How to slow down Alzheimer's disease ?

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by the progressive deterioration of cognitive abilities such as memory, language, reasoning, or judgment. It also leads to behavioral changes, including agitation, depressive symptoms, apathy, or aggression.

While there is currently no cure, strategies can be adopted to slow its progression and mitigate its impact on the quality of life. These strategies revolve around three main axes: prevention, medication, and psycho-social support.

Adopting a lifestyle that promotes brain health and minimizes risk factors is the cornerstone of prevention. Recommended measures include :

1. A balanced diet, emphasizing fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, and olive oil, while limiting saturated fats, sugars, and alcohol. Some foods with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, such as turmeric, green tea, berries, and dark chocolate with over 70% cocoa, may have protective effects on the brain (Sliwinska and al., 2021).

2. Regular physical exercise, recommended for at least 30 minutes a day, optimizes blood circulation, brain oxygenation, and stimulates neurogenesis. Exercise also helps reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and prevent conditions like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, which are risk factors for Alzheimer's (Radak and al., 2010).

3. Intellectual and social stimulation is essential to strengthen neuronal networks and brain plasticity. This can be achieved through activities such as reading, writing, learning new skills, games, music, arts, and mastering multiple languages. Maintaining a dense and engaging social network that promotes emotional sharing, memory recall, and involvement in collective projects (associative, cultural, or volunteer activities) is crucial.

4. Monitoring genetic risk factors, especially for individuals with a family history. Knowledge of genetic mutations, such as those in the APOE4 gene, can warn of an increased risk (Serrano-Pozo and al., 2021). Biomarkers can be detected through genetic tests, although their widespread use is currently limited due to reliability concerns and cost. However, they could play a crucial role in future preventive strategies.

Pharmacotherapy aims to slow cognitive degeneration and address behavioral changes. Commonly used medications include :

1. Cholinesterase inhibitors, which improve cholinergic transmission by interfering with the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in memory and judgment. These are prescribed for mild to moderate forms of the disease, aiming to improve cognitive functions and reduce certain behavioral disorders but may have side effects like gastrointestinal issues and headaches.

2. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists that modulate the effects of glutamate, another neurotransmitter...