Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed

Alzheimer's is a disease in which brain cells begin to deteriorate. At first its symptoms are not understood. There are some causes of this diseaseIt is very normal to forget things as we age. The smallest things slip through our heads. I took off my glasses and put them on the table, then I forgot where I put them. Such problems are aggravated by reading. At first the subject is not given that importance. But this forgetfulness progresses to the point where normal life is severely affected. There are many changes in behavior. This terrible disease is Alzheimer's. And it is a very important disease that should be treated with special attention. And to raise awareness about it, World Alzheimer's Day is observed. Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia. And day by day this disease is increasing in a terrible form all over the world. Therefore, Alzheimer's Day is celebrated worldwide on September 21 to make people aware of this disease.

It is a neurodegenerative disease that begins slowly and then becomes fatal. It is the root cause of dementia in 60 to 70 percent of casesStudies show that the prevalence of this disease is increasing and doctors think that at least 1 in every 85 people over the age of 60 may be affected by this disease by the year 2030. Hence, awareness about the disease is important

When we hear the word Alzheimer's, what comes to our mind is forgetfulness, inability to remember things, etc.

> What is the history of this day?

German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer first identified this disease in 1901, since then the disease has been called Alzheimer's disease. He identified this disease in a 55-year-old woman. And until 1906, Alzheimer treated and monitored him closely. Then after the woman's death, he went public with the details of the disease. In the next five years, many similar cases started coming in different parts of the world. And since then this disease started to be called Alzheimer's.

In the 20th century, the disease is most common among people aged 45 to 65 years. And dementia starts from the disease. Since 1984, Alzheimer's Disease International has been helping people with the disease get treatment while also spreading awareness. In 1994, this organization chose September 21 as the World Alzheimer's Day, on which the world will be made aware of the importance, severity, etc. of this disease. The date 21 was chosen because that was the day the organization completed 10 years in 1994.

> What is the importance of this day?

The World Alzheimer's Report was released on Alzheimer's Day 2009 to raise awareness. Since then the report has been published every year on this day to show what the current picture is at what alarming rate the disease is increasing every year.

There are three stages of this disease, if the disease is detected in the early stage and proper treatment can be cured quickly. But when the disease is diagnosed at the last stage, nothing can be done.

The main symptom of this disease is forgetting everything, not being able to remember anything. Later it escalated to not being able to understand speech, not being able to recognize or speak language, mood swings, getting lost.

Why does Alzheimer's disease occur?

No specific cause behind Alzheimer's disease is known yet. However, experts say that such symptoms appear when the nerve cells of the brain are damaged. This symptom can be due to two reasons. Brain cells are affected by protein deposits or any type of illness and genetic or irregular, poor lifestyle. From which there is a possibility of getting Alzheimer's disease.

> There are some risk-factors of Alzheimer's:-

Yes, there are risk-factors associated with developing Alzheimer's disease. These influence the development and severity of the disease. For example –

Lower socio-economic class
isolated life
Poor socialization
Lazy brain or not using the brain properly
Depression due to severe family stress
Vascular risk factors such as hypertension and blood sugar, which reduce blood flow to the brain, increase the risk of dementia. However, this does not directly worsen Alzheimer's disease.
> What are the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer's disease causes gradual loss of memory. Forgetting the names of known people, losing acquaintances, not remembering the necessary things, small and big things are lost from memory. Forget social activities and relationships. You can't talk to everyone. The patient cannot read or write properly. Having trouble reading something and having trouble judging distances are definitely signs of Alzheimer's.

The patient cannot think about anything. One of the symptoms of this disease is to move from one topic to another.

Sudden mood swings, getting angry for no reason with familiar and close people are also signs. Symptoms like suspicion, anxiety, depression appear in the patients. And there are some causes of this disease. These are genetic factors, environmental factors, aging factors, lifestyle issues such as not eating well or not exercising regularly. So precautions should be taken beforehand. Studies have found that there are certain foods that help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's.

* Vegetables:

Saying that you don't like to eat vegetables and leaves at all is not acceptable. Add vegetables to the diet. And eat green vegetables regularly, because greens increase your brain performance. A study found that green leafy vegetables contain vitamin B9 or folate, which reduces the risk of dementia.

* Dark Chocolate:

Everyone loves to eat chocolate. Chocolate keeps your heart healthy. Chocolate relieves depression. Chocolate has many qualities. This chocolate is the Alzheimer's claim again. A research report claims so. However, it's not all chocolate. Dark chocolate has this special quality. Helps keep your brain fresh. American researcher Giulio Maria Pasinetti said that dark chocolate contains polyphenols. Micronutrients Polyphenols are very beneficial for health.

* Coffee:

Good if you are addicted to coffee. Because caffeine, especially coffee, can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. Studies have shown that coffee or caffeine works great in terms of memory.

* Variety of Berries:

A very good remedy for Alzheimer's is berries. Strawberries, Blueberries – These fruits have a lot of benefits. Which can increase our brain performance. Studies have shown that eating such berries from the age of 8 to 10 years until old age improves brain power.

* Marine fish:

Fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids are great for your brain health. In that case, fish with omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, tuna, mackerel are great for reducing the risk of Alzheimer's.
> What simple lifestyle changes can be made to prevent Alzheimer's disease?
People who do not have an active life can solve crossword puzzles, attend regular social activities and participate in debates on important political and social issues. As a result, the brain will always be active. And if you can keep the brain active, it is possible to keep Alzheimer's disease at bay.

> Is it possible to completely cure Alzheimer's?

no There is no permanent cure for this disease. It is treated by looking at the signs and symptoms of the disease with some medications and counseling. In a word, the treatment of this disease is limited to prevention. Therefore, just as advance warning is necessary, every man of good sense should come forward to keep the sufferers healthy. The patient should be kept healthy through sincere communication and social interaction.

Finally, Alzheimer's patients need support. With support from family, relatives, they can recover a lot and lead a normal life. Taking care of the patient, always being by his side, talking to him, explaining to him - all this keeps the Alzheimer's patient well. But no one dies from this disease so enough knowledge and awareness about this disease is required.

The writer is a, columnist and researcher Founder Chairman, Jatiya Rogi Kallyan Society