9 Key Recommendations for Preventing Alzheimer's

Alzheimer ranks among the leading diseases that significantly reduce quality of life and lifespan, affecting nearly 50 million people worldwide. This figure is estimated to reach 110 million by 2050. Forgetfulness manifesting in social life and resulting in inability to fulfill responsibilities emerges as the most significant symptom of Alzheimer's. Family members caring for Alzheimer's patients not only suffer from these challenges equally, but also face depression and Alzheimer's risk due to intense stress and responsibility. Prof. Dr. Türker Şahiner from Memorial Şişli Hastanesi Neurology Department provided information about Alzheimer's disease and gave important guidance to caregivers of Alzheimer's patients on protection from depression and this disease.

Sometimes It Can Be Damage to Emotional Memory, Sometimes Damage to Visual Memory

Prof. Dr. Türker Şahiner stated: "There is a widespread belief in society that Alzheimer's is only forgetfulness. However, it means the loss of brain capabilities. If Alzheimer's is thought of as a fire, this loss of ability is where the spark first begins. Sometimes there can be damage to emotional memory, sometimes damage to visual memory, sometimes the ability to locate oneself in space, that is, the ability to find addresses, can be lost, and sometimes speaking or writing abilities can be lost. Damage can start from any point in the brain. However, Alzheimer's most favors the short-term memory center, the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the short, temporary memory section where newly learned information is discarded before being repeated. When information is sent to this center and repeated, it is transferred to long-term memory; if not repeated, it is deleted from the short-term memory center as new information is added after a certain time. When this center is damaged, information intended to be transferred to long-term memory also cannot be used. When information is repeated, it creates a sensation of being learned for the first time," he said.

Sleep Regularity Is Extremely Important for Brain Health

Şahiner noted that when sleep quality deteriorates, brain cells die prematurely: "Those suffering from chronic insomnia have very high Alzheimer's risk. When insomnia combines with depression, this risk multiplies many times. Alzheimer's is caused by amyloid beta proteins accumulating in the brain. Although amyloid beta is a protein necessary for the brain's learning process, the brain needs to break it down again and prepare it for reuse after processing the protein. This process occurs during sleep. In the brains of people who do not sleep enough, amyloid beta accumulation increases. For this reason, people who sleep less have higher Alzheimer's risk. However, this does not mean "sleeping more is good for Alzheimer's." This protein accumulation can also be seen in brain MRI scans, and thus future Alzheimer's risk in individuals can be predicted. Vaccines currently being researched against Alzheimer's disease aim to clear these amyloid beta residues," he said.

9 Recommendations to Protect From and Against Alzheimer's

• From the moment your loved one receives an initial diagnosis, your psychiatric health becomes much more important for both you and the patient.
• Consider this care professionally. Day care centers, which are professional rehabilitation institutions, provide important benefits and advantages for patients and their families through social rehabilitation.
• Social life is also very important for the patient's quality of life and motivation.
• Remember that the time you set aside for yourself is actually an investment in improving the patient's quality of life in the future.
• Improve your sleep quality.
• Mental and physical activity are very important to stay away from depression.
• Manage your blood pressure and blood sugar well. Those with poor blood pressure and blood sugar control progress to dementia more rapidly.
• Caregiver burnout syndrome resulting from major responsibilities will negatively affect not only the caregiver but also the patient.
• Track both your patient's progress and your own Alzheimer's development risk using free programs like BEYNEX available on the internet. The use of these programs is increasing with each passing day. Going to the hospital frequently for memory tests is difficult and costly. However, since monitoring whether the disease is progressing is necessary, such applications that can be easily used at home provide convenience.