Good for the elderly
As people get older, their chance of having Alzheimer’s disease increases as well. Medical experts have discovered what they believe to be the root of this connection: Some of the chemicals associated in the illness, referred to as tau-proteins, spread more readily in the aged brain than in the younger brain. When you get older, your chance of having Alzheimer’s disease increases.
Affecting more than half of the elderly population, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, a disorder characterized by abnormalities in the brain’s blood flow, are the two most frequent forms of dementia. Stroke or arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in the brain are two of the most common causes of vascular dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent kind of dementia and affects around 5.7 million people worldwide. Despite the fact that dementia mostly affects older persons, it is not a natural component of the aging process.
Estimates vary, but experts believe that more than 6 million Americans, the majority of whom are over the age of 65, may be suffering from dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease. It is now the seventh largest cause of mortality in the United States and the most prevalent cause of dementia among older individuals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As the populations of the United States and Europe age and life expectancy increases, the prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease has increased dramatically, owing to the larger pool of people in the ages at greatest risk, according to Lori Chibnik, assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard Chan School.
Dementia is caused by damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain, which results in the inability to think clearly. Dementia may impact people in different ways and manifest itself in different ways depending on the section of the brain that has been affected.
Around 55 million individuals worldwide suffer from dementia, with more than 60% of those suffering from the disease residing in low- and middle-income nations. As the share of older persons in the population rises in practically every nation, it is predicted that this figure will climb to 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050, from its current level of 60 million.
The most important risk factor is age: the majority of individuals who get dementia are over the age of 65, and the chance of developing dementia increases as people reach their 80s and 90s. As a result, older adults are more prone than younger people to acquire dementia, according to the research.
A generic phrase describing a loss of memory and other mental faculties that is severe enough to interfere with one’s ability to function in daily life. Physical alterations in the brain are the cause of this condition. Despite the fact that Alzheimer’s disease is the most frequent kind of dementia, there are numerous others.
Adults aged 60 and older are at risk of developing dementia at a rate of up to 7%. Dementia can manifest itself in a variety of ways, including difficulties with memory, language, and decision-making ability. Changes in mood, such as increased irritability, sadness, and anxiety, are among the symptoms. Moreover, they involve alterations in one’s personality or conduct.
Is it possible to avoid dementia?
According to recent study, while the number of individuals living with dementia is likely to climb as the world’s population continues to age, dementia incidence rates appear to be declining, owing to better lifestyles that are boosting cardiovascular health.