Ever walked into a room and forgotten why you were there?
Tried recalling an event but couldn’t?
Forget people’s names, daily tasks whether you’ve eaten or taken your medicine or where you’ve placed important things?
Is forgetfulness becoming a daily struggle for someone you care about? These could be early warning signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that significantly impacts memory and cognitive function. It affects not just memory but your entire family.
Let’s find out if you or your loved ones are at risk today!
Let’s start with a clear guide to understanding dementia and Alzheimer’s disease stages and progressions.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are neurodegenerative conditions that affect various cognitive functions, including memory, reasoning, and daily living skills. These diseases progress through different stages, each marked by increasing severity of symptoms. Understanding the stages helps healthcare providers and caregivers plan appropriate interventions and support.
Stage 1: Preclinical Stage
In this stage, neuronal degeneration begins slowly, but no clear symptoms are observable. Research has shown that abnormal proteins, such as amyloid-beta and tau, may start accumulating in the brain before clinical symptoms appear. Detection at this stage is possible through brain imaging or cerebrospinal fluid analysis for disease-related biomarkers.
Stage 2: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Known as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), this stage involves noticeable cognitive decline, particularly in memory and reasoning, but the individual can still perform most daily activities independently. Common symptoms include forgetting recent events (short-term memory loss) and difficulty finding words.
Stage 3: Mild Alzheimer’s Disease
As the disease progresses to this stage, cognitive decline begins to interfere with daily activities. Patients may forget appointments or tasks, and managing complex tasks like finances becomes difficult. Decision-making and judgment are impaired. Though patients can still function somewhat independently, they may require occasional assistance.
Stage 4: Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease
In this stage, cognitive impairment becomes more severe. Patients may forget the names of close friends and family, become disoriented with time and place, and have difficulty with communication. Daily living activities like dressing or eating may require more frequent assistance. Personality changes such as anxiety or depression may also emerge.
Stage 5: Severe Alzheimer’s Disease
Severe Alzheimer’s Disease is the final stage, where patients lose the ability to care for themselves entirely and need round-the-clock support. Communication becomes extremely limited, and patients may no longer recognize loved ones. Physical decline often accompanies cognitive deterioration, affecting the ability to walk, eat, or swallow (dysphagia). Complications such as pneumonia or pressure ulcers are common.
“Stay Ahead, Act Early!”
8 Warning signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease you need to know.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are neurodegenerative disorders that affect memory, cognition, and behavior. The early signs of these conditions often appear gradually and may be subtle, which can cause them to go unnoticed by both the patient and their family. For healthcare professionals, recognizing these early symptoms is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.
1. Memory Impairment
One of the most common early signs is recent memory loss, particularly forgetting important daily events such as misplacing objects, forgetting the names of familiar people, or asking the same questions repeatedly (repetitive questioning). This reflects dysfunction in the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for forming new memories.
2. Difficulty in Planning and Problem Solving
Patients may struggle with tasks that require executive function, such as managing finances, cooking complex meals, or planning daily activities. This is indicative of deteriorating function in the frontal lobe, which plays a key role in planning, problem-solving, and reasoning.
3. Disorientation to Time and Place
Patients often forget the time, date, or their location, leading to disorientation. This reflects dysfunction in spatial and temporal orientation, which can cause confusion and anxiety. This symptom indicates impaired cognitive processing in various brain regions responsible for situational awareness.
4. Behavior and Mood Changes
Significant personality changes are common in the early stages of dementia. Patients may exhibit irritability, depression, anxiety, or engage in socially inappropriate behavior. These changes stem from the dysfunction of the limbic system and the frontal lobe, which regulate emotions and behavior control.
5. Language and Communication Impairment
Patients may experience word-finding difficulty or use incorrect words when describing objects, leading to incoherent speech. This is associated with impairment in Wernicke’s area, a part of the brain responsible for language comprehension.
6. Impaired Judgment
A decline in the ability to make sound judgments is common, with patients making poor decisions or engaging in unsafe behaviors such as crossing the street without caution or mismanaging finances. This suggests dysfunction in the frontal lobe, which is crucial for decision-making and behavioral control.
7. Apathy or Loss of Initiative
Patients may lose interest in activities they previously enjoyed or show a lack of motivation (loss of interest). They may isolate themselves or neglect personal responsibilities. This symptom points to dysfunction in the brain regions responsible for motivation and initiative, likely involving circuits in the prefrontal cortex.
8. Sleep Disturbances
Changes in sleep patterns, such as insomnia or hypersomnia, are common in early dementia. These disturbances may be due to chemical changes in the brain that affect the sleep-wake cycle.
The early signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease manifest in various ways, including memory loss, impaired judgment, difficulties in planning, disorientation, and mood changes. Recognizing these symptoms early is critical for initiating appropriate treatment. Emerging technologies like Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS) offer promising potential in slowing down cognitive decline, providing new hope for patients and their families.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are neurodegenerative disorders that severely affect memory, cognition, and behavior. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, and there is currently no cure. However, research into risk factors and preventive measures suggests potential strategies to delay or possibly prevent these diseases.
Risk Factors for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
Preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease often begins with understanding the risk factors that play a significant role in the development of the disease. These include:
- Age: Age is the most important risk factor, with the risk of developing the disease increasing as a person gets older, particularly in those over 65 years old.
- Genetics: Having a family history of Alzheimer’s, especially the presence of the APOE-e4 gene mutation, increases the risk of developing the disease.
- Vascular factors: Conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are significant risk factors for dementia, as damage to the brain’s vascular system can impair neuronal function.
- Smoking and Alcohol consumption: Smoking and heavy alcohol consumption increase the risk of neurodegeneration, contributing to cognitive decline.
- Low educational attainment and lack of cognitive activity: Lower levels of education and minimal cognitive stimulation are associated with reduced neural network formation in the brain, increasing the risk of dementia.
Several studies suggest various factors that may help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia:
- Physical Activity: Regular exercise improves blood flow to the brain, supports neuronal health, and reduces beta-amyloid and tau protein accumulation.
- Healthy Diet: The MIND Diet (Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay), which emphasizes the consumption of vegetables, fruits, fish, and olive oil, has been shown to lower the risk of cognitive decline.
- Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Control: Managing cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia.
- Cognitive Training: Activities that challenge the brain, such as puzzles or learning new skills, help maintain cognitive reserve by promoting neurogenesis and strengthening neural connections.
- Sleep Hygiene: Quality sleep plays a vital role in clearing toxins and protein accumulations, including beta-amyloid, from the brain during the night.
Although there is no cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, modifying lifestyle factors and managing risks can significantly delay or reduce the likelihood of developing these conditions. Preventive strategies, including regular exercise, a healthy diet, and mental and sleep health, all contribute to preserving brain function and cognitive well-being.
While complete prevention of dementia or Alzheimer’s may not be achievable, effective management can enhance the quality of life and family dynamics. Discover expert advice on caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s to ensure compassionate and informed support.
Caring for patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging due to their declining memory, communication difficulties, and changes in behavior. Effective care requires attention to physical, psychological, and social well-being. A comprehensive care plan that addresses these areas is essential to improving the patient’s quality of life.
1. Medical Care
Regular medical attention is essential for dementia patients, especially consultations with neurologists or geriatric psychiatrists. Common medications, such as Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists, can help slow cognitive decline in the early stages. Physicians should monitor the patient’s condition and side effects closely and assess for complications like falls and depression.
2. Nutritional Care
Balanced nutrition is critical, as dementia may cause patients to forget to eat or drink, leading to malnutrition or dehydration. Providing easy-to-eat, nutrient-rich foods, including increased protein intake, vitamin B and E, as well as antioxidants, can help support brain health and prevent further cognitive decline.
3. Behavioral Management
Patients with dementia may exhibit aggressive behavior or confusion, which requires careful management. Creating a safe and calm environment is crucial, avoiding overstimulation and maintaining clear communication. Caregivers should interact with patience and offer close emotional support to reduce anxiety and confusion.
4. Establishing a Routine
A consistent daily routine is vital, as changes can cause confusion and anxiety in dementia patients. Structured times for meals, activities, and rest help patients feel more secure and capable of anticipating the flow of each day.
5. Emotional Support
Many patients experience anxiety and depression due to cognitive changes. Providing emotional support is crucial. Caregivers should engage in confidence-building communication and involve patients in reminiscence therapy to connect them with past positive experiences, which can improve emotional well-being.
6. Cognitive Stimulation
Cognitive stimulation is an important part of caring for Alzheimer’s patients. Engaging them in mental exercises, brain games, or memory training can help preserve cognitive function and slow the rate of decline.
7. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS Brainwell✚) and Transcranial Pulsed Stimulation (TPS Brainwell✚)
Recent evidence indicates that patients undergoing brain stimulation with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Transcranial Pulsed Stimulation (TPS) experience improvements in memory, cognitive sensitivity, verbal communication, and daily functioning.
- Alzheimer’s Association. (2023). 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
- World Health Organization. (2021). Dementia Fact Sheet
- Mayo Clinic. (2023). Alzheimer’s Disease
Are you still unsure about how Alzheimer’s rehabilitation works, when to seek treatment or whether it really makes a difference? Concerned about costs?
Discover how TMS Brainwell ✚ and TPS Brainwell✚ can transform advanced brain stimulation for Alzheimer’s patients. Get a glimpse of our innovative approach and be prepared for your journey to better care.
Storytelling from a 61-year-old Thai woman, a homemaker has been facing cognitive challenges for the past 4 years. She struggles with thinking clearly, maintaining focus and remembering things. Her once outgoing nature has diminished, she now speaks less and finds it hard to perform daily tasks. Additionally, she experiences depression, a lack of self-confidence and a reluctance to socialize.
After hearing about the patient’s symptoms, the first step was to examine the MRI Brain scan results. The scan showed widespread brain atrophy with no cysts but evidence of blood loss in the left Pons. This led to a diagnosis of brain atrophy. Based on these findings, the attending physician recommends a consultation for advanced brain stimulation at Brainwell Medical ✚
The next step is to take a detailed history of the patient’s current medications, vitamins, or supplements. This information is crucial because it allows me to create a personalized brain stimulation and rehabilitation plan tailored to achieve the best possible outcome for each individual patient.
The patient is currently taking 7 medications, including antidepressants, Alzheimer’s medication, a sleeping aid, Vitamin D3, a B-complex multivitamin, a sleep hormone supplement, and medication for anxiety.
The final step before beginning the brain stimulation rehabilitation program with TPS Brainwell ✚ or TMS Brainwell ✚ is the qEEG Brain Mapping assessment. This process creates a detailed map of the patient’s brain, providing essential information for personalized treatment planning
Each patient’s brain map is unique, reflecting the specific symptoms of their condition. For this particular patient, the brain map analysis of brainwave activity shows Beta waves appearing in blue and light blue in the posterior region of the brain. This indicates that:
- Beta waves: These brainwaves, with a frequency range of approximately 13 to 30 Hz, are associated with active thinking, focus, and alertness.
- Blue color: Indicates a lower intensity or quantity of brainwave activity in that region.
- Posterior region of the brain: This area is involved in processing visual information, spatial awareness, memory, sensory perception, and differentiation.
Therefore, in this case, after considering the symptoms, MRI Brain scan, and qEEG Brain Mapping, it is evident that brain function has declined, particularly in areas related to new learning and memory
The brain rehabilitation plan at Brainwell Medical ✚ for this patient includes the following:
- Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS): 6 continuous sessions
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): 40 continuous sessions
- The total treatment duration will be 12 months.
Clinical outcomes
Throughout the 12 months of advanced brain stimulation, I have recorded the patient’s progress after each session. These documented results serve as tangible evidence, building trust and confidence in the medical services provided by Brainwell Medical✚
- Speech and Memory: Improved ability to speak and recall names of friends
- Response: Faster responses, increased communication, more singing
- Attention: Greater interest in the surrounding environment
- Dementia Score: Improved from 1 (severe) to 14 (better)
Depression Score: Improved from 26 (severe) to 11 (better)
Total cost:
- Initial diagnosis and assessment: 2,000 Thai Baht
- TPS Brainwell ✚: 90,000 Thai Baht
- TMS Brainwell ✚: 90,000 Thai Baht
- Total: 182,000 Thai Baht in 12 months
If you or your loved one are noticing early warning signs, don’t wait!
Consult a neurologist or brain rehabilitation specialist to get the best advice and care.
Dr.Somros at Brainwell Medical ✚ offers personalized treatment plans that can make a real difference. Early intervention and compassionate care are essential for managing and improving your family’s well-being!