What are the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?
Generally speaking, Alzheimer's disease refers to a condition whose symptoms include memory loss, language difficulties, disorientation, impaired executive function, and compromised visuospatial abilities. If related symptoms appear, it is recommended to seek medical treatment at a hospital promptly. A detailed explanation is as follows:
1. Memory Loss
Due to damage to the hippocampus area of the brain, which plays a crucial role in forming and consolidating short-term memory, signal transmission between neurons becomes impaired. This leads to a decreased ability to encode and store new memories. Patients often forget recent events, such as something they just said or did.
2. Language Difficulties
Brain regions responsible for language functions, such as Broca's area and Wernicke's area, are affected by the disease. Gradual neuronal degeneration disrupts the neural pathways involved in language production, comprehension, and expression. Patients may experience difficulty finding words, exhibit impaired language expression, or struggle to understand spoken language.
3. Disorientation
Brain regions such as the parietal lobe are responsible for spatial perception and orientation. Alzheimer's disease damages nerve cells in these areas, impairing the patient's ability to process spatial information and judge time and location. Patients may become lost in familiar environments and have difficulty distinguishing time and place.
4. Impaired Executive Function
The frontal lobe is a key brain region responsible for executive functions. The disease damages neural connections in this area and causes neurotransmitter imbalances, thereby affecting higher cognitive functions such as planning, organizing, and decision-making. Patients may experience difficulties in completing complex tasks, such as planning activities or managing finances.
5. Compromised Visuospatial Ability
Parts of the brain such as the occipital and parietal lobes are responsible for processing visuospatial information. Alzheimer's disease causes neurodegenerative changes in these areas, interfering with the processing and integration of visual information and resulting in impaired visuospatial perception. Patients may struggle to identify the shape, size, and spatial relationships of objects, accurately draw simple figures, or judge distances between objects.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important in daily life. A balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, such as vegetables, fruits, and fish, is recommended. Moderate physical activity, such as regular aerobic exercise like walking or jogging each week, can help promote blood circulation, providing the brain with sufficient oxygen and nutrients.