While exact ties between headaches and dementia are hazy at best, constant migraines can be a serious blight on the daily lives of many individuals surviving dementia. Headaches are not a typical symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. However, Individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease may have various health issues or complications causing headaches.
What Effects does Alzheimer's have on our Body?
Alzheimer’s disease predominantly impairs cognitive function, resulting in memory loss, disorientation, and behavioral problems. It is the most prominent form of dementia. The problem often develops gradually and worsens over time. While headaches are not usually related to Alzheimer’s disease, individuals with Alzheimer’s may suffer from other health disorders or complications that could cause headaches.
Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease may have symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or sleep difficulties, which can relate to headaches in some situations. Furthermore, comorbid diseases such as migraines or tension headaches can occur alongside Alzheimer’s disease, although they are not caused by the disease. Addressing any troubling symptoms and consulting with a healthcare practitioner for an accurate diagnosis and suitable management are critical.
What Effects does Alzheimer's Disease have on the Brain?
The entorhinal cortex and hippocampus are located in the medial temporal lobe of our brain. These areas are more sensitive to nerve injury and cell loss. Aβ and tau are two proteins that build up in the brain long before Alzheimer’s symptoms show. A protein buildup generates plaques outside the cell, whereas tau protein accumulation forms tangles within the cell. Although plaques build earlier, tangles emerge when brain function declines. These two proteins cause direct nerve damage by interfering with nerve impulses, increasing oxidative stress, and inducing nerve inflammation.
Amyloid Plaques
Amyloid plaques are aberrant aggregates of beta-amyloid protein that form between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. These plaques interfere with normal neuron connection and contribute to the death of brain cells.
Neurofibrillary Tangles
These are twisted strands of tau protein that accumulate inside neurons. Tau protein normally aids in the maintenance of nerve cell shape and stability. In Alzheimer’s disease, however, aberrant tau protein forms tangles, which hinder the movement of nutrients and critical chemicals within neurons, eventually leading to cell death.
Loss of Synapses
Synapses are the connections that allow neurons to interact with one another. Alzheimer’s disease causes a considerable loss of synapses, altering the brain’s communication network and compromising cognitive abilities.
Neurotransmitter Imbalance
Alzheimer’s disease causes an imbalance in neurotransmitters, which are molecules that transmit impulses between neurons. The levels of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, which is required for memory and cognitive functioning, are decreasing.
Inflammation
Inflammatory processes play a role in Alzheimer’s disease progression. Chronic inflammation in the brain can cause more cell damage and contribute to the disease’s consequences.
Brain Atrophy
As Alzheimer’s disease develops, brain tissue shrinks and loses volume. The cortex, which is in charge of thinking, planning, and remembering, is particularly vulnerable. One of the first places to be injured is the hippocampus, which is critical for memory formation.
These are some of the consequences of Alzheimer’s disease on the brain of a patient, and Alzheimer’s symptoms vary depending on the stage of the disease.
What are the Causes of Headaches in Alzheimer's?
Plenty of factors can be at work, ranging from stress to painful muscles, mental anguish to the immune system fighting a sickness, lack of energy to increased brain processing. When persons with dementia experience headache symptoms, it’s not always as simple as consuming paracetamol and praying the discomfort goes away.
Medication Side Effects
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease frequently take numerous medications to treat their illness and other health problems. Some drugs may include headaches as a side effect, which can lead to headaches.
Physical Discomfort or Pain
Physical discomforts associated with Alzheimer’s disease include dental pain, nasal difficulties, and muscle strain. These illnesses might cause headaches or aggravate existing ones.
Sensory Overload or Stress
Alzheimer’s disease can make people more sensitive to their surroundings, resulting in sensory overload. Headaches can be intensified by overexertion from loud noises, bright lights, or crowded places. Additionally, stress and worry, which are common in Alzheimer’s sufferers, may have a role.
Dehydration or Poor Nutrition
Headaches can be caused by a lack of fluids or inadequate nutrition. People with Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulties staying hydrated or eating a well-balanced diet, which can lead to headaches.
Coexisting Medical Conditions
Some Alzheimer’s patients may also have other medical issues that cause headaches. High blood pressure, migraines, and other chronic pain problems, for example, can coexist with Alzheimer’s and lead to headache episodes.
Changes in Brain Function
Alzheimer’s disease alters the structure and function of the brain. Although the precise mechanisms are not entirely known, these changes may indirectly contribute to headache development.
It’s worth noting that headaches aren’t considered a direct indication of Alzheimer’s. Instead, headaches in Alzheimer’s patients can be caused by a variety of underlying reasons.
What are the Early Symptoms of Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer’s symptoms appear gradually over time, and the condition eventually becomes severe. While only a medical professional can make a firm diagnosis of Alzheimer’s through an extensive evaluation, there are some early warning signs and symptoms that may indicate the onset of the disease.
Memory Loss
Forgetfulness is the most prevalent early indicator, with symptoms that include forgetting previously acquired material or repeatedly asking for the same information.
Problem-Solving or Planning Difficulties
Individuals may struggle with tasks that require planning, focus, problem-solving, or executing common tasks, such as managing funds or following a recipe.
Confusion About Time or Place
Alzheimer’s patients may lose track of dates, seasons, or the passage of time. They may also have difficulty remembering where they are or how they got there.
Trouble with Language
Individuals may struggle to find the correct words to express themselves or participate in conversations. They may also begin to use improper words or have difficulty with vocabulary.
Poor Judgment
Impaired judgment and decision-making may become apparent. This can appear as problems with personal hygiene, grooming, or making unreasonable or unsuitable decisions.
Misplacing Items and Trouble Retracing Steps
A person with Alzheimer’s disease may misplace items and struggle to retrace their steps in order to find them. When they can’t find something, they may accuse others of stealing.
Mood or Personality Changes
People may notice noticeable mood swings, such as becoming easily upset, nervous, or melancholy. They may also modify their personality, becoming more withdrawn or unpleasant.
Social Withdrawal
As the disease progresses, people with Alzheimer’s may begin to withdraw from formerly appreciated social activities, hobbies, work initiatives, or other engagements.
It is crucial to note that encountering these symptoms does not always indicate that someone has Alzheimer’s disease, as other illnesses might cause similar symptoms.
What are the Conditions where Alzheimer Causes Death in Individuals?
Alzheimer’s is a gradual disease, and when it develops to a severe level, the damage spreads throughout the entire cortex of the brain. In the severe stage, the patient becomes exceedingly weak, dehydrated, and unable to eat or move. Patients in the advanced stages have very low immunity and are easily infected.
- Pneumonia
- Heart attack
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Injuries and fractures due to falling
- Blood clot formation
- Bed sores
- Stroke
- Kidney failure
- Blood infections
These are the most common conditions under which Alzheimer’s disease causes deaths. The progression and impact of Alzheimer’s disease fluctuates from person to person. Some people may endure a more rapid deterioration in health and function, while others may experience a slower decline.