Alzheimer’s disease

What is Alzheimer's disease?

Dementia is a general term for a group of conditions that affect memory, thinking, and behaviour. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for about two-thirds of all cases.

In Alzheimer’s, certain brain cells gradually lose their ability to communicate effectively. This happens when abnormal protein deposits (amyloid plaques and tau tangles) build up and disrupt normal brain activity. Over time, this leads to the gradual decline in memory, reasoning, language, and behaviour that defines the condition.

Alzheimer's is not an inevitable part of ageing, and it is distinct from the normal, mild forgetfulness that comes with getting older. Understanding the difference and getting assessed early can make a meaningful difference to long-term outcomes.

Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease

Early symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s are often subtle and may be mistaken for normal ageing or stress. Common signs to watch for include:

• Forgetting recent conversations or appointments

• Repeating questions or losing track of time

• Difficulty finding words or following a conversation

• Trouble managing finances or everyday tasks

• Misplacing items or placing them in unusual spots

• Mood changes such as anxiety, withdrawal, or irritability

• Reduced focus, judgement, or problem-solving ability

The key distinction from normal ageing is persistence and progression. Occasional forgetfulness is common; consistent, worsening lapses that interfere with daily life are not.

What causes Alzheimer's disease?

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease develop through a mix of biological, lifestyle, and environmental factors:

• Age: the strongest known risk factor, especially after 65.

• Genetics: certain genes (such as APOE ε4) can increase risk.

• Vascular health: high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol can damage brain blood flow.

• Nutrient deficiency: low vitamin B12 or folate can affect memory and nerve function.

• Oxidative stress and inflammation: long-term imbalance can damage brain cells.

• Lifestyle: sedentary habits, smoking, poor diet, and lack of mental stimulation contribute to cognitive decline.

No single factor guarantees dementia, but managing overall brain health early can make a real difference.

How do you detect dementia and Alzheimer's disease?

Assessment typically combines brain imaging with blood tests and cognitive evaluation. No single test confirms Alzheimer's, as diagnosis is a clinical process, but imaging and biomarkers can identify structural changes and risk factors that warrant further investigation.

Brain MRI is key in early assessment. It can show shrinkage in memory-related regions, small vessel disease, past strokes, and other treatable causes like tumours or hydrocephalus. However, MRI cannot definitively diagnose Alzheimer’s as confirmation requires specialised tests like CSF analysis or amyloid PET scans.

Blood tests play a supportive role in dementia assessment — primarily by identifying reversible or contributing causes of cognitive decline. Relevant markers in Elfcare's panel include:

• Vitamin B12 and folate: low levels can mimic or worsen memory decline.

• Homocysteine: high levels may indicate risk of nerve and vascular stress.

• TSH, Free T3, Free T4: thyroid dysfunction, particularly hypothyroidism, can cause confusion, fatigue, and cognitive slowing that closely resembles early dementia.

• Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides: lipid imbalances affect brain blood flow and vascular health, both linked to dementia risk.

• HbA1c and glucose: poor blood sugar control is associated with increased Alzheimer's risk and accelerated cognitive decline.

• CRP: a marker of systemic inflammation, which has been linked to neurodegeneration.

Why early detection matters

The brain changes associated with Alzheimer's begin up to 20 years before symptoms appear. By the time memory loss is noticeable, significant neuronal damage has already occurred.

Identifying structural changes or metabolic risk factors early, while the brain still has considerable reserve, allows for lifestyle interventions, treatment of contributing conditions, and informed planning that can meaningfully slow progression and preserve longer quality of life.

In short, early detection means fewer surprises later.

How Elfcare can help

Elfcare assesses cognitive health through two complementary tools:

• Brain MRI: Identifies structural findings like hippocampal atrophy, white matter changes, and previous infarcts, while ruling out alternative causes of cognitive decline.

• Blood panel: Evaluates 80+ biomarkers (such as B12, thyroid, and glucose) to identify reversible or contributing risk factors.

If your results show structural changes or metabolic imbalances, your Elfcare doctor will discuss them in detail during your follow-up. Whether we find a correctable cause, like B12 deficiency, or markers of concern, we manage all further evaluations and specialist referrals.

We focus on prevention, awareness, and empowerment. With early insights, you can stay ahead of possible imbalances and maintain energy, focus, overall wellbeing and build a preventive plan that fits your lifestyle.