Alzheimer Disease Research Paper

Alzheimer’s disease known to be a neurological disorder of the central nervous system is an irreversible disorder in which brain cells deteriorate resulting to loss of our cognitive functions, primarily memory, movement coordination, reasoning and judgment, and pattern recognition. In its advanced stage, all memory and mental functioning could be lost (Healthcommunities.com, 2016). This disease is known to be caused by parts of the brain shrinking (atrophy), which destroys the structure and function of particular areas of the brain (Nhs.uk, 2016). Although the exact cause to this process is not known, research suggest that in the brains of patients with Alzheimer 's disease, scientists have found amyloid plaques (abnormal deposits of protein), neurofibrillary tangles containing tau and acetylcholine a chemical imbalances (Nhs.uk, 2016).

Alzheimer’s disease is a common problem in today’s society and within the older population this disease makes up the largest form of dementia. Although it is a problem in mainly older people, this disease can still occur in the younger population also. People in their 30s-50s can be diagnosed with this disease, even though it is not as common as people in their 60s-90s. The number of people with Alzheimer’s in the U.S. is close to five million and is expected to double within the next 30 years. With our modern medicine and advancements one would think a cure would be available, however, getting to the cause of the disease is a major factor. The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is one that is very debatable and questionable and most likely is a result of multiple factors rather than one. The main issue with finding the cause is because this disease affects the brain and can

Alzheimer’s Disease is a disease of the future. With the growing aged population, this disease, which affects primarily the elderly, will become of increasing relevance to the medical profession. Also, the high frequency of Alzheimer’s, and the high cost in labor, money, and material of caring for its victims shall put considerable burden on the society as a whole. Here, however, these issues are not going to be debated. Instead the pathology of Alzheimer’s will be reviewed to the extent it is known today.

Dementia can be defined as a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life (alz.org). More than often, individuals affected by dementia are over the age of 65. In the United States, there are more than three million cases of dementia each year. According to World Health Organization, the number of people living with dementia is currently estimated at 47.5 million worldwide and is expected to increase to 75.6 million by 2030 (World Health Organization 2015). Dementia is caused by physical modifications in the brain and is known for loss of memory and mental abilities. It’s a progressive disease which means it gets worse over time. If diagnosed early on, the quality of life for people with dementia as well as their family members can be significantly improved. There are many different types of dementias although some are far more reciprocal than others. One of the most common types of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Other few types of dementias are “Vascular dementia, Mixed dementia, Parkinson 's disease and Frontotemporal dementia (Krishnan, D. S)”. All of the various forms of dementia tend to have similar symptoms which consequently makes it hard to determine the type of dementia a patient may be suffering from.

It occasionally happens to everyone.  You can’t find your glasses.  The grocery list is on the refrigerator, and you’re at the store.  You forget the new neighbour’s first name.

Alzheimer’s disease is a complex illness that affects the brain tissue directly and undergoes gradual memory and behavioral changes which makes it difficult to diagnose. It is known to be the most common form of dementia and is irreversible. Over four million older Americans have Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to triple in the next twenty years as more people live into their eighties and nineties. (Johnson, 1989). There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s but throughout the past few years a lot of progress has been made.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and fatal form of dementia, frequently seen in the elderly altering their cognition, thought process and behavior. AD is reported in about half of patients that have a dementia diagnosis; one study states that about 10.3% of the population over 65 years is affected by dementia with an increase to almost 50% over the age of 8 (Beattie, 2002). Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of the aging process in humans, but rather found in a group of diseases that affect the brain leading to a decline in mental and physical control. AD when diagnosed has a very slow and gradual course, initially affecting the individual’s short term memory (Beattie, 2002). Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death, affecting more than five million people in the United States and is also one of the most common forms of dementia. Dementia can be defined as a disorder of progressive cognitive impairment severe enough to affect daily functions of an individual’s life (Fillit, et al., 2002).

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia known today. The term “dementia” refers to a variety of conditions that arise from the loss of nerve cell function and/or nerve cell death in the brain, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other types of mixed dementia. Although all types of dementia arise from neuronal damage and/or death, each form of dementia is associated with distinct brain abnormalities and symptom patterns. Once a patient has been diagnosed with dementia, a physician must conduct further tests in order to determine the exact form of dementia that is present. Recent research indicates that many individuals,

The most common tendency in assessing patients who display signs of dementia is to evaluate them for Alzheimer’s Disease. This means that Vascular Dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia are conversely overlooked as possible diagnoses. Special attention to clinical presentation and the use of diagnostic tests (such as the MRI) and assessment scales (like the Mini Mental State Exam) aid in distinguishing between these diseases, and therefore better the evaluation process. There are other telltale markers that aid in assessing these diseases, as well. Alzheimer’s Disease often presents with a slow decline in memory, while Vascular Dementia patients experiences sharp declines in cognition. Patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease Dementia and Dementia with Lewy bodies often present with symptoms of psychoses and hallucinations as well as cognitive impairments, and they differ in the onset time of dementia. The early detection of cognitive decline is important not only for the treatment but also for improving the caregiver burden of these patients. Management of these disorders is focused on symptomatic relief, but it is also important to minimize life style risk factors for all dementias.

Although Alzheimer’s Dementia is believed to begin at age 65 and older, however recent studies has proven that dementia even begins at an early age with the older populations having a higher number. Based on recent reports, there has been a significant increase in the numbers of people affected with dementia in the United States which continues to grow. The number is said to be around 5.5 Million ranging from all ages.  It IS estimated by the Alzheimer’s Association of America, that  in every 10 persons beginning at age 65 and older; 10% already have dementia with about two-thirds of them being women. The numbers of races affected by dementia are subsequently different, (Dementia in the Elderly, 1999). African Americans at younger ages pose

Alzheimer’s disease, first described in 1907, is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States (Ramachandran, 2016). This disease gets worse gradually over time. People, predominantly women, are expected to live approximately eight to ten years after diagnosed (Bird, 2015). According to the Alzheimer’s Disease Association, there are approximately three million cases in the United States each and every year alone (Association®, 2016). People with Alzheimer’s disease suffer from a wide range of difficult incurable problems. Alzheimer’s disease is believed to prevent correct workflow of the 100 billion nerve cells in the human brain. Oxygen sluggishly being supplied to the brain causes several Alzheimer indicators to occur; memory loss, behavior changes, slurred speech, poor judgment, and hallucinations. According to Bird, 95% of patients with Alzheimer’s are over the age of sixty-five (Bird, 2015). At the age of sixty-five individuals brain activity starts to slow causing build-ups.

One of the most common forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder which impacts activities of daily living through cognitive changes and memory loss. This is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease which is characterized by language deterioration, poor judgment, confusion, restlessness, mood swings, memory loss, and the inability to mentally manipulate visual information. The onset of Alzheimer’s disease generally begins around the mid-60s, but early signs may occur as early as in the early 40s. Some initial symptoms appear as memory decline, but as the illness progresses it starts to destroy cognition, personality, and the individual’s ability to function, along with restlessness and confusion. The severity, type, sequence,

The research into Alzheimer's Disease has come a long way since 1906 when it is was discovered by Alois Alzheimer. He detected microscopic brain tissue changes called senile and neuritic plaques in deceased patients. These are chemical deposits consisting of protein molecules called Amyloid Precursor Protein(APP) that are fundamental components of a normal brain. However in the brain of an Alzheimer patient, an enzyme cuts the APP apart and leaves fragments in the brain tissue. These combined with degenerating nerve cells cause the plaques or lesions. These lesions are found in many sections of the brain including the hippocampus which regulates emotion and memory, the basal forebrain, and especially the basal nucleus of Meynert and the cortex, where the memory function is located.(2) Another sign of a diseased brain are neurofibrillary tangles, which are malformations within nerve cells.

Psychology is an applied as well as an academic field that studies both the human mind and behavior. The research in psychology attempts to explain and understand behavior, emotion and thought. The subject of psychology was created when Wilhelm Wundt opened up the very first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany. Wilhelm Wundt believed that individuals who are appropriately trained would most likely be able to recognize the mental processes that are accompanied with feelings, thoughts and sensations (Wagner , 2009).

Amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) is the major component of the senile plaques, and the amount of Aβ to form the plaques is correlative with the degree of neuronal damage and cognitive deficit. Although four million new cases of dementia are recognized yearly, and nearly 70% of these cases are ascribed to AD, there is still now not fully elucidated and no efficient method for its