Alzheimer’s disease, a neurodegenerative condition that affects millions of people around the world, has as its main symptom the loss of memory for recent facts. Node CNN Vital Signs This Saturday (3), neurologists Sonia Brucki and Jerusa Smid of the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine (HCFMUSP), explained the initial signs of the disease and how to identify them.
According to experts, the most characteristic symptom of Alzheimer’s is the difficulty in forming new memories. “The main symptom is memory loss for recent facts, that is, the loss of the ability of new learning,” explained the experts.
The doctors pointed out that while old memories remain intact, recent events become difficult to remember. For example, a person with Alzheimer’s may perfectly remember events from ten years ago, but forget what they did the week before, where he was or what he had lunch the day before.
The role of the hippocampus in Alzheimer’s disease
Neurologists explained that this difficulty is related to a specific region of the brain: “New information is dependent on a region of the brain that we call hippocampus. And this region is very initially affected in most cases of Alzheimer’s disease.”
An important aspect highlighted by the experts is the insidious character of the disease. Symptoms can start subtly, often go unnoticed by the individual himself and family and friends. “It starts with a loss, the person complains that it is not working, the head is no longer working as it was before, then small lapses occur, these lapses are increasing,” they explained.
The doctors emphasized the importance of self -assessment in the early identification of symptoms. “What is interesting is that the person always compared to what he was before. How was my functioning, what I was capable of and now what is happening to me,” they advised. This comparison can be crucial to perceiving significant changes and seeking proper medical help.
Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is critical for proper disease management and to provide better quality of life for patients. Therefore, being aware of the signs and seeking medical assistance when noting persistent changes in memory and cognitive functioning is essential for more effective treatment.
This content was originally published in Dr.Kalil: Get to know the main symptoms of Alzheimer’s on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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