Transcript
Alzheimer’s: A Neurocognitive Disorder
Joelle L. Eckhardt
Post University
Alzheimer’s: A Neurocognitive Disorder
There are many individuals that experience issues with their memory, some may be caused by stress, anxiety and/or depression and some are due to more severe medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Individuals that are experiencing issues with their memory may notice that they become easily confused, have feelings of depression, are remembering events that never occurred or perhaps remembering them not as they happened. They may also begin to notice that everyday tasks are becoming more difficult to accomplish, such as remembering appointments, cooking meals, bathing regularly, being able to manage the finances (alz.org, 2018). Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of memory loss affecting individuals who are typically over the age of sixty-five but can affect those in their forties and fifties (alz.org, 2018). Between sixty and eighty percent of dementia cases have Alzheimer’s disease and it will most likely worsen over time. It is aggressive and greatly impacts the individual’s as well as their family’s way of life.
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that results in memory loss, cognitive impairments, as well as other complications that greatly impact an individual’s quality of life. There are several factors that contribute to the development of the disease such as genetics and the environment (Magalingam, Radhakrishnan, Ping, & Haleagrahara, 2018). From a biological perspective, genes play a very important role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. When there is any kind of change in a gene it begins to function abnormally, this abnormality often leads to the individual developing a disease. There are two specific forms of Alzheimer’s disease, early-onset and late-onset. Early-onset Alzheimer’s can develop as early as thirty years old and is typically caused by a change in the individual’s genes but can also be due to carrying a mutated gene from a biological parent (Magalingam, et al., 2018). When there is mutation of the genes present it causes a breakdown of the abnormal amyloid precursor protein (APP) which in turn creates a plethora of amyloid plaques (nia.nih.gov, 2015).
Currently there is not an identifiable cause of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, although researchers do know that genetics are a big contributing factor. There is one gene that researchers have studied as being a direct link to the development of Alzheimer’s symptoms which is called Apolipoprotein E (APOE) (Magalingam, et al., 2018). Doctors can run a blood test to see if an individual carries this gene, which can increase their risk of developing Alzheimer’s. However, simply having the gene does not mean that they will develop Alzheimer’s, as there is currently no definitive way to determine this. Nearly fifty percent of individuals who have one parent with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease are likely to have inherited that same gene and develop symptoms (Megalingam et al., 2018).
There are many individuals who experience issues with memory or forgetting everyday things every now and then. However, individuals that have Alzheimer’s disease experience these issues consistently and they tend to worsen as time goes on. The memory loss can impact their everyday life, they will begin to have difficulty completing simple tasks, an inability to solve problems, trouble speaking or writing, a decrease in judgment, they may become disoriented, go through mood and personality changes, become withdrawn from friends and family members, and there may be a change in their personal hygiene (nia.nih.gov, 2015).
From a psychoanalytic perspective, the mind and brain are two very different things just as there as distinct differences between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia can cause an individual to feel depressed and anxious and that can eventually lead to feelings of denial and other behavioral issues (Sue, Sue, Sue, & Sue, 2016). Sigmund Freud believed that psychoanalysis allows one to see the connection between the subconscious mind and our actions. Dementia and all of its forms such as Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia involve memory loss, impairments in language, reasoning, and physical movement (Sue et al., 2016). Individuals that have dementia may also experience delusions and potentially a change to their personality. Talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can be quite useful in helping an individual with dementia or Alzheimer’s learn coping skills (Sue et al., 2016). Utilizing the psychoanalytical approach, therapy would involve recalling memories of the past through the use of photos, music, smell and taste as a means of trying to regain a sense of connection to their life.
From a learning perspective, individuals with dementia often regress and they begin to display childlike behaviors (Sue, et al., 2016). Through studies and research, they have been able to develop therapeutic methods and treatments for dementia patients displaying an impairment in their cognitive functioning. One method to try and combat dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is through mind stimulation. Studies have shown that by increasing the brain’s strength you can also help it fight diseases. Some of these techniques include puzzles, learning to play an instrument, learning a new language, playing card or board games, regular reading, boosting your level of communication, volunteering, and learning a new hobby (Sue et al., 2016).
Despite being diagnosed with an incurable disease such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, there are promising studies being performed and alternative treatments to help combat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other medical conditions that cause memory loss. One of these studies looked at exposing individuals experiencing memory loss to blue wavelength treatments to help them improve their memory performance and recall ability. For this study individuals were separated into two groups, a group that was exposed to thirty minutes of the blue wavelength and one that received a placebo (Alkozei, Smith, Dailey, Bajaj, & Kilgore, 2018). The results of this study showed that the individuals exposed to the blue wavelength were better able to recall things after going through a series of test. It also showed that the blue wavelength can aide in controlling symptoms of depression as well as increase alertness. (Alkozei, et al., 2018).
Another promising treatment to help combat the symptoms of memory loss is exercise. In studies performed on individual’s experiencing memory loss who exercised consistently, it showed an improvement in perception and immediate memory. It claimed that this was due to the physiological changes that occur when an individual participates in fitness activities (O’Brien, Ottoboni, Tessari, & Setti, 2017). The study looked at individuals who were fifty-eight years of age and older and divided them into three groups based on their level of fitness acitivity. Each individual was given a cognitive test before and after participating in different levels of exercise for sixty to eighty minutes (O’Brien, et al., 2017). What it showed was an improvement in cognition and perception after bouts of exercise which the study concluded holds great promise for long-term memory improvement.
There are some drawbacks of consistent use of blue wavelength treatments to combat memory loss. One drawback is that exposure to long-term blue light can suppress the body’s ability to produce melatonin which can ultimately change an individual’s circadian rhythm throwing off their sleep-wake cycle. Researchers believe that the benefits outweigh any possible risks associated with it because of its ability to improve alertness and cognition (Vandewalle, Maquet, &Dijik, 2009). Blue wavelengths in short burst over a period of time is a promising treatment to help with cognition, attention, working memory, and sensory processing. However, there have not been enough extensive studies performed to conclusively show that blue light treatment can influence cognitive and emotional processes long-term (Vandewalle, et al., 2009).
With utilizing exercise as a way to combat memory loss there has not been enough extensive studies performed to show that it can help improve memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Some studies have shown that exercise can help to improve brain fog that can be associated with age and other medical conditions. The study showed that when an individual exercises, the brain is altered in ways that can improve memory and cognitive thinking. Changes in the brain occurs mostly in the hippocampus which is the area of the brain that is responsible for learning and memory. The type of exercise that is the most beneficial to help improve memory issues is regular aerobic exercise which increases the size of the hippocampus. Other types of physical activity such as muscle training, balance exercises and resistance training did not have any impact on the hippocampus and did affect the individual’s memory (Gilboa, Winocur, & Rosenbaum, 2006). These studies have also concluded that the prefrontal cortex as well as the medial temporal cortex are more extensive and there is greater brain volume in individuals who participate in daily aerobic exercise versus those that do not (Gilboa, et. al., 2006).
In conclusion, neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are quite complex and there are still many unknowns. While there is currently no cure for these diseases there are promising treatments and benefits associated with implementing these treatments to combat against these disorders. They range from implementing consistent physical activity into the daily routine to help boost alertness and cognition, cognitive training exercises, quitting smoking, switching to a plant-based diet, sustaining an active social life, to more alternative methods such as utilizing blue wavelength therapy to help increase working memory and sensory processing. Researchers continue to make great progress into the study and development of more effective drug therapies for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease that target the specific areas in the brain that go awry. They are primarily focusing on Beta-Amyloid responsible for plaques, Tau protein that is responsible for collapsing and twisting molecules into tangles that destroy the transportation of cells, and the specific molecules responsible for creating an inflammatory response in the brain (alz.org, 2018). Taking the first step of talking about the disorder and seeking early assistance from a specialized physician can help to delay progression.
References
Alzheimer's Disease. (2018). Alzheimer's Association. Retrieved April 6th, 2018, from,
https://m.alz.org/treatment-horizon.asp#Hope. Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Fact Sheet. (2015, August 30). National Institute on Aging: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved April 4th, 2018, from
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-genetics-fact-sheet.
Alkozei, A., Smith, R., Dailey, N.S. Bajaj, S., & Kilgore, W. D. S. (2017, September 9). Acute exposure to blue wavelength light during memory consolidation improves verbal memory performance.PLos ONE, 12(9): 1-11.
Gilboa, A., Winocur, G., & Rosenbaum, R. S. (2006). Hippocampal contributions to recollection
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Magalingam, K. B., Radhakrishnan, A., Ping, N. S., & Haleagrahara, N. (2018, March 8). Current Concepts of Neurodegenerative Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Disease. BioMed Research International: 1-12.
O'Brien, J., Ottoboni, G., Tessari, A., & Setti, A. (2017, June 1). One bout of open skill exercise improves cross-modal perception and immediate memory in healthy older adults who habitually exercise. PLos ONE, 12(6): 1-16.
Sue, D., Sue, D. W., Sue, D., & Sue, S. (2016). Understanding Abnormal Behavior (11th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
Vandewalle, G., Maquet, P., Dijik, D. J. (2009). Light as a modualtor of cognitive brain function. Trends in Cognitive Science, 13: 429-438.
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