5 Stages Of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in America. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Alzheimer’s accounts for 70-80% of dementia cases. By the age of 65, 1 in 9 people are diagnosed and by the age of 85, 1 in 3 people will have the disease. According to the Alzheimer Association, 5 million people in American have Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s starts to form 20 years prior to being diagnosed. Learning about Alzheimer’s can help families understand how Alzheimer’s is more than just memory loss, it is an incurable mental disease.

“There is one thing Alzheimer 's cannot take away, and that is love. Love is not a memory - it 's a feeling that resides in your heart and soul.” (Fade to Blank). The human brain is a remarkably complex organ that processes, stores, and recalls information. “Alzheimer 's disease (AD) is a slowly progressive disease of the brain that is characterized by impairment of memory and eventually by disturbances in reasoning, planning, language, and perception. Many scientists believe that Alzheimer 's disease results from an increase in the production or accumulation of a specific protein (beta-amyloid protein) in the brain that leads to nerve cell death.” (Crystal). It is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases, and currently has no cure. (# 3) Research continues to be done to develop better ways to care for those affected with the disease, as well as to find support for family members, friends, and caregivers. Alzheimer’s is a devastating illness that is not a normal part of aging. In order to find a cure, awareness needs to increase to improve understanding, develop effective treatments, and to essentially prevent the disease.

Alzheimer's, the word strikes fear in some and an off-handed glance in others. The fact still remains that Alzheimer’s is an extremely shattering disease that removes the mind fraction by fraction over a period of time, this could even take decades. It begins as small memory lapses, slowly progressing to memory breaches but then progressively eroding your life to the point where around-the-clock care is the only option. With severe Alzheimer's, as we almost hear daily that patients have wandered off and gotten lost. In my own life, my grandfather was not even able to recognize his family members. Alzheimer's was a little known disease before 1960, but today it threatens to completely derail the health system in the United States.

Dementia is an extremely common disease among the elderly, with 4 million Americans currently suffering from the Alzheimer’s type alone. Figures show that 3% of people between the ages of 65-74 suffer from the disease, rapidly increasing to 19% for the 75-84 age bracket, and as high as 47% for the over 85s. Therefore, it is easy to see why Dementia is such a large part of many people’s lives, whether they are suffering from the condition themselves, or have an elderly relative who requires full time care just to undertake simple day to day tasks. The disease can be extremely traumatic for the patient and their families, as the person, who may have been extremely lively and bright throughout their

Alzheimer’s, the most relevant cause of Dementia, is a disease that affects as many as 4.5 million Americans per year (WebMD 2005-2014). Alzheimer’s is a disease that is an irremediable, continuous brain neuron degenerative disease that can be asymptomatic at first and then overtime becomes symptomatic. Alzheimer’s is a gradual disease that advances in three phases: mild, then moderate, and, finally, severe (1). Symptoms appear after the age of 60 and include: the slow destruction of memory and thought processes, and ultimately ends with the absent ability to do normal everyday duties. These symptoms can be anything from forgetting a recent event, or can be as problematic as forgetting the name of a family member. There are many daily

Over four million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (1). One of those is my grandfather. He has suffered from Alzheimer’s for almost 8 years. I have watched my grandfather slowly decline and forget things such as where he lived, my name, and even how to talk. Many times I was upset and confused and often puzzled at the way he acted.

At the end of our lives we are but a sum our memories. We call on those memories to relive certain events in our lives. To recall feelings which allow us to experience a broad spectrum of emotions: joy, security, love and sometimes even sadness. Those memories allow us to place value on our lives, to comfort us when we are near the end of life. For those who suffer with Alzheimer’s disease, they are not afforded the luxury of memory. They are slowly stripped of the very memories that define them. This disease not only changes the person, but changes the people around them.

Alzheimer’s disease slowly steals a person’s dignity and erases precious memories. The “Alzheimer’s Disease Guide”, found on WebMD explains that tasks become more difficult to do often leading to confusion and behavior changes. The article further explains the progression of the disease also brings hardship to family and friends (1). To best cope with Alzheimer’s we must better understand the disease.

Dementia has been common, it is becoming more common recently in the elderly every day. Dementia is one of the most disorders affecting the elderly. It increases rapidly within age. Dementia is difficult to determine, Because of all the different studies. It was originally called senility and was considered part of ageing, it is still not clear if this increased the frequency of dementia as a greater awareness of symptoms or if people are just living longer lives.

###Alzheimer's disease is a disease that destroys your memory, that destroys your brain cells, that decline your mental functions, and that loss of intellectual and social skills. (Mayo) Alzheimer's can be very difficult for family members and their selves to understand. There are three main stages to Alzheimer's disease, and I am here to explain them to help families understand.

Alzheimer’s is a disease that attacks the brain and can result in brain death. This disease is chronic and lately a lot of elderly are being diagnosed with it. Alzheimer’s disease can be referred to as a silent killer because once a person gets the diagnosis, they will have it permanently. Alzheimer’s Patients have a decreased short-term memory; this can result with the onset of confusion. At times, families with loved ones that encounter this disease usually have to change their lifestyle by adjusting it to their love ones needs. This book shows a great outlook on dilemmas families come across when a loved one is diagnosed with this disease.

In 1906, Alzheimer’s disease was first described by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in his patient known only as Auguste D. In 1931, the electron microscope was invented by Max Knoll and Ernst Ruska. This invention allowed scientists to study brain cells with more of a greater detail. In 1968, cognitive measurement scales were created allowing researchers to measure impairment and estimate the amount of damaged tissues in the brain. In 1974, congress established the National Institute on Aging. As of this day, the NIA still supports Alzheimer’s research. In 1993, the FDA approved the first drug for Alzheimer’s called Cognex. This drug is targeted around memory loss and dementia symptoms. In 2010, Alzheimer’s disease became the sixth leading cause of death

I never imagined a loved one of my own diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This disease effects a person brain cells causing impaired memory, thinking and performances. Not only does Alzheimer affects a person’s daily activities, this affects everyone involved. For many who are facing a severe condition of Alzheimer’s have life-threatening situations that involves more than just a physician. Alzheimer’s disease consists of three different stages, which requires major support, care, and resources for a patient.

The most frequently occurring early stage of dementia are apathy, depression, and anxiety. It can lead to reduced independence, relationship problems and enhanced admission to care homes. CBT is a widely used psychological approach on the health of patients with dementia and their caregivers. This form of therapy is based on talking treatment the comprehension of situations, that define how an individual feel and behaves.

It is normal to periodically forget your keys or a homework assignment, because you generally remember these things later. However, individuals who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease may forget things more often, but they do not remember them again. The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease has dramatically increased because people are living longer. This is a result of advancements in medical technology that are increasing the human life span. That being said, now there is more responsibility placed on the individual and their caregivers to provide a supportive environment to combat this disease.