2022 World Alzheimer's Day - Know yourself and your enemy, prevent and be wise early: work together towards the future

September 21st of every year is "World Alzheimer's Day", also known as "World Alzheimer's Day". September 21st this year is the 29th World Alzheimer's Day. This year's theme is "Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer's-Together, we can do so much". Next, I will share with you the relevant knowledge about Alzheimer's disease.

I wonder if you still remember Su Daqiang in the TV series "All Is Well", an old man who was particularly "acting up". He was finally diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Everyone suddenly realized that dementia could be like this, and it was actually different from what we imagined.

What symptoms should alert you to Alzheimer's disease?

1. Memory loss and forgetfulness.

Memory loss and forgetfulness, especially forgetfulness of recent events, are the most common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in the early stages.

2. Slow reaction and decreased comprehension.

Patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease often have certain obstacles in communicating with others and cannot follow the conversation train of thought of others.

3. Difficulty in language communication

Patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease often forget simple words, or do not know how to express themselves when words come to their lips, and what they say is difficult to understand.

4. Losing track of time and place, and not knowing the way home

Alzheimer's patients often get lost when they go out, can't remember the date, and can't even tell the difference between day and night.

5. Sudden change in personality

Confusion, suspicion, fear, irritability, anxiety, depression... Alzheimer's disease is likely to change a person's personality.

6. Doing the same thing over and over again

Repeating the same thing from morning to night, especially something that happened a long time ago.

7. Loss of interest

Some patients can sit in front of the TV for hours, or fall asleep for a long time. Alzheimer's disease can even steal a person's hobbies, making them no longer interested in their previous hobbies.

8. Treating trash as treasure, misplacing items or money in inappropriate places

I often pick up some rags and bring them home, put fruits in the closet, and socks on the dining table. I always put things in the wrong place.

9. Having trouble completing things you do regularly.

I can no longer complete the work that I was very familiar with before.

How to prevent it?

1. Get enough good sleep (very important).

2. Weight management: BMI should be achieved and maintained within the range of 18.5~24.9kg/m2.

3. Physical exercise: Everyone, especially those over 65 years old, should engage in regular physical exercise.

4. Get as much education as possible in the early years.

5. Cognitive activities and exercises: Engage in more stimulating mental activities, such as reading, playing chess, etc.

6. Quit smoking.

7. Protect your head and avoid trauma.

8. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid diabetes. Diabetic patients should be closely monitored for cognitive decline.

9. Actively control hypertension.

10. For stroke patients, maintain a healthy lifestyle, use medications rationally, and take effective preventive measures to protect their cognitive function.

11. Regularly test blood homocysteine ​​levels and treat patients with hyperhomocysteinemia with vitamin B and/or folic acid, while closely monitoring their cognitive function status.

12. To maintain the good condition of the cardiovascular system, patients with atrial fibrillation need to use drug treatment.

13. Maintain a healthy and strong body in old age; for those who are becoming increasingly frail, their cognitive function status should be closely monitored.

14. Estrogen replacement therapy is not recommended for the prevention of dementia in postmenopausal women.

15. For patients with orthostatic hypotension, their cognitive function status should be closely monitored.

16. Maintain good mental health and closely monitor cognitive function in patients with existing depressive symptoms.

17. Relax and avoid excessive stress.

18. Dietary intake or supplemental vitamin C may help.