Alzheimer’s Disease—Biochemical and Psychological Background for Diagnosis and Treatment

Abstract

There is a paucity of empirical research on the use of non-pharmacological interventions to both treat and curb the spread of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) across the globe. This paper examines the biochemical and clinical outlook and the social implications of the condition in relation to psychological aspects that may indicate a direction for further interventions. There is a scarcity of research on the effectiveness of using various psychological aspects of AD, a disease characterized by a process of transition from health and independence to a dependent state with a progressive loss of memory and functional skills. The paper investigates the biochemical and psychological aspects of AD and their significance for improving quality of life for patients with this disease. Psychological interventions based on, among other factors, biochemical studies, are conducted to improve the emotional wellbeing of AD patients and may assist in slowing down the progression of the disease. To date, however, no effective methods of AD treatment have been established.

The Olfactory Trail of Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…Individuals with one or two copies of the ε4 allele are at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to those without the ε4 allele. In contrast, the ε2 allele may have a protective effect [44]. Like other neurodegenerative conditions featuring abnormal protein aggregates, Alzheimer's disease develops as a prolonged progression, in which cognitive decline and dementia only become evident after substantial neuronal death and brain shrinkage have occurred [45].…”

The Interplay of Sports and Nutrition in Neurological Health and Recovery

“…According to the prognostic estimations of Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), the number of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease is expected to climb twofold in the next 20 years. This might potentially result in a serious social crisis, necessitating the implementation of a comprehensive dementia plan to effectively handle this substantial rise [173]. A recent study aimed to examine the distinct impacts of aerobic exercise training (AT), resistance exercise training (RT), and combination exercise training (CT) on cognitive function in older persons who reported Subjective Memory Complaints (SMCs).…”

The janus face of oxidative stress in health and disease: The cause or the cure?

“…Accumulation of amyloid beta has been observed to be the initiating cause of the development of AD (98). Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction contribute to the development of the disease and it is known that ROS increase the levels of beta amyloids (99,100). To date, antioxidants are used to limit the damage of oxidative stress at the mitochondrial level, among these are MitoTEMPO, MitoQ, MitoVitE, 4,5-dihydroxy-benzene-1,3-disulfonate (Tiron), astaxanthin.…”