Everyone in Sandhya’s family is vegetarian. Dad is especially a bit of a traditionalist. During a buffet feast at the neighbor’s house in the flat, it was equally shocking to see fried fish and meat on my father’s plate. It was only in the following days that it was recognized that it was a change in behavior and that things were moving towards an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s disease.

A report that the gold necklace placed on the tablecloth was missing. Kabir’s complaint reached the police station. It was the policeman who searched for the details of the complaint in a way that suspected the people in the house and realized that the necklace, which had been cut forty-five years ago, was telling as if it had happened yesterday. With the help of a psychiatrist, the family diagnosed it as Alzheimer’s.

Kozhikode: Although these are isolated cases, a new report shows that one in a hundred patients who visit a neurologist’s OP have amnesia. This forgetfulness can have many causes, but one percent of them are Alzheimer’s patients.

Who and when?

Alzheimer’s disease is more common in men and women over the age of 65. However, Alzheimer’s symptoms begin to appear in their 30s or 40s. It’s just that people with any type of memory problem are only diagnosed when they see a doctor to evaluate for other causes.

Symptoms

Memory loss: Forgetting the most recent event and remembering more of the past is an important early symptom. These include forgetting names of close relatives (wife, husband, children), not being able to identify the route, and forgetting addresses.

Irrationality: Difficulty in thinking and concentration. Difficulty manipulating numbers. Numbers become unrecognizable when ill. It is not possible to behave according to the circumstances. Behaving like very strangers regardless of years of relationship. Antics may be shown, including physical exposure.

Anger, aggression and mistrust of others may develop.

Preventable / Maintainable

There is no cure for the disease. Researches are in progress. However, there are medications to prevent the condition from getting worse. Medicines are determined by neurologists and psychiatrists. Family support and care is more important than medication. Developing a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of disease flare-ups.

Credits for the information

Dr. V. Abhijith, Consultant Psychiatrist, Palakkad District Hospital

Dr. Neeta Balram, Asst. Professor, Neurology, Kozhikode Medical College