In the film ‘Mai’ that released a decade ago, Asha Bhonsle played an ageing woman with four children who develops Alzheimer’s disease. This was one of the first attempts in Bollywood where an entire film centred around the portrayal of the physical, mental, and social challenges that women with the disease go through, as well as their families.
Alzheimer’s disease is part of the gamut of neurological conditions, along with Parkinson's disease and Dementia. We hear these words interchangeably, and they may even occur together, but they are not the same thing. It is important for women attempting to understand, prevent, or cope with a patient, to be aware of the specifics of these diseases.
“Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological condition caused by damage to the brain cells, due to the buildup of certain proteins. It usually starts when one is in their 60s or 70s, and doesn’t normally affect the physical functioning of the body. Mentally though, it can cause havoc. It affects your memory, then your decision-making abilities and eventually even the smallest of things required to get by every day. Symptoms include memory loss, lack of concentration, paranoia, changes in sleep and appetite as well as depression,” says mental health practitioner Dr Sadhana Aggarwal.
Alzheimer’s is more common in women than it is in men. For years, this was attributed to the longevity of life, and therefore the likelihood of getting old enough to be affected by it. Recent research has indicated that other factors such as lack of sleep and fluctuating hormones post-menopause are culprits as well. Alzheimer’s was discovered over a century ago by Dr Alois Alzheimer, who examined a woman’s brain after she passed away. He had observed these symptoms and found clumps and fibres as well as the loss of connection between neurons in the brain. Alzheimer’s disease may progress slowly, but it has also known to rapidly escalate at times. “Since the initial symptoms aren’t aggressive, diagnosis is often delayed,” explains Dr Sadhana. “Sadly, women are more prone to it than men. Despite many years of research, there is no cure at present, but you can slow down the progression with cognitive-enhancing drugs. Always get a prescription from a qualified mental health doctor. Non-drug therapies use physical activity, mental stimulation, and changing the way you communicate with the patient.”
Another neurological condition to be aware of is Parkinson's disease. Unlike Alzheimer’s, this has physical implications as well. “It impairs muscle movement and is actually classified as a muscle disorder,” says Dr Sadhana. “People usually get it after 50, but it sometimes can occur earlier, and we call this early onset Parkinson's. For women, the chances of Parkinson's are lower than they are for men, but they’re still very much a possibility, especially if there is a family history. The muscles tighten and become too rigid to function properly, because of low dopamine production in the brain. Yes, the same dopamine that is responsible for an elevated mood.”
As with Alzheimer’s the initial symptoms aren’t really obvious, so you may miss it. As the disease progresses – quite rapidly most of the time – stiff walking, difficulty moving the jaw and neck, limited use of limbs, problems with balance and coordination, and even hallucinations will all make themselves obvious. “It can also cause stomach problems and depression,” says Dr Sadhana. “Again, there is no cure. But medical science has progressed enough that medications to offset the dopamine loss can help manage the disease very well. Exercise, a high protein diet, and regular speech therapy are other essential steps.”
Is it possible to have both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's at the same time? The answer is yes, although it isn’t very common. Coming to dementia, it is actually a series of symptoms that are the byproduct of an underlying condition. “Dementia is an umbrella term that we use to describe short-term memory loss and thinking skills due to damage to brain cells,” says neuroscience technologist Sadique Jamal. “It will impact your day-to-day life as it progresses. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for more than 50 per cent of all dementia cases, although it is not the only cause. Parkinson's can also lead to dementia. Then we have Vascular Dementia, which is caused by long-term high blood pressure and small strokes. This is the second leading cause of dementia. There are a few very rare causes, and some factors such as head injury and genetics as well. In some cases called ‘mixed dementia’, there is more than one cause.”
Sadiq Jamal says that neurological ailments such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's, and dementia cannot be predicted, but there are a few factors that might help keep them at bay.
1. Age and genetics are not in your control. Firstly, it is important to look at your family history of neurological conditions to find out if you are at risk so that you are at least aware.
2. Smoking and the excessive use of alcohol are two factors that can contribute to dementia. If you find yourself at risk, it is advisable to cut out smoking altogether (for more reasons than this!) and adopt a low-consumption approach to alcohol.
3. Watch your cholesterol levels. Those with increased LDL or bad cholesterol are prone to both Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia.
4. Ditto type 2 diabetes. Keep a watch on your sugar levels and take efforts to prevent the onset. Take in a lot of Omega 3 fatty acids, specifically DHA.
5. Get regular exercise into your daily routine – at least 30 minutes of moderate activity everyday. Opt for yoga or Tai Chi, which will focus on coordination, posture, and balance. Strength training will also help develop better muscles.
6. There is no concrete proof, but studies have shown that in communities and societies where there is more engagement with one another, the incidences of such conditions are much lower. Mental stimulation, stress management, and quality sleep are other pillars.
7. If you do discover that you have any of these neurological conditions, seek medical assistance at once to slow down and manage the disease. Find support and counselling groups to help you tide through this tiring time. Safety is a major concern, so if you live alone, you might want to consider moving into a dementia care facility before the condition worsens. If you live with family, you should take a talk with them about whether they’re upto the challenge of supporting your needs.
Dynamic women and icons such as actor Rita Hayworth, activist Rosa Parks, and politician Margaret Thatcher have fallen prey to Alzheimer’s and dementia, withering away in their last years. With a little education, awareness and help from medical practitioners, you have a much greater chance of managing these diseases and living your golden years in tranquillity.