Alzheimer's and What You Need To Know
July 25th 2011 08:38
Singer Glen Campbell's recent Alzheimer's diagnosis shines a spotlight on the critical early stages of the disease.
In his 1967 cover of “Gentle on My Mind,” Glen Campbell sang about “the back roads by the rivers of my memory.” These lyrics took on particular poignancy recently when the 75-year-old singer announced that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Campbell’s forthcoming final album, set for release on August 30, is titled “Ghost on the Canvas,” words that also resonate with anyone who has experienced the memory-robbing effects of the disease.
The news about Campbell broke at the same time German scientists published their findings in Neurology indicating that a new biomarker may help identify which people with mild memory loss will go on to develop Alzheimer’s. The three-year study examined the spinal fluid of 58 people with mild memory problems. Those who developed Alzheimer’s had significantly higher levels of the protein soluble amyloid precursor protein beta in their spinal fluid. This biomarker may provide earlier and more precise identification of the disease process than amyloid beta1-42, a marker also associated with Alzheimer’s. This advance may pave the way for earlier intervention.
What are the early signs of Alzheimer’s? Forgetting where you stashed your glasses or keys, mixing up an appointment, or drawing a complete blank on someone’s name are all normal, age-related changes, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
It’s time to worry if memory loss or mood changes interfere with your life, hampering your ability to pay your bills or follow a recipe, or causing serious lapses in judgment like giving away money to someone you don’t know, or failing to keep up with bathing and grooming. Being disoriented as to the date, season, or time is also a red flag, as are getting lost when driving to a familiar place, or experiencing personality changes such as extreme withdrawal.
If you or an older relative need a teenage son or granddaughter to explain tricky electronic ins and outs of your phone or TV more than once, not to worry. But if you observe bizarre behavior or cognitive changes like stuffing a purse in the freezer, wandering outside in pajamas, or completely scrambling the checkbook, a consultation with a doctor is in order.
There is currently no medication to prevent or slow Alzheimer’s. However, Campbell is said to be in the early stages of disease, meaning that his symptoms may be lessened or stabilized with cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine. Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, keeping its levels high in the brain. Acetylcholine is key in learning and memory. The drug memantine regulates the brain chemical glutamate, also integral in learning and memory. Too much glutamate overstimulates N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. These overstimulated cells then allow too much calcium into nerve cells, leading to cell death. By partially blocking this process, memantine may protect cells against this damage.
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