Our minds
The biggest threat to our minds in later life is Dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, but there are others such as Lewy Bodies disease, which is linked to Parkinson’s Disease, also Vascular Disease, and Frontal Temporal condition.
What is Dementia?
Dementia describes a condition in which you are unable to carry out your daily activities due to brain disease, most notably brain shrinkage. It is a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with doing everyday activities.
In the brain, two proteins build up: amaloid between the nerve cells and Tarr within the cells. These two proteins are the hallmark of Alzheimer's. Amaloid seems to come first, then Tarr, but the bigger question is, what can we do about it?
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Statistically speaking
In people aged 65 years of age or older, there were an estimated 5 million adults with dementia in 2014, a figure that is projected to be nearly 14 million by 2060.
In the UK today, 900,000 people have Alzheimer's (set to double by 2040). Age is the number one contributing factor, with 1 in 6 over 80 diagnosed with Alzheimer's. However, 1 in 20 are early onset – under the age of 65. Let's fight back!
Research challenges
Protein build-up occurs over a long period of time—Maloids can start building up 15 years before diagnosis.
PET scans and lumbar punctures have only enabled the medical profession to understand this protein build-up in the last 15 – 20 years. Now we are starting to understand why.
New treatments
For mild to moderate Alzheimer's symptoms, drugs can help reduce or control some cognitive and behavioural symptoms. These drugs treat the symptoms but not the underlying cause.
However, new research is generating great excitement. It highlights how diet and gut health can slow the rate of cognitive decline and reduce amyloid plaque build-up. Prevention is our focus.
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