Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. Abnormal amyloid and tau proteins build up in the brain, nerve cells are gradually lost, and memory, thinking and eventually daily independence decline over years.

It typically starts with difficulty forming new memories while older memories remain. There is no cure. Treatment aims to ease symptoms, keep the person safe and independent for longer, and support the family. Newer antibody medicines slow decline modestly in early disease, with meaningful risks.

Symptoms

• Forgetting recent conversations and events, and repeating questions
• Misplacing things and losing track of dates
• Trouble finding words
• Difficulty with planning, finances or familiar tasks
• Getting lost in known places
• Changes in mood, apathy, anxiety or suspicion
• Later, needing help with dressing, washing and eating

Causes and risk factors

Age is the strongest risk factor, with most cases after 65. The APOE e4 gene variant raises risk but does not determine it. Rare families carry mutations causing onset before 65. Factors linked to higher risk across life include untreated hearing loss, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, inactivity, low mood, social isolation, head injury and heavy alcohol use. Addressing these lowers risk across a population but cannot fully prevent the disease in an individual.

How it is diagnosed

• Clinical history with a relative: A description of change over time from someone who knows the person well is central.
• Cognitive testing: Short tools such as MoCA or MMSE, followed by detailed neuropsychology when the picture is unclear.
• Blood tests: Thyroid, vitamin B12, folate, calcium, glucose and kidney function exclude reversible contributors.
• MRI of the brain: Shows the pattern of shrinkage, vascular damage and other causes such as tumour or fluid build-up.
• Amyloid PET or spinal fluid biomarkers: Confirm Alzheimer's pathology when certainty is needed, for example at a young age or before antibody treatment.
• Review of mood, sleep and medicines: Depression, sleep apnoea and sedating drugs can mimic or worsen memory problems.

Treatment options

• Cholinesterase inhibitors: Donepezil, rivastigmine or galantamine give a modest improvement in symptoms in mild to moderate disease.
• Memantine: Used in moderate to severe disease, alone or with donepezil.
• Anti-amyloid antibodies: Lecanemab and donanemab slow decline slightly in early, biomarker-confirmed disease. They need infusions every 2 to 4 weeks, repeated MRI scans and carry a risk of brain swelling or bleeding. Availability varies by country.
• Non-drug support: Routine, cognitive stimulation, exercise, hearing aids and occupational therapy to adapt the home.
• Managing mood and behaviour: Finding triggers first. Medicines are used cautiously and antipsychotics only for severe distress.
• Carer support and planning: Education, respite, legal and financial planning while the person can still take part in decisions.

When it is urgent

Sudden confusion over hours or days is not typical of Alzheimer's and suggests delirium from infection, medicines, dehydration or stroke. It needs urgent local assessment, as do falls with head injury, wandering with risk of harm, and refusal of food and fluids.

Travelling to Türkiye for treatment

A focused diagnostic assessment with MRI, cognitive testing and biomarkers can be done in several days and can be valuable where access at home is slow. Be realistic about the rest: care is long term and local, travel and unfamiliar surroundings often worsen confusion, and antibody infusions require many months of regular visits and scans, which a trip cannot cover. The person should travel with a companion and bring previous scans and a medicine list.

Send your reports, scans and a short history and a Clinic-Y coordinator replies within 24 hours with suitable teams and written, all-inclusive proposals side by side. Reviewing your case is free.

Frequently Asked Questions