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What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that impairs memory, language, reasoning, and the ability to perform daily tasks. It mainly affects older adults and is the most common cause of dementia.
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What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?
Early signs include recent memory loss, difficulty performing familiar tasks, language problems, disorientation in time and space, and mood or personality changes.
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What causes Alzheimer’s disease?
The exact causes are unknown, but genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors may contribute to its development. The accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau proteins in the brain are involved in the disease’s pathophysiology.
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Are there treatments for Alzheimer’s disease?
Recent treatments specifically target amyloid plaques, which are key contributors to Alzheimer’s. Among them, lecanemab and donanemab—monoclonal antibodies administered via infusion—have shown a reduction in cognitive decline of about 30–35% in patients at an early stage. These treatments are not curative but represent significant progress. Their use requires close medical monitoring due to potential side effects.
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How can Alzheimer’s disease be prevented?
While there is no guaranteed method, adopting a healthy lifestyle, staying physically active, stimulating the brain, maintaining social connections, managing cardiovascular risk factors, and taking care of mental health may reduce the risk of developing the disease.
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How is Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed?
Diagnosis is based on a comprehensive clinical assessment, including cognitive tests, brain imaging (MRI, PET), biological analyses, and sometimes genetic testing. The goal is to rule out other causes and identify characteristic signs of the disease.
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What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?
Dementia is a general syndrome encompassing several cognitive disorders that affect memory, judgment, and functional abilities. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, marked by specific brain lesions (amyloid and tau pathologies).
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What role does genetics play in Alzheimer’s?
Some rare forms of Alzheimer’s are linked to hereditary genetic mutations. In the majority of sporadic cases, certain genes may influence risk, but interactions with environment and lifestyle are crucial.
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Is Alzheimer’s disease contagious?
No, Alzheimer’s disease is not contagious. It is a neurodegenerative condition caused by internal biological factors in the brain and influenced by lifestyle, with no person-to-person transmission.
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Can someone live a normal life with Alzheimer’s?
In the early stages, many people can maintain an active and independent life with proper medical support and a suitable environment. As the disease progresses, care and support become essential to preserve quality of life.
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What is the amyloid cascade? Why does it need to be reconsidered?
The amyloid cascade hypothesis suggests that the buildup of beta-amyloid (Aβ) protein initiates a sequence of pathological events leading to neurodegeneration. However, recent research indicates that other factors—such as tau abnormalities and inflammation—also play crucial roles, challenging the idea of a strictly linear model.
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How do Aβ-independent neuronal biomarkers influence our understanding of AD?
Biomarkers such as tau protein and neuroinflammation markers offer complementary insights to Aβ. Tau accumulation and neuronal inflammation are linked to disease progression, even when Aβ levels are low, suggesting independent but interconnected pathological mechanisms.
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Is the role of the APOE ε4 allele in amyloid buildup confirmed?
Yes, the APOE ε4 allele is a major genetic risk factor for AD. It is associated with increased amyloid plaque buildup and a higher risk of developing the disease, particularly in homozygous carriers (ε4/ε4).
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Can we predict the progression from mild to major neurocognitive disorders using progression models?
Yes, progression models based on biomarkers (Aβ, tau, neuroinflammation) and clinical data can help estimate the risk of advancing to major neurocognitive disorder (AD). However, these models still require further validation before widespread clinical use.
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What is the relationship between amyloid deposits and cognitive decline in healthy individuals?
Amyloid deposition can begin decades before clinical symptoms appear. In cognitively healthy individuals, the presence of amyloid deposits is linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline, although not all progress to AD. Some individuals remain stable for a long time due to cognitive reserve mechanisms and other moderating factors.
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