An early Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis often comes with many questions about what you can do to support your health and quality of life. While it’s important to follow your Alzheimer’s treatment plan, treatment for other health conditions can also play a role in helping you feel and function your best with the condition.
“Paying attention to these health factors can improve your resilience — even though Alzheimer’s disease is there, it can mitigate its effects,” says Krishnankutty Sathian, MBBS, PhD, the chair of the department of neurology at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
1. Cerebrovascular Disease
2. Lewy Body Dementia
“We know that people with Alzheimer’s disease who also have Lewy body disease may progress faster,” says Dr. Sathian. “So if we’re able to identify it, we want to treat it. The problem is that there’s not really a good way to treat Lewy body disease at the present time.” Still, if you can recognize the signs of Lewy body dementia, your care team can keep track of your symptoms and find ways to manage them.
3. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a brain condition in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain’s ventricles (fluid-filled spaces), causing them to enlarge and potentially affect nearby tissue. NPH can cause symptoms that overlap with Alzheimer’s disease, including difficulties with thinking and reasoning — in fact, it’s often mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease.
“If you have normal pressure hydrocephalus, you might deteriorate faster, so we definitely want to look for that and try to treat that if it’s present,” says Sathian.
4. High Blood Pressure
Research shows that, left unmanaged, high blood pressure may accelerate Alzheimer’s disease progression. While managing high blood pressure won’t stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, it can reduce its impact on the brain and your overall health.
5. Diabetes
6. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
If you experience symptoms of OSA, like loud snoring or gasping for air while you sleep, talk to your care team. Research shows that treating OSA may help improve sleep quality and help slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease, though more studies are needed to determine the exact benefits.
7. Depression
Up to 40 percent of people living with Alzheimer’s or related dementias experience serious depression.
8. Hearing Loss
When hearing becomes difficult, it can make it harder to follow conversations, participate in activities, and stay socially connected. Hearing loss can add to communication challenges that come with Alzheimer’s disease and make daily interactions more frustrating.
Addressing hearing loss is an important part of comprehensive Alzheimer’s care. A hearing test can help determine whether hearing aids or other strategies may improve communication and engagement.
9. Vision Problems
Comprehensive Alzheimer’s care should include regular eye exams to identify vision changes that may be treatable with options like updated prescriptions or surgical treatments, which can, in turn, support emotional well-being, social interaction, and brain health.
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