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| - Last Updated on March 28, 2024 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
According to a well-known X post, maintaining your metabolic health may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and potentially even treat it. After doing a fact check, we found that the assertion is Half True.
The Claim
A widely shared social media post claims that Alzheimer’s disease is a metabolic condition that can be treated or prevented by maintaining good metabolic functioning.
The social media platforms are flooded with several claims regarding Alzheimer’s disease, including that the condition is made by doctors and that the illness is brought on by soy and aluminium. We carefully fact-checked these assertions and made sure that they were accurate.
Fact Check
What is referred to as Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition. AD is the most prevalent form of dementia and often affects people over the age of 65. The primary clinical indicators include cognitive impairment, memory loss, and even behavioural changes. Following the early symptoms, moderate disorientation and memory loss gradually became more noticeable. Ultimately, this leads to a significant impairment in language, decision-making, and day-to-day functioning.
Since the exact cause of AD is still unknown, numerous aspects related to genetics, environment, and lifestyle have been implicated as causative factors. In addition, the accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates in the brain is the disease’s pathological presentation. These include beta-amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles. This aggregation leads to neuronal injury and cell death. Therefore, in the absence of an exact aetiology, the condition necessitates comprehensive control, which halts the disease’s progression.
Is addressing metabolic issues the only way to manage Alzheimer’s?
No, not always. This is because Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological condition that progresses over time and for which a definitive cause has not been established. The causative factors are genetics, lifestyle decisions, and environmental influences. As a result, each of these variables influences the therapeutic strategy for the management of AD.
On the other hand, metabolic health is a conditional concept. This mostly focuses on understanding how our bodies maintain homeostasis, regulate energy, and absorb nutrients. It is crucial to recognise that metabolic health and the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease are significantly correlated. This might be explained by the intricate pathophysiology of AD. AD pathogenesis is linked to insulin resistance, a crucial aspect of metabolic dysfunction. Other mechanisms that are important as well, including neuroinflammation and protein aggregation, require targeted therapy.
When we asked Neurologist Dr. Debayan Dutta, whether metabolic health is the sole focus in the therapy of Alzheimer’s disease, he advised that Alzheimer’s is a complex condition with a complicated pathology. Even though AD is thought to be caused by a complex interaction between oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and neuro-inflammation, limiting management to only diet and metabolic health could be counterproductive. While the Mediterranean and Mind diet has gained immense popularity, we need to understand that it doesn’t work alone. Therefore, a comprehensive strategy that incorporates prescribed medication, cognitive stimulation therapy, and behavioural and environmental modifications is advised for the best results.
When we asked Dr. Abhishek Juneja, a renowned neurologist practicing in Delhi, whether metabolic health interventions alone may treat Alzheimer’s disease, he advised, “Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder exhibits a decline in cognition, notably memory impairment.” Its risk factors include a positive family history, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and a sedentary lifestyle. A low-fat diet is one dietary modification that can help prevent some of these risk factors. Nevertheless, there may be no treatment or prevention for certain risk factors, such as family history.”
However, efficient management of AD requires a multimodal approach that includes prescribed medicine, cognitive stimulation, and lifestyle changes (including metabolic functions). Therefore, even if it may be a component of the solution, managing metabolic health alone may not be reliable given the complicated pathophysiology and multivariate nature of Alzheimer’s disease. Ensuring a more comprehensive and effective management plan requires integrating all the components.
What’s the most appropriate way to address Alzheimer’s disease?
AD is a debilitating condition that calls for an all-encompassing strategy. Both prescribed medications and non-pharmacological therapies are part of holistic management.
The primary objectives of medical management are to minimise symptoms and prevent the disease from getting worse. For some people diagnosed with AD, prescribed medications may help with daily living tasks, behaviour, and cognitive function. In addition to controlling AD symptoms, certain medications also control brain glutamate activity, which helps to improve memory and learning.
Non-pharmacological approaches, including social interaction, physical activity, and cognitive stimulation, may be helpful for alleviating the symptoms of AD and enhancing quality of life.
It is imperative to highlight that early identification of the condition is essential for achieving the best possible treatment outcomes. Furthermore, AD not only has an impact on patients but also significantly stresses carers and healthcare systems. As a result, this underscores the urgent need for continued research and effective interventions to address this very debilitating condition.
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