Alzheimer's disease and homoeopathic management

Alzheimer's disease & homoeopathic management
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. At first, someone with Alzheimer's disease may notice mild confusion and difficulty remembering. Eventually, people with the disease may even forget important people in their lives and undergo dramatic personality changes.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia — a group of brain disorders that cause the loss of intellectual and social skills. In Alzheimer's disease, the brain cells degenerate and die, causing a steady decline in memory and mental function
Causes-Scientists believe that for most people, Alzheimer's disease is caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain over time.
Less than 5 percent of the time, Alzheimer's is caused by specific genetic changes that virtually guarantee a person will develop the disease.
Although the causes of Alzheimer's aren't yet fully understood, its effect on the brain is clear. Alzheimer's disease damages and kills brain cells. A brain affected by Alzheimer's disease has many fewer cells and many fewer connections among surviving cells than does a healthy brain.
As more and more brain cells die, Alzheimer's leads to significant brain shrinkage. When doctors examine Alzheimer's brain tissue under the microscope, they see two types of abnormalities that are considered hallmarks of the disease:
Plaques. These clumps of a protein called beta-amyloid may damage and destroy brain cells in several ways, including interfering with cell-to-cell communication. Although the ultimate cause of brain-cell death in Alzheimer's isn't known, the collection of beta-amyloid on the outside of brain cells is a prime suspect.
Tangles. Brain cells depend on an internal support and transport system to carry nutrients and other essential materials throughout their long extensions. This system requires the normal structure and functioning of a protein called tau.
In Alzheimer's, threads of tau protein twist into abnormal tangles inside brain cells, leading to failure of the transport system. This failure is also strongly implicated in the decline and death of brain cells.
Symptoms --At first, increasing forgetfulness or mild confusion may be the only symptoms of Alzheimer's disease that you notice. But over time, the disease robs you of more of your memory, especially recent memories. The rate at which symptoms worsen varies from person to person.
If you have Alzheimer's, you may be the first to notice that you're having unusual difficulty remembering things and organizing your thoughts. Or you may not recognize that anything is wrong, even when changes are noticeable to your family members, close friends or co-workers.
Brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease lead to growing trouble with:
Memory

Everyone has occasional memory lapses. It's normal to lose track of where you put your keys or forget the name of an acquaintance. But the memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease persists and worsens, affecting your ability to function at work and at home.
People with Alzheimer's may:
·         Repeat statements and questions over and over, not realizing that they've asked the question before
·         Forget conversations, appointments or events, and not remember them later
·         Routinely misplace possessions, often putting them in illogical locations
·         Get lost in familiar places
·         Eventually forget the names of family members and everyday objects
·         Have trouble finding the right words to identify objects, express thoughts or take part in conversations
Thinking and reasoning

Alzheimer's disease causes difficulty concentrating and thinking, especially about abstract concepts like numbers.
Multitasking is especially difficult, and it may be challenging to manage finances, balance checkbooks and pay bills on time. These difficulties may progress to inability to recognize and deal with numbers.
Making judgments and decisions

Responding effectively to everyday problems, such as food burning on the stove or unexpected driving situations, becomes increasingly challenging.
Planning and performing familiar tasks

Once-routine activities that require sequential steps, such as planning and cooking a meal or playing a favorite game, become a struggle as the disease progresses. Eventually, people with advanced Alzheimer's may forget how to perform basic tasks such as dressing and bathing.
Changes in personality and behavior

Brain changes that occur in Alzheimer's disease can affect the way you act and how you feel. People with Alzheimer's may experience:
·         Depression
·         Apathy
·         Social withdrawal
·         Mood swings
·         Distrust in others
·         Irritability and aggressiveness
·         Changes in sleeping habits
·         Wandering
·         Loss of inhibitions
·         Delusions, such as believing something has been stolen
Many important skills are not lost until very late in the disease. These include the ability to read, dance and sing, enjoy old music, engage in crafts and hobbies, tell stories, and reminisce
This is because information, skills and habits learned early in life are among the last abilities to be lost as the disease progresses; the part of the brain that stores this information tends to be affected later in the course of the disease. Capitalizing on these abilities can foster successes and maintain quality of life even into the moderate phase of the disease.
Risk factors--Increasing age is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is not a part of normal aging, but your risk increases greatly after you reach age 65. The rate of dementia doubles every decade after age 60.
People with rare genetic changes linked to early-onset Alzheimer's begin experiencing symptoms as early as their 30s.
Family history and genetics

Your risk of developing Alzheimer's appears to be somewhat higher if a first-degree relative — your parent or sibling — has the disease. Scientists have identified rare changes (mutations) in three genes that virtually guarantee a person who inherits them will develop Alzheimer's. But these mutations account for less than 5 percent of Alzheimer's disease.
Most genetic mechanisms of Alzheimer's among families remain largely unexplained. The strongest risk gene researchers have found so far is apolipoprotein e4 (APoE4), though not everyone with this gene goes on to develop Alzheimer's disease. Other risk genes have been identified but not conclusively confirmed.
Down syndrome

Many people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer's disease. Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's tend to appear 10 to 20 years earlier in people with Down syndrome than they do for the general population. A gene contained in the extra chromosome that causes Down syndrome significantly increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Sex

Women seem to be more likely than are men to develop Alzheimer's disease, in part because they live longer.
Mild cognitive impairment

People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have memory problems or other symptoms of cognitive decline that are worse than might be expected for their age, but not severe enough to be diagnosed as dementia.
Those with MCI have an increased risk — but not a certainty — of later developing dementia. Taking action to develop a healthy lifestyle and strategies to compensate for memory loss at this stage may help delay or prevent the progression to dementia
Past head trauma

People who've had a severe head trauma seem to have a greater risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Lifestyle and heart health

There's no lifestyle factor that's been definitively shown to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease.
However, some evidence suggests that the same factors that put you at risk of heart disease also may increase the chance that you'll develop Alzheimer's. Examples include:
·         Lack of exercise
·         Obesity
·         Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
·         High blood pressure
·         High blood cholesterol
·         Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes
·         A diet lacking in fruits and vegetables
These risk factors are also linked to vascular dementia, a type of dementia caused by damaged blood vessels in the brain. Working with your health care team on a plan to control these factors will help protect your heart — and may also help reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
Lifelong learning and social engagement

Studies have found an association between lifelong involvement in mentally and socially stimulating activities and a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. Low education levels — less than a high school education — appear to be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
Complications--Memory and language loss, impaired judgment, and other cognitive changes caused by Alzheimer's can complicate treatment for other health conditions. A person with Alzheimer's disease may not be able to:
·         Communicate that he or she is experiencing pain — for example, from a dental problem
·         Report symptoms of another illness
·         Follow a prescribed treatment plan
·         Notice or describe medication side effects
As Alzheimer's disease progresses to its last stages, brain changes begin to affect physical functions, such as swallowing, balance, and bowel and bladder control. These effects can increase vulnerability to additional health problems such as:
·         Inhaling food or liquid into the lungs (aspiration)
·         Pneumonia and other infections
·         Falls
·         Fractures
·         Bedsores
·         Malnutrition or dehydration

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
Well selected Homoeopathic medicines are very effective for the management of Alzheimer’s disease. It wil also prevent the further development of the disease. Some of the important remedies are given below.
ANACARDIUM ORIENTALE – Anacardium is one of the top remedies for Alzheimer’s disease with forgetfulness.Anacardium is suitable to manic – depressed persons. Marked forgetfulness is the key symptom of Anacardium. The person suddenly forgets names, those around her, what she has seen.There is mental and physical lack of power. The memory progressively bad. There is brain fatigue.
Anacardium persons are unsociable, shows great irritability and anxiety,  angry and depressed, jealous and suspicious. They have profound depression with tendency to use foul , violent language.

ALUMINA 200- Alumina is suitable to elderly people with marked forgetfulness. The memory is weak or completely lost. The person’s consciousness of reality and judgment is disturbed. He is confused as to personal identity. When he sees or states something , he has the feeling as though another person had said or seen or as he was placed in another person and could see only then.  He has alternating moods, and shows absent mindedness. He makes mistakes in writing and speaking. Alumina persons suffer from constipation.

CANNABIS INDICA 200-Cannabis Indica is excellent for Alzheimer’s disease with sudden loss of memory .The person is absent –minded, forgetful, cannot finish a sentence . There is sudden loss of speech, begins a sentence but cannot finish it. Sudden loss of thoughts. There is great inability to recall ideas even after exerting the mind to do so. The person shows anxiety, anguish, better in open air. There is misconception of time and space. The person feels that time passes too long, seconds seem ages, a few miles an immense distance .

GINKGO  BILOBA Q- Ginkgo biloba is considered a specific remedy for Alzheimer’s disease. It is a famous brain tonic that improves cerebral blood flow. It prevents problems with memory, senility and mental dullness. Mentally the person is weak and exhausted. The person has poor concentration. Loss of memory and inability to solve mental task. Absent minded and forgetful.

AURUM METALLICUM 200- Aurum met is best for Alzheimer’s disease with severe acute  depression. There is hopelessness and grief. Disgust of life and thoughts of suicide. The person talks of committing suicide , but great fear of death.

CURCUMA LONGA Q- Curcuma longa is considered a specific remedy for Alzheimer’s disease. This action is due to the presence of curcumin in Curcuma longa.

LAC CANINUM 200- Lac caninum is best for Alzheimer’s disease with severe loss of memory so the person finds difficulty in reading and writing. He is very forgetful while writing, makes a lot of mistakes. When reading anything she rapidly changes the meaning omitting or adding things.  Lack of concentration while reading or writing.She is very restless , cannot concentrate her thoughts  or mind to read , wants to leave everything as soon as it is commenced. Lac caninum person is highly despondent, thinks her disease is incurable and recovery is impossible.

KALI PHOSPHORICUM 200- Kaliphos person have weak nervous system and brain. It is best for Alzheimer’s disease with anxiety and nervousness and depression. The person forgets every thing, great loss of memory. It is a good remedy for brain fag.The person is depressed, gloomy, angry and irritable.There is marked exhaustion and fatigue. Slightest task seems a heavy task.

MEDORRHINUM 1000-Medorrhinum is one of the best remedies for Alzhemer’s diseases with severe weakness of memory. The person loses the thread of conversation, forgets names, words, and places. He forgets his own name, names of his close friends and family members. He is hurried and anxious cannot speak without weeping, tells it over and over again. He feels that time passes too slowly. Medorrhinum is suited to sycotic constitution.

NUX MOSCHTA 200-Nux moschata is best for Alzheimer’s disease with difficulty in reading and writing. The mind is confused and memory is impaired. Thoughts suddenly vanish while talking, reading, or writing. He frequently use of wrong words. Objects seem changes or grow larger. She is absent  minded, shows drowsiness and indifferent behavior.