Alzheimer’s begins in middle age – Breaking health news – Sözcü

Neurology Specialist Prof. states that the changes caused by Alzheimer’s in the brain begin 15-20 years before clinical findings, that is, at the age of 45-50. Dr. Source Selekler said, “The symptoms of the disease appear after this silent period, that is, after the age of 65.”

Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most common types of dementia today,
It is a progressive neurological disease that causes cell damage. Neurology Specialist Prof. points out that, according to scientific research, the disease begins in middle age. Dr. Source Selekler said, “Moreover, Alzheimer’s does not show any symptoms in the preclinical (very early) stage,” and shared the following information on the subject:

PROVEN BY RESEARCH

Scientists have determined through various studies that Alzheimer’s begins in middle age. Previously, this observation was noticed in the brain autopsies of people who died in middle age due to reasons such as traffic accidents or heart attacks and who did not show signs of Alzheimer’s at the time they lived. In recent years, PET and cerebrospinal fluid studies have proven that the accumulation of toxic substances (beta amyloid and tau protein) in the disease occurs 15-20 years before the symptoms of the disease begin in the person. In this sense, the disease begins in the brain at the age of 45-50 on average. Clinical symptoms of the disease, such as forgetfulness, appear after the age of 65.

WHY IS IT NOT DETECTED AT AN EARLY AGE?

The brain resists toxic proteins such as beta amyloid and tau protein and the damage they cause for a while. This will take at least 15-20 years or more. The brain’s resistance to coping with the disease also masks the symptoms of the disease. During this period, the brain fights with all the resources it has. This allows the person to live a healthy life without dementia for a while. However, at the end of the period, the brain is exhausted and clinical symptoms of the disease appear.

WHY DO SOME PEOPLE START LATE?

Although the answer to why there are no signs of dementia before death in up to 40 percent of people with pathological findings of Alzheimer’s in autopsy studies and why negative PET is obtained in approximately 40 percent of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the explanation for this can be made with the “reserve hypothesis”. being worked on. According to the reserve hypothesis, people’s brains have different coping abilities against disease changes, and there is no close connection between the extent of damage to the brain and the appearance of clinical symptoms. Reserve is divided into two: brain reserve and cognitive reserve. Brain reserve is related to the size of the brain, the volume of the memory center hippocampus, the number of nerve cells and connections between nerve cells, and the ability to make good use of this network of connections in the brain. Cognitive reserve includes a person’s education, intellectual capacity, professional activities, IQ, pursuits such as mentally stimulating leisure activities, lifestyle factors and socio-economic status. These create a spare capacity (reserve) in the brain against destruction. Brain reserve and cognitive reserve postpone the appearance of the symptoms of the disease for a while, and people with greater reserve develop symptoms of dementia later in life. In people with small reserves, clinical signs of the disease appear early and dementia begins, even with minor pathological changes in the brain.

THE SHARP MEMORY SECRET OF 80+ SUPER SENIORS

The lucky few, called cognitive super-seniors, perform markedly better on memory tests, such as recalling past events or recalling a list of words, compared to other adults their age. While it’s normal for brain power to decline as people get older, research shows it’s not inevitable. Some people can remain cognitively sharp into their 80s, 90s and beyond, challenging the common assumption that cognitive decline is a natural part of aging. Researchers have developed several theories to explain why some people’s cognitive abilities remain intact until the end of life. Maybe they start life with bigger, stronger brains. Perhaps their brains are changing in some way to compensate for the harmful effects of aging. Another theory is that their brains have stronger defenses against the onslaught of aging.

HOW CAN WE REDUCE THE RISK?

Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed with some sophisticated laboratory examinations today, but these are expensive tests, cannot be performed in every laboratory, and some of them are not yet available in Turkey. Since there is still no medicine that completely cures the disease, we need to stay away from dangers such as depression, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, stress, smoking and alcohol in middle age in order to reduce our risk. As a result, a good education, a professional life that requires mental activities, a Mediterranean diet, identification, prevention and early treatment of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in middle age; Pursuing hobbies, exercise, and continuing to live in a social network can contribute to reducing or preventing the risk of Alzheimer’s.