definite boundaries between mild and moderate stages, but you can expect to see changes like the ones shown below over time.
Stage 1: No detectable symptoms or memory problems.
Stage 2: Early signs like forgetfulness begin to appear, though they are often indistinguishable from typical age-related forgetfulness.
Stage 3: Cognitive decline becomes noticeable to others. Individuals may struggle to find the right words, frequently forget names, and lose personal items.
Stage 4: Symptoms become more evident. There's noticeable forgetfulness about personal history, difficulty with basic mathematics, and challenges in managing finances.
Stage 5: Individuals exhibit moderate to severe symptoms and may require assistance with daily activities.
Stage 6: Constant supervision is necessary as individuals need help with basic daily routines.
Stage 7: This final stage is terminal, with a significant loss of communication and awareness. Individuals may lose the ability to swallow.
Ayurvedic Herbs for Brain Health
Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine, emphasizes the importance of a balanced and harmonious body for optimal brain function. Certain Ayurvedic herbs are renowned for their beneficial effects on brain health, including:
Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)
Famous for its memory-enhancing and stress-reducing capabilities, Brahmi is a staple herb in Ayurvedic medicine for boosting brain health. It is used in many herbal concoctions to prepare medicines that are used to reduce stress or anxiety in patients.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Ashwagandha aids in improving cognitive function and alleviating stress. This makes it a vital herb for mental well-being. This herb is also used in medicines for multiple stress-relieving and mind-related ailments.
Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica)
This herb is appreciated for its potential to improve blood circulation and memory, playing a crucial role in maintaining cognitive health.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
Turmeric, with its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, plays an important role in protecting the brain from various types of damage. Prefer adding a pinch of turmeric in your food preparations to naturally avoid mental health issues.
Ayurvedic Ways for Enhancing Brain Health
Here are some key Ayurvedic techniques aimed at optimizing brain function and preventing cognitive decline:
Healthy Eating Habits:
Prioritise a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. These foods provide essential nutrients required for optimal brain performance. Avoid processed or packeted food.
Stress Management:
Chronic stress hurts brain health. Ayurveda promotes stress-relieving practices such as yoga, meditation, and nature walks to maintain mental balance.
Adequate Sleep:
Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night for optimal brain function.
Meditation and Yoga:
Regular meditation and yoga sessions can help to reduce stress and protect brain health. These practices improve concentration, flexibility, and brain resilience.
Oil Massage (Abhyanga):
Regular application of sesame or coconut oil via massage promotes relaxation, stimulates nerve function, and improves cerebral circulation.
Mental Stimulation:
Engaging the brain with puzzles, memory exercises, and intellectually stimulating activities helps to maintain its agility and vigor.
Shirodhara:
It is a unique Ayurvedic therapy that involves gently pouring liquids like coconut water, buttermilk, milk, etc over the forehead. This has been shown to significantly slow the progression of dementia-related conditions. It relaxes your mind lowers your blood pressure and slows down your heart rate.
Nasya:
The nasal application of herbal oils like coconut or sesame oil, as prescribed in Ayurveda, is thought to have therapeutic benefits for a variety of neurological disorders.
When to Consult a Doctor
- Self-Concern: If you notice changes in your memory or suspect you have dementia, see a doctor right away.
- Concern for Others: If you know someone who is having memory problems, encourage them to see a doctor. Offering support for them can be helpful.
- Other causes: Memory issues are not limited to dementia. They may be caused by depression, stress, medications, or other medical conditions.
- Doctor's Evaluation: A general practitioner (GP) can conduct basic assessments to determine the underlying cause of memory issues. If necessary, they can refer you to a specialist for further examination.
Conclusion
Ayurvedic herbs and the Ayurvedic way of life can help you take care of your mind, body, and soul. To avoid these conditions, consider implementing a healthy lifestyle and diet. If you know someone who is already suffering from Alzheimer's or dementia, you can help them by recommending the herbs listed above or taking them to an Ayurvedic Specialist for a full checkup. Let us work together to restore our mild to its full potential through the power of Ayurveda.