How Does Alzheimer’s Affect The Brain?

by Matson Huff | Oct 10, 2022 | Alzheimer’s Disease, Stem Cell Therapy

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most prevalent neurological conditions in the world, affecting more than 5.8 million people in the United States alone. While millions of people suffer from the condition, not everyone understands how Alzheimer’s really affects the brain. So how does Alzheimer’s affect the brain? Keep reading to find out!

How Alzheimer’s Impacts Your Brain

Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurological disease that results in damage to the brain. Alzheimer’s attacks the regions of the brain that are responsible for memory and language. This leads to severe memory loss and other cognitive symptoms. 

The exact cause of Alzheimer’s is still largely unknown, but it has been linked to the buildup of plaque within the brain. It is also thought to be genetic in some cases, affecting multiple people from the same family. 

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Treating Alzheimer’s relies heavily on an early diagnosis. In order to detect the disease as early as possible, you should be on the lookout for signs and symptoms that could indicate changes within the brain. The following are some of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease:

• Difficulty completing familiar tasks
• Unable to recall everyday information
• Getting lost in familiar locations
• Frequently misplacing things
• Mood swings and extreme behavioral changes
• Uncharacteristic decision-making
• Difficulty with finances
• Sudden poor hygiene or unkept home

While these symptoms can sometimes be attributed to mental health disorders like depression, they are often indicators of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in older individuals. When you notice these signs in yourself or a loved one, being evaluated by a neurologist as soon as possible is vital for successful treatment.

Treating Alzheimer’s Disease

The way Alzheimer’s disease is treated has evolved in recent years. In the past, there were very few options in terms of slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s. Patients and their loved ones relied on behavioral intervention and other therapeutic approaches to cope with the symptoms of the disease. 

Thanks to recent research, now there may be alternative options to help slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s and reduce the severity of symptoms.

One innovative approach involves regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy. A patient’s own stem cells could potentially be used to heal the damage that Alzheimer’s causes to certain areas of the brain. Stem cell therapy also provides regenerative properties that could produce new neurons, replacing any damaged cells within the brain. 
Research on stem cells as a treatment for Alzheimer’s is ongoing, but studies have shown that the approach is most effective when a patient is in the earlier stages of the disease. To learn more about ” How does Alzheimer’s affect the brain? ” and the options available at Stemedix, contact a care coordinator today!

How Can Stem Cells Help Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease?

by Matson Huff | Apr 15, 2020 | Alzheimer’s Disease, Stem Cell Therapy

As the most common cause of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. It’s a progressive brain disease which impairs cognition, including memory, behaviors, and thinking. Over time, symptoms worsen and begin to interfere with a person’s ability to perform daily activities.

In people with Alzheimer’s, plaques, or protein deposits, form between nerve cells at a quicker rate, as do tangles, or twisted fibers which accumulate within dead nerve cells. As a result, these damaged nerve cells are unable to transmit necessary electrical signals.

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, though some treatments can help to control certain symptoms. In the quest to find a more effective treatment to slow the progression of the disease and potentially even improve symptoms in patients, researchers are turning to regenerative medicine therapies, including stem cell treatment.

Stem Cell Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease

Stem cells help the body’s own healing mechanisms work more effectively in degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s. For instance, some studies have shown immunomodulatory effects, which help to disable the abnormal attack on healthy brain tissue. In others, stem cell transplantation has led to the proliferation or replacement of diseased cells at the specific areas where cells have begun to degenerate.

Stem cells have the ability to replicate many unique cell types throughout the body, including nerve cells. Combined with the fact that they can also reproduce quickly, this poises them for the effective regeneration of damaged brain tissue. As a result, stem cell therapy has the potential to deliver the following improvements for people with Alzheimer’s disease:

·   Slowed rate of disease progression

·   Improved mood and behavior

·   Increased energy levels

·   Reduced confusion

·   Improved memory and cognition

Renowned Alzheimer’s groups such as the Alzheimer’s Association in the U.S. and the Alzheimer’s Society in the U.K. support and encourage the use of stem cell therapy to find new cures and create targeted treatments which would repair the network of cell-to-cell connections that become damaged in the disease.

Although researchers have yet to establish the precise cause for Alzheimer’s disease, stem cells are opening the door into further findings, providing hope and helping to improve the quality of life in patients.

If you or a loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s and would like to reap the benefits Stem Cell Therapy can deliver to this disease then contact us today!