Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder that is found in older adults. One of the most famous American painters, Norman Rockwell, yielded to Alzheimer’s after a long and illustrious career. Interestingly enough, Rockwell’s (cited) paintings are now used sometimes in dementia therapy because of the memories and nostalgia they elicit. Can you imagine that one day the very thing you loved to do, would be helping others remember their lost memories and that you succumbed to that very same disease. This disease is characterized by the destruction of nerve cells and neural connections in the cerebral cortex of the brain and by a large loss of brain mass. When an autopsy is performed on an Alzheimer 's patient, it is the neurotic …show more content…
The affected person may not speak grammatically correct and talk in a child-like manner. They may substitute forgotten words for vague descriptions or make up new words. There is no cure for Alzheimer 's disease. So far there are only a few drugs that can slow down the effects of it. Donepezil (Aricept) is the main drug for the treatment of the disease for all stages, which is a cholinesterase inhibitor. This drug is an Acetylcholine booster, helps the memory neurons. Unfortunately this drug does not reverse or cure the disease. Donepezil is a cholinesterase inhibitor and it affects the memory neurons in the brain, preventing them from breaking down. My father has been on this drug for almost ten years now and has done very well. With women being at a greater risk for contacting Alzheimer’s disease, the use of estrogen after menopause has lowered the risk. Estrogen boosts the production of acetylcholine, a key chemical neurotransmitter involved in the transmission of nerve impulses across the tiny gaps between nerve cells (synapses). In addition, estrogen improves blood flow through the brain and enhances verbal abilities of postmenopausal women who take hormone replacement therapy. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are over five million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease. The life expectancy for each person is different. Some may live with the disease for more than ten years and some only last three. There
In the United States there are approximately 5.4 million people living with Alzheimer’s. Every sixty-nine seconds a person is diagnosed. This is an ongoing issue, and unless something is done, sixteen million people will be affected by 2050 (Latest).
Next, I would like to focus on the statistical analysis and treatment of this disease. As of now, there is no cure to Alzheimer's. There are many different clinical trials and pharmaceutical drugs being tested. I again searched the Anoka Technical databases and came across another article
Alzheimer 's disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain from which there is no recovery. There are three brain abnormalities that are the hallmarks of the Alzheimer’s disease is initially caused by plaques buildup in the brain’s neurons as illustrated in figure 1. The support structure that allows the flow of the nutrients through the neurons gets damaged and ultimately there is loss of connection among the neurons and they die off (National Institute of Health, 2015). This causes the brain tissue to shrinks, which is called atrophies. All this ultimately lead the victim of this disease to face difficulties in governing emotions, recognize errors and patterns, coordinate movement, and remember. Ultimately, a person with AD loses all memory and mental functioning.
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disease with many different stages that slows one’s lifestyle and has no real cure. Alzheimer’s disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. The disease first appears around the age of sixty. Studies have concluded that as many as 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. A person with Alzheimer’s loses connections between neurons in the brain (1).
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s. But drug and non-drug treatments may help with both cognitive and behavioral symptoms
Alzheimer’s Disease was first mentioned by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1906 after having studied the case of Auguste D. who was experiencing, “...memory loss, unfounded suspicions about her family, and other worsening psychological changes…” (“Milestones in Alzheimer's”). After this patient had died, the doctor performed an autopsy to find that the brain had “dramatic shrinkage and abnormal deposits in and around nerve cells” (“Milestones in Alzheimer's”). This disease is a type of dementia that is defined as a progressive deteriorating mental condition that affects the patient’s day to day life. One with this disease may experience memory loss, slow cognitive processing, language problems, poor coordination, and what can be described as “odd” social
Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that steadily destroys the memory and other important mental functions such as social skills, intellect, and memory (4).
Alzheimer’s is a disease which causes the brain to lose its tissue over time. Doctors thought that was a normal thing that happened as people get older. They didn’t think that it could be harmful, or in this case fatal. After the brain loses its tissue, it starts to destroy brain cells in the part of the brain that involves recent memories. The nerve cells slowly get attacked, and it causes the patient to slowly lose their memory, ability to control emotions, and their judgment. Some symptoms of Alzheimer’s are memory loss, challenges in planning things or solving problems, difficulty completing familiar tasks at home or
Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. As time goes on the symptoms get worse and unfortunately there are no cures available for Alzheimer’s. However, there are ways to “control” it.
With the growing number of people becoming diagnosed, and experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, we must begin to take precautions and somehow attempt to gain knowledge of how the disease can be better treated, and ultimately prevented.
Alzheimer's Disease is a condition that affects 50% of the population over the age of eighty five, which equals four million Americans each year. It is becoming an important and high-profile issue in today's society for everyone. There are rapid advancements being made in the fight against this disease now more than ever, and the purpose of this essay is to educate the public on the background as well as the new discoveries. There are many new drugs that are being tested and studied every day which slow down, and may even halt the progress of the disease.
Is a cognitive disorder mainly found in older age and is mainly occur due to progressive death of neurons in brain. Deterioration of memory takes place in age group of 65 years or more. Around 5.5 million people found in United States suffer Alzheimer’s disease and worldwide its almost 35 million people. Alzheimer’s disease is sixth major cause of death in United States.
In 1906, Dr. Alois Alzheimer recognized a change in a fifty-year-old woman’s brain tissue post mortem now known as Alzheimer’s disease. Today, Alzheimer’s is the most prevalent form of dementia affecting about 5.3 million people in the United States (Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2015). This disease gradually destroys memory and thinking skills, eventually preventing the ability of simple tasks to be performed. In this research paper I will first discuss my personal reason for researching this topic and give a description of Alzheimer’s disease. I will also go through the history and important demographics behind this disease and describe three purposed hypothesis behind the cause of Alzheimer’s. Next I will describe the various symptoms
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, which is a term used for a decline in mental ability that is so intense it disrupts daily life (What is Alzheimers?, 2017). In Alzheimer's disease, the brain cells degenerate and die, causing a steady decrease in memory and mental function (Staff, 2017). This disease is responsible for sixty to eighty percent of dementia cases (What is Alzheimers?, 2017). Those who are 65 and older take up the majority of people with Alzheimer’s (What is Alzheimers?, 2017). After sixty-five, the risk of Alzheimer's doubles every five years and after eighty-five, the risk reaches nearly 50 percent (What is Alzheimers?, 2017). However, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, “Approximately 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 have younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease”.
Alzheimer’s disease is a precursor to a more advance type of dementia. It is characterized by memory loss and deficit in brain functioning. According to Delagarza in his article entitled, “Pharmacologic Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: An Update,” Alzheimer’s disease is associated with the development of tangles and senile plaques in the brain that destroys the function of the nervous system. He added that the loss of connections between neurons due to these tangles and plaques hinder the transmission of messages to all parts of the body (Delagarza, 2016).