The overview
Texas ranks fourth in the nation for Alzheimer’s cases and second for Alzheimer’s deaths, according to the state plan, released by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
The disease causes memory loss, disorientation, and a decline in cognitive and functional ability.
The breakdown
Dr. Eddie Lee Patton Jr., vice-chair of the Texas Council on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, said that the ranking is likely due to Texas’ large population size and emphasized that there are steps that can be taken to reduce an individual’s odds of getting the disease.
“Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease, meaning that as we get older, there's dysfunction within the brain and you get a buildup of what's called beta-amyloid and a build up of tau, which are these proteins that are normally cleared from the brain,” Patton said.
For patients with Alzheimer’s, these proteins are not cleared properly, resulting in a buildup that causes problems with brain cells, particularly ones that function with memory, Patton said.
In terms of risk factors for the disease, individuals with metabolic syndrome or diabetes may be at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s, but the No. 1 risk factor is aging.
“Having a healthy lifestyle, such as exercising and doing brain exercises every day, can prevent or help to slow the progression in Alzheimer's disease,” Patton said. “As well as certain dietary changes like diets high in leafy green vegetables, antioxidants, Mediterranean-based diets [and] B vitamins help as well.”
Looking ahead
In the past, two medications were often prescribed for Alzheimer’s, Patton said: Aricept and Namenda.
“For years, that along with lifestyle modifications I mentioned like walking [as well as] exercise and doing neurocognitive exercises was pretty much all that you could do,” Patton said.
Over the past three to five years, however, several new medications have been approved that help to clear the buildup of plaques in the brain, Patton said. These include Aducanumab and Donanemab.
“They have so far done a very good job in people with early Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment and helping to really slow the progression and improve quality of life,” Patton said. “I am excited about this, and I'm also excited about where research is going now.”
