The rapidly increasing elderly population has led to the prevalence of many uncommon diseases, with changing dietary habits, disruption of the light-dark cycle, and the anxiety-laden and stress-patterned modern lifestyle contributing to the rising incidence of conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's is a progressive brain disease first described by German doctor Alois Alzheimer in 1907. It involves a gradual deterioration of various cognitive functions, such as memory, speech, navigation, recognizing people, and problem-solving, impacting daily activities and leading to behavioral disorders. Commonly referred to as "dementia" in colloquial terms, Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the slow loss of cells in certain regions of the brain for unknown reasons.
The disease manifests as a decline in daily life activities and cognitive abilities, accompanied by nerve damage with neuropsychiatric symptoms and behavioral changes, making it the most common type of dementia. Alzheimer's occurs due to the unexplained premature death of brain cells, a process that normally accompanies aging and non-renewable loss of brain cells in all individuals.
In Alzheimer's disease, this process occurs rapidly and prematurely, resulting in brain atrophy and shrinkage. Unfortunately, significant progress in the treatment of this disease has not been achieved. Currently, drugs commonly used in treatment, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, can slow down the progression in patients. In addition to these treatments, drugs that aim to increase brain blood flow are also used.
The nerve cell damage in Alzheimer's disease is thought to be mediated by oxygen radicals and oxidative stress, suggesting that patients could benefit from antioxidant vitamins (B, C, E). Ozone therapy presents a ray of hope as it increases brain blood flow and supports the body's defense systems against oxidative stress. The combination of ozone therapy and melatonin, an antioxidant used by Alzheimer's patients in the United States, may be beneficial to many patients. The minimal side effects of both ozone therapy and melatonin further encourage the use of these treatment methods. The widespread unknown status of ozone therapy and the use of melatonin as an antioxidant in the treatment of Alzheimer's and dementia in our country have significant potential benefits.
