Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic disease of the nervous system that was first described by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1906. The disease is named after him. The disease causes neurons to slowly damage and brain tissue to die off. Those responsible for short-term memory are targeted first, followed by those responsible for long-term memory. Gradually, the disease erases a person’s personality, and after 8-10 years, Alzheimer’s gets to the life support systems, shutting them down one by one.
Besides memory loss, symptoms of this disease include:
- Problems recognizing places, people, and reconstructing the sequence of events;
- Changes in visual perception, such as difficulty interpreting images;
- Problems with performing tasks that previously were not difficult;
- Difficulties with oral and written communication;
- Changes in mood and personality, estrangement from family and friends.
Age for Alzheimer’s disease
Age is one of the most significant risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease. The likelihood of developing the disease increases significantly with age, especially after the age of 65. However, younger people can also develop the disease, which is called early or young onset. In addition to age, there are a number of other factors that can increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Major risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease:
- Age: After age 65, the risk doubles every 5 years.
- Heredity: Having a first-degree relative with Alzheimer’s disease increases the risk of developing the disease.
- Genetic predisposition: Having certain genes can increase the likelihood of developing the disease.
- Gender: Women are more susceptible to the disease, possibly due to longevity and hormonal factors.
- Cardiovascular disease: Heart disease, hypertension and diabetes may increase the risk of the disease.
- Head Injuries: Experienced head injuries can be a risk factor, especially if they were repetitive or severe.
- Low education: People with less education and cognitive activity may have a higher risk of the disease.
- Inactive lifestyle and obesity: Lack of physical activity and obesity are also associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Having more than one of these factors increases the likelihood of the disease, but does not necessarily lead to the development of the disease.
Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
Currently, various treatment methods are offered for the treatment of the disease. Among them, one of the most promising methods is the use of stem cells. In this case, cell therapy is used in conjunction with drug treatment.
Numerous studies and experience in the application of cell therapy have shown that treatment with stem cells can halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, especially effective in the early stages of treatment.
Recently, the use of stem cells, which are able to recreate different types of nerve cells – neurons and glia, has gained worldwide recognition among neurologists and specialists dealing with the disease. This type of therapy makes it possible to halt the damage and loss of neurons in a person with Alzheimer’s disease. Much of the effect of using stem cells in Alzheimer’s disease depends on the ability of stem cells to differentiate into neural tissue cells.
In the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease, when neurological and mental disorders are significantly pronounced, stem cell therapy can stabilize the patient’s condition, improve the quality of life, well-being, sleep and appetite.
Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease develops imperceptibly and its initial manifestations are often associated with old age, stress and fatigue. Therefore, stem cell therapy in the early stages of the disease is not always successful.
What stem cells are used to treat the disease?
The cell therapy uses mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow. This is done by puncturing one of the large bones, such as the pelvic bone. The doctor then isolates stem cells from the bone marrow. These cells are placed in a special environment where they multiply – the so-called cultivation stage. As a result, a large number of stem cells are formed after 1 -1.5 months. Stem cells are usually administered intravenously in Alzheimer’s disease.
The advantage of using autologous mesenchymal stem cells is that they are taken from the patient, unlike embryonic and fetal stem cells, and there is no risk of rejection of the patient’s own stem cells.
In most cases, the use of stem cell therapy halts or significantly slows the progression of the disease, allowing the Alzheimer’s patient to retain his or her memory and sanity for longer.
Expected results and prospects of the therapy
Stem cell therapy for Alzheimer’s disease can bring significant improvements in the quality of life of patients, especially in the early stages of the disease. One of the main expected effects is a slowing of cognitive deterioration, allowing the patient to maintain the ability to self-care and socialize longer. It is also important to note that stem cell treatment helps to improve sleep quality and reduce depressive symptoms that often accompany the disease.
Difficulties and challenges on the way to widespread use
Despite promising results, cell therapy for Alzheimer’s disease faces several challenges. First, despite encouraging data from studies, stem cell therapy is still in the clinical trial phase, and not all results may be stable on a long-term basis. Second, the cost and availability of such treatments remain a significant barrier to the widespread use of this therapy.
