Virginia Lee1*
1LCSW R PsyD Student at Walden and CHE Behavioral Health Services and Independent Licensed Clinical Social Worker, USA
*Correspondence author: Virginia Lee, LCSW R PsyD Student at Walden and CHE Behavioral Health Services and Independent Licensed Clinical Social Worker, USA; Email: [email protected]
Published Date: 25-09-2023
Copyright© 2023 by Lee V. All rights reserved. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Editorial
More than 6 million Americans have Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia. The number is predicted to hit 14 million by 2060. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide, costing the economy $1.3 trillion annually.
Check with your healthcare providers whether your cognition is slightly off due to infections, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, polypharmacy, or adverse drug effects. Cognition can improve by addressing it early onset. 12 lifestyle risk factors can delay up to 40% of dementia cases as per author Hara (2023).
Genetic Variants APOE Risk Factors:
There are three different variants- APOE2, APOE3 and APOE4 and you have two copies, one each from your mother and father. The APOE2 variant is the rarest form of APOE and is associated with a reduced risk for Alzheimer’s [1]. The APOE3 variant is the most common and has an average risk for Alzheimer’s. The APOE4 variant increases the risk for Alzheimer’s disease which is present in up to 15% of people [1].
Diet: A plant-based diet is viable. Eat more whole grains, berries, nuts, Omega-3s, fruits and vegetables to preserve your brain. Mediterranean diet correlated with up to a 33% lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease [1]. Alcohol: Any amount or type of alcohol appears to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s in individuals who are carriers of the APOE4 variant [1].
Hypertension: Managing high blood pressure will preserve cognitive function in individuals those people with APOE4 [1]. Hyperlipidemia: APOE4 is correlated with higher LDL-cholesterol levels and results from higher cardiovascular risk. APOE2, on the other hand, is correlated with a significantly lower LDL-cholesterol [1]. Oral health. Gingivally infected PG, particularly pEVs, may cause cognitive decline with periodontitis. Therefore, pEvs may be a risk factor [2].
Depression: According to a new study of people in Denmark, people diagnosed with depression in early adulthood or middle age have a tripled risk of getting dementia. Men diagnosed with depression were three times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia, in comparison to women. The findings were published in the journal JAMA Neurology [3]. Sleep: Lack of sleep may be a cause of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Try to get seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
Hearing: Hearing loss in older adults is linked to brain problems, such as Alzheimer’s and loss of brain tissue. No louder than 60% of your device’s maximum volume- no more than a couple of hours at a time [4]. Physical activity: Get 150-300 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly for the prevention of Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Cardio improves mental and physical health and brain functioning.
Smoking: Smoking can shrink your brain. It makes your memory worse and more inclined to get dementia, including Alzheimer’s. It can also cause heart disease, diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure [4].
Controlling the light: The study suggests controlling the kind of light and the timing of the light could be key to reducing circadian disruptions in Alzheimer’s disease [5]. Research shows that sunlight keeps your brain functioning well.
How Biomarkers Help Diagnose Dementia
Brain Scans are used to help diagnose dementia including CT, MRI, Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers (CSF), Fluorosdoxyglucose (FDG) and PET scans. MRIs can show areas of the brain have atrophied [6]. Genetic testing. Genetic tests are done by genetic counseling which includes discussion of the risks, benefits and limitations of the results. Check with your healthcare providers for your risk factors.
How Biomarkers Help Diagnose Dementia
Brain Scans are used to help diagnose dementia including CT, MRI, Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers (CSF), Fluorosdoxyglucose (FDG) and PET scans. MRIs can show areas of the brain have atrophied [6]. Genetic testing. Genetic tests are done by genetic counseling which includes discussion of the risks, benefits and limitations of the results. Check with your healthcare providers for your risk factors.
Online therapy helps to reduce social isolation and the risk of mental health problems. Volunteering for a cause. Joining a senior center, learning a new hobby such as pickleball, aquatic swimming, or a new language. Online social media with family, friends and old acquaintances to reduce loneliness or social isolation. Cognitive stimulation is great for the blood flow. Yoga, meditation and relaxation skills are great ways of regulating your anxiety and emotions. Annual and oral check-ups with health care providers.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s; Biomarkers; Blood Flow; Mental Health
Conflict of Interest
The author has no conflict of interest to declare.
References
- Hara Y. What can you do to prevent Alzheimer’s disease if you have the apoe4 genetic risk factor? Cognitive Vitality. 2023.
- Ma X, Shin YJ, Yoo JW, Park HS, Kim DH. Extracellular vesicles derived from Porphyromonas gingivalis induce trigeminal nerve-mediated cognitive impairment. J Advanced Res. 2023.
- O’Mary L. Depression triples risk of dementia for adults under age 60 study says. WebMD. 2023.
- Brennan D, Robinson J. Bad habits that can hurt your brain. WebMD. 2022.
- UVA Health. Enhanced light sensitivity may play a key role in Alzheimer’s. 2023.
- How biomarkers help diagnose. Dementia. 2023.
- Brum WS, Cullen NC, Janelidze S, Ashton NJ, Zimmer ER, Therriault J, et al. A two-step workflow based on plasma p-tau217 to screen for amyloid β positivity with further confirmatory testing only in uncertain cases. Nature Aging. 2023:1-2.
Article Type
Editorial
Publication History
Received Date: 04-09-2023
Accepted Date: 18-09-2023
Published Date: 25-09-2023
Copyright© 2023 by Lee V. All rights reserved. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Lee V. Disease Management on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementias. J Neuro Onco Res. 2023;3(3):1-2.
