Alzheimer
Air pollution, lack of exercise and tobacco use are some of the risk factors for Alzheimer’s. Up to 40 percent of all cases could be prevented by avoiding these risk factors, experts say on the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day on September 21st.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a neurodegenerative disease in which specific neuropathological changes in the brain result in progressive loss of neural cells in the brain and their connections. Overall, there are “twelve important risk factors,” reported the dementia researcher Elisabeth Stögmann from the University Clinic for Neurology at Meduni Vienna. But not only physical influences increase the risk of illness. “It has been known for some time that there is a connection between social isolation and dementia,” said Stögmann.
early detection possible
Increased public awareness of the development of dementia raises concerns about possible cognitive impairment in many aging people, informed the Meduni. However, since various brain functions deteriorate with increasing age, even independently of a pathological event, it is not always easy to distinguish between a normal and a pathological aging process – and requires more detailed investigations.
“We now know that the accumulation of plaques in the brain begins ten to 20 years before the appearance of obvious clinical symptoms,” explained Stögmann. “Therefore, the diagnosis of early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, such as B. the mild cognitive impairment of particular interest,” said the neurologist. “For this purpose, screening methods that can rule out or confirm pathological cognitive decline with a high level of certainty are of great importance.”
Still no therapy for the cause of the disease
Stögman is researching as part of an EU-funded Project using different approaches to risk factors for dementia. Together with European collaboration partners, digital health initiatives and patient organizations are involved in order to promote dementia prevention. “There is still a lot of progress to be made before we can stop or even cure Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia,” emphasized Stögmann. There is currently no approved therapy that combats the causes, even if new study results are eagerly awaited in the coming months.