What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines Alzheimer’s Disease as the most common type of dementia – in other words, the most common memory loss disease. With Alzheimer’s disease, the part of a person’s brain that controls thoughts, memory, and language are affected. This condition begins with mild memory loss and could possibly progress to the point of losing the ability to carry on a conversation or respond normally to the environment. Other problems that can occur with the progression of Alzheimer’s are wandering and getting lost, repeating questions, taking longer to complete normal daily tasks, and drastic personality/behavior changes.
Over time, different areas of the brain begin to shrink and the first areas affected are responsible for the memories.
Causes
Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by a build-up of proteins in and around the brain cells. The exact cause(s) of this brain disease is unclear, however, scientists know that the process begins many years before symptoms start to appear.
Risk Factors
The following factors are known to increase the risk of developing this condition, however, they are not the only risk factors:
- Age
This is the most significant factor. The likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease doubles every 5 years after the age of 65. On the other hand, around 1 in 20 people are at risk of developing this condition under the age of 65.
- Family History
Research shows that those who have a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s disease are more likely to develop the condition than those who do not have a family history. The risk also increases if more than one family member has the condition.
- Head Injuries
Head injuries of any severity may increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, especially repeated injuries and injuries sustained around age 55 and older. New research also supports that concussions accelerate Alzheimer’s disease-related brain damage and cognitive decline in people who are at genetic risk.
Stem Cells, Alzheimer’s Disease, and How We Can Help
Did you know that stem cells can grow into brain cells and may have the potential to repair brain damage caused by neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia? Stem cells have improved characteristics of self-renewal, proliferation, differentiation, and recombination with the advancement of stem cell technology and the transformation of these cells into different types of central nervous system neurons and glial cells. Although recent preclinical studies on stem cell therapy for Alzheimer’s have proved to be promising and have the potential to help patients with the condition, these methods are something we, here at Greenberg Regenerative Medicine, are studying very closely.
In the meantime, we offer a variety of mental clarity supplements such as Ashwagandha, Vitamine D3, Memorall, and CogniCare to keep your body healthy and your mind sharp. For example, research suggests that people with very low levels of vitamin D in their blood, a condition known as vitamin D deficiency, are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
For more information about our treatment methods (such as PRP or stem cells) for head injuries and the health supplements we offer, please visit our website.
Just like any of our treatments offered at Greenberg Regenerative Medicine, our team conducts a thorough consultation and examination before helping treat your body’s unique conditions. Should you have any questions about our supplements and/or therapeutic methods, please do not hesitate to contact our team.
For over 20 years, Scott Greenberg, MD has helped patients find relief through integrative and regenerative medicine. Schedule a consultation with Greenberg Regenerative Medicine’s team to determine a plan that is best suited for your needs.
