Every year on September 21, World Alzheimer's Day is commemorated to raise awareness and educate about Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain disease that causes memory loss and makes it difficult or nearly impossible, to think clearly.
The disease is one amongst the most prevalent type of dementia, damaging human brain cells, causing changes in memory and erratic behaviour, which sometimes even gives rise to the loss of several body functions. Alzheimer's disease is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic, behavioural, and environmental factors that impact the brain over time in most people, according to scientists. Certain genetic abnormalities nearly guarantee a person will get the disease in less than 1% of cases.
Significance of the day
World Alzheimer's Day is observed to recognise the importance of discussing dementia and to debunk its myths. It is also utilised as an opportunity for people to demonstrate how they can overcome these challenges and assist those with Dementia.
"Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer's" is the campaign's theme for 2021, which is all about the "power of information". Throughout the campaign that will be conducted worldwide, the main highlight would be the warning symptoms of dementia and the necessity of getting a diagnosis as soon as possible.
Here are a few points that the 2021 campaign is trying to highlight in an effort to promote better understanding of the disease.
Causes of the disease
Medical professionals and scientists say that the actual causes in specific of Alzheimer's disease are unknown. However, at a fundamental level, brain proteins malfunction, disrupting the work of brain cells (neurons) and triggering a cascade of harmful and extremely toxic events. Neurons become damaged, lose their connections, and eventually die. The damage usually begins in the memory-controlling region of the brain, but the process can begin years before the first symptoms even start to appear.
The loss of neurons spreads to other parts of the brain in a rather predictable fashion and by the last stages of the disease, the brain has already shrunk greatly. Forgetting recent events is one of the most typical signs of this condition. In this situation, Alzheimer's sufferers are more likely to forget names, addresses, phone numbers, and other minor data.
Detect early signs of the disease now
There are a number of warning signs and symptoms that can aid in the diagnosis of the condition. If you see any of the indicators listed below, don't disregard them. Make an appointment with your doctor.
Memory loss, causing problems in everyday life.
Forgetting freshly gained information is one of the most typical indications of Alzheimer's disease, especially in the early stages. Others include forgetting crucial dates or activities, as well as repeatedly asking the same questions.
Planning or problem-solving difficulties.
Dementia can affect a person's capacity to plan and execute a strategy, as well as their ability to deal with statistics. They may find it difficult to concentrate and take significantly longer to complete tasks than before.
Completing familiar chores is now difficult.
Daily duties are typically something that can start to get difficult for those with Alzheimer's disease.
Confusion over the passage of time or the location of an event.
Alzheimer's patients may lose track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time. If something does not happen right away, they may have difficulty understanding it.
Visual imagery and spatial interactions are difficult to comprehend.
Vision issues can be an indication of Alzheimer's disease in certain persons. This could cause you to lose your balance or have trouble reading. They may also have difficulty calculating distance and distinguishing colour or contrast, which can make driving difficult.
As the world prepares for Alzheimer's day, several virtual awareness events have been scheduled for the 21st of September. Here a few:
