The story of an 85-year-old mother taking care of her 65-year-old daughter is heart-wrenching. Can Alzheimer's disease be prevented?

In addition to the Mid-Autumn Festival when families reunite, there is another day that most people don’t know about - September 21, Alzheimer’s Day. Alzheimer’s disease, commonly known as senile dementia, is the most common type of dementia and a devastating disease. In mild cases, patients may forget certain things or people, and in severe cases, they may be completely unable to take care of themselves.

Recently, the family film "Mom!" was released nationwide during the Mid-Autumn Festival, telling the story of an 85-year-old mother taking care of her 65-year-old daughter with Alzheimer's disease. In the film, Xi Meijuan plays an Alzheimer's patient, who has hallucinations, mania, amnesia, loss of control, and even urinary incontinence and violent tendencies. The film shows all the details, from the beginning of the disease to the beginning of the disease, and the decline of the patients' cognitive and behavioral abilities, which made many viewers cry.

At present, there are at least 50 million Alzheimer's patients in the world, and my country accounts for about 1/4 of them. Some studies have predicted that by 2050, the number of Alzheimer's patients in my country will exceed 40 million. What are the early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease that are easily overlooked? What are the related high-risk factors? Can they be prevented early? Let's find out together...

In addition to not recognizing family members and not being able to find the way home, Alzheimer's disease also has the following early symptoms that are easily overlooked:

1. The words do not express the meaning clearly and even some simple words may be forgotten.

2. Place items randomly and treat a lot of garbage as treasures.

3. Temperament and behavior are changeable.

4. Unwilling to participate in any activities and unwilling to interact with others.

5. Drastic and unreasonable changes in personality, such as suspicion and distrust of others, which are very different from the previous personality.

If the elderly in your family show the above symptoms, you need to pay attention and take them to the hospital for treatment in time.

However, to diagnose Alzheimer's disease, not only comprehensive neuropsychological tests are required, but also laboratory tests and brain imaging tests, and a conclusion can only be drawn based on a comprehensive analysis of the results and manifestations.

How could a healthy person suddenly develop Alzheimer's disease?

So far, there is no clear cause and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The following are related high-risk factors:

1. Genetics

Studies have shown that if there is a direct relative with dementia, the risk of developing the disease is higher than normal people.

2. Age Factor

The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease increases with age.

3. Vascular factors.

4. Long-term vegetarian diet leads to poor nutritional status.

5. Smoking and drinking.

6. Low level of education.

7. Long-term use of aluminum cookware and tableware.

8. People suffering from diabetes, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease and depression.

How to prevent Alzheimer's disease?

1. Avoid head trauma.

2. Develop a healthy lifestyle, maintain good sleep, keep exercising, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption. It is recommended to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and shrimp, and eat nuts and beans regularly. Use vegetable oil for cooking.

3. Avoid diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Blood sugar, blood pressure and weight should be well controlled, but people over 65 years old should not be too thin.

4. Be happy, optimistic and cheerful, read more books, write and draw, and learn some new skills, such as playing chess, knitting sweaters, etc., to delay the aging of the brain.

5. For hyperhomocysteinemia, patients can use vitamin B and/or folic acid for treatment under the guidance of a doctor.