Researchers discovered a way to potentially delay Alzheimer's symptoms, according to a new report from the Associated Press.
What did they find and how does it impact patients with dementia? We'll break it down.
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Alzheimer's has more symptoms than just memory loss. According to Cleveland Clinic, dementia symptoms can present as:
Mood changes (especially in early stages)Personality changesTrouble reasoningIndecisivenessDifficulty following instructions, like with recipesDifficulty making plansDifficulty speaking, understanding or reading language (aphasia)Communicating less than you used to (likely at least partly due to aphasia)HallucinationsParanoia and suspiciousness, even of loved onesAgitationPoor spatial reasoning, leading to bumping into furniture, difficulty picking up objects, tying shoes or other small hand motionsRelated: This Everyday Behavior Could Be an Early Sign of Dementia
Alzheimer's can also lead you to lose control over and not care for the rest of your body. This can result in:
Cavities, tooth decay and gum diseaseDehydrationMalnutritionBedsoresUrinary and fecal incontinenceTrouble breathing and swallowingInfectionsSeizuresFalls and bone fracturesRelated: This Super Simple Diet Could Lower Your Alzheimer’s Risk by 53%
Experimental Drug Delays Alzheimer's Symptoms
The new study was performed on those genetically destined to get early-onset Alzheimer's, which strikes in a person's 40s or 50s. The research specifically focused on a subset of 22 people with a genetic mutation that virtually guarantees the diagnosis at the same age subjects' relatives got the disease.
The participants in the study were given an experimental drug that removes amyloid proteins in the brain, which have long been linked to Alzheimer's and cognitive decline. Using the drugs in the long-term slashed the participants' risk of symptoms in half, the AP reported.
Now, the participants drug is switched to Leqembi, a currently-available Alzheimer's drug, to see how long the protection from the experimental treatment is, Washington University researcher Dr. Randall Bateman, MD, explained to the Associated Press: “Will they ever get the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease if we keep treating them?”
While the Alzheimer's drug study demonstrated great promise among participants, despite it being quite small, there is a serious wrench thrown into doing more work here: The National Institute of Health may cut funding for similar research. It remains to be seen whether Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, MD, Ph.D., a medical doctor with a doctorate in economics and newly appointed to lead the NIH, will support further studies in the realm of amyloid reduction in Alzheimer's research.
Dr. Bhattacharya previously told the Senate that focusing too much on amyloid research may not be in his plans, adding, "One of the reasons I think that we have not made progress in Alzheimer’s, as much as we ought to have, is because the NIH has not supported a sufficiently wide range of hypotheses."
Dr. Bateman, for his part, points out that so far, nothing has disproved hypotheses surrounding amyloid's role in Alzheimer's.
Related: This Common Condition May Lead to Alzheimer's—and Nearly 67% of People Have It
While there's currently no cure for Alzheimer's yet (that's what research is for!), there are some treatments that can manage symptoms and slow the disease's progression. Depending on your specific needs and circumstances, your physician may also prescribe medications specifically for dementia and Alzheimer's, as well as antidepressants, antipsychotics and anti-seizure medications to treat symptoms and to delay Alzheimer's progression as much as possible.
Related: The Best Foods for Your Brain
How to Prevent Alzheimer's and Dementia
Depending on your genetics, you may not be able to prevent Alzheimer's disease. However, you can hedge your bets in the following ways:
Eating a brain-healthy diet, like the MIND diet, anti-inflammatory diet or Mediterranean dietExercising regularlyAvoiding smoking, vaping and drinking alcoholMaintaining social connectionsUp Next:
Related: 'I'm a Neurologist—I'm Begging Everyone to Do These Three Things to Lower Their Alzheimer's Risk’
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