HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
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.
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