September 21st is World Alzheimer's Day. It commemorates the disease, which affects an increasing number of people as the population ages. In the Czech Republic, almost 180,000 people currently live with dementia, and this number is expected to increase to around 270,000 by 2050.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease and its risk increases significantly, especially after the age of 60. It affects women approximately 1.5 times more often than men. However, the disease can also occur much earlier. There are about 5,500 patients in the Czech Republic with the onset of the disease before the age of 60. The youngest patient at the VFN was 49 years old at the time of diagnosis.

When to pay attention?

Early symptoms include memory impairment for recent events. For example, a person may not be able to recall vacation experiences, and even reminding them of the circumstances will not help them fully recall them. As the disease progresses, difficulties may lead to a loss of independence and the need for help with dressing, hygiene, or eating.

Fourteen risk factors we can influence

Prevention options address 14 modifiable risk factors. These include lower levels of education, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, air pollution, repeated head injuries, high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise, uncorrected hearing and vision impairments, depression, and social isolation.

On the contrary, the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease in a relative at an older age does not in itself significantly increase the risk of the disease.

Diagnostics is advancing. Blood can also help

At the VFN, both cerebrospinal fluid obtained by lumbar puncture and amyloid PET scans are used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. The hospital is also currently preparing to introduce blood diagnostics that will help determine whether a specific patient is likely to have Alzheimer's disease.

What are the treatment options?

Treatment includes reduction of modifiable risk factors, appropriate regimen, memory training and symptomatic treatment to support cognitive functions. A new option is biological treatment focused on the disease processes associated with Alzheimer's disease, which is not yet introduced in the Czech Republic.

The disease also places a great burden on the family and caregivers. Care must therefore consider not only the patient himself, but also those who care for him.

Neurology Department – General University Hospital in Prague