The purpose of this paper is to examine Alzheimer’s disease in various aspects. Alzheimer’s disease, which is classified as a type of dementia, is a chronic, irreversible, progressive brain disease that is the most common cause of dementia in older adults. In the United States alone, 26 million adults living in the United States, 15% of the population was 65 and older (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). The estimated prevalence of AD recorded in 2015 was 44 million people throughout the world and this number is only expected to grow (Mendiola-Precoma, Berumen, Padilla, & Alcocer, 2016). AD gradually destroys brain function that leads to cognitive decline, psychiatric disorders, and the inability to carry out daily living activities …show more content…
This is done through promoting the practice of good health and maintaining it throughout life. It is also crucial to prevent the disease at a very early phase before it progresses into a more overt disease (Solomon et al. 2014). The biggest area to improve in order to prevent AD is nutrition and implementing this is pivotal for primary car physicians. Proper diet and nutrition provides protective benefits to the brain that help preserve cognition and memory (Bane and Cole, 2015). Researches have found that diets rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, such as high intake of fish, also helps prevent AD (Bane and Cole, …show more content…
Current guidelines recommend that after diagnosis, management of patients with AD focus on promoting independence and maintaining normal function (Staedtler and Nunez, 2015). Non-pharmacological therapy ranges from removing stressors and providing a safe environment for the patient, to participation in activities such as music, exercise, and art (Staedtler and Nunez, 2015). Such strategies have shown improvement in symptoms with patients who have AD, while at the same time being cost-effective (Staedtler and Nunez, 2015). Pharmacological treatments such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), like Galantamine, have produced significant improvements in cognitive function for people who have AD (Blautzik et al. 2015). AChEIs enhance the cerebral cholinergic system, which is altered in people who have Alzheimer’s and also slow down hippocampal atrophy (Blautzik et al. 2015). Both therapeutic and pharmacological pathways have been proven affective and aid in normalizing cognition with patients suffering from
Alzheimer’s disease affects the lives of over 5 million Americans today. The cost that it has placed on the U.S is a staggering $203 million dollars. Researchers have reported that those numbers are expected to triple by 2050. However draining that this disease may seem, the real question is whether there is a solution. To this day there is still no cure to stop or even slow down th progression of the brain disease but there are treatments that help cover the symptoms. While the majority of the people who suffer from Alzheimer is generally over the age of 65, about 200,000, of the estimated 5 million, are in the age range of 30-40.
The family should be informed on nonpharmacological treatments such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, socializing, and playing games where the brain is challenge. In this case the patient has been diagnosed with AD and the he would benefit from a pharmacological treatment that may delay the progression of the disease.
Lifestyle changes to help prevent AD, according to The Alzheimer’s Prevention Foundation International include ‘four pillars of building a better memory”; diet and vitamins, stress management, exercise and pharmaceutical drugs. Diet and vitamins: the brain requires nutrition, blood flow and energy that comes from a diet that is moderate in calories, high in good fats and clean proteins. Stress management: reducing depression and improving your ability to deal with stressful situations. Exercise: mental and physical exercise is essential for brain health. Effective workouts include brisk walking, swimming, and Tai chi mental exercise such as visiting museums, crossword puzzles, reading, taking educational classes, and socializing with friend’s arte all excellent ways to keep your brain in shape. Pharmaceutical drugs: medications such as Aricept, Exelon, Reminyl, and Namenda, taken with the supervision of a physician, can play an important role in delaying the progression of mild memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease. Natural hormone replacement
The only drugs currently approved for AD are cholinesterase inhibitors such as ( Galantamine- Rivastigmine-Donepezil) and its mechanism to increase the Acetylcholine in the brain and mainly used in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s and the
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.
AD is the second most dreaded sickness in the United States, after disease. By 2011, more than five million Americans have been diagnosed with AD, and the number will climb quickly at the point when the time of increased birth rates era starts to achieve retirement age. It is evaluated that the number
Alzheimer’s disease is a prominent brain disease that effects a massive amount of individuals in the United States. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases, with no chance of being cured, prevented or decelerating over time (Alzheimer’s Association, 2014). AD is the most well-known form of dementia, causing complications in brain function in the areas of memory, thinking, and behavior (Alzheimer’s Association, 2014). In an effort to gain a deeper understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers create new knowledge about the disease, which is then distributed to the public. The goal in this information disbursement is to find new and inventive ways to treat AD, prevent AD from progressing at such a rapid pace, and aid in the quality of life in those diagnosed with AD as well as caregivers and medical professionals providing treatment to individuals’ with AD.
Alzheimer's disease has grown increasingly prevalent due to the aging of the U.S. population. It is the most common form of dementia and as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer's disease (Alzheimer's disease fact sheet, 2012, NIH). There is no known cure or even a known preventative strategy the illness likely has a strong genetic component. The disease causes significant brain deterioration, first causing problems with memory retention, followed by difficulties in performing basic life functions such as paying bills and getting dressed. Towards the very end of the illness, patients are largely bedridden and are completely dependent upon others for care.
It is also projected that this number is to rise to a nearly three times larger number, fourteen million by 2050. Often, the changes that the brain undergoes
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.
Dementia is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It is the fifth leading cause of death for those age 65 and older. In 2014 an estimated 5.2 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer’s disease. This estimation includes 5 million people age 65 and older and about 200,000 people under age 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer’s. One in nine individuals age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease. Approximately one-third of people age 85 and older have Alzheimer’s disease. Of those with Alzheimer’s disease, the majority are age 75 or older. The number of new cases of Alzheimer’s increases dramatically with age. It was projected in in 2014, there will be about 59,000 new cases in the class of people age 65 to 74, 172,000 new cases
In our modern society, people can see that almost every person has experienced a loved one taken away from a serious disease known as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease describes a particular health disorder, and it represents a family concern, as well. It develops slowly and get worse over time. It also can damage a patient’s memory and capacity to communicate, learn, make judgments, and do daily activities; however, it is not a normal part of aging. Because it has known that family histories and genetics' factors increase a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's, it appears to be higher if the individual's parents or other family members have the disease. Studies of family history state that a person's risk of having Alzheimer’s disease
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Doctors try to treat symptoms and increase quality of life with drugs. The FDA has approved two classes of drugs and in those to classes five different drugs are available for patients who are suffering from this disease. The first class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors eliminates a neurotransmitter in the brain called acetylcholine. Doctor Dalvi explained how the inhibitors remove acetylcholine by saying “Cholinesterase inhibitors reduce hydrolysis of synaptic acetylcholine by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, resulting in increased stimulation of the cholinergic receptor.” (DALVI). Drugs in this class significantly impact the growth of the disease. It’s recommended for patients
As a society, we are constantly faced with negative news about different diseases and genetic disorders. One genetic disorder that has affected the lives of many is, Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia that affects and causes problems with thinking, behavior and memory. Most of the time, symptoms of Alzheimer’s develop slowly and progress and worsen over time. Eventually the symptoms become severe enough that they begin to interfere with normal and daily tasks. It was originally thought that Alzheimer’s was a result of aging, but it has been found that there is actually something called early onset Alzheimer’s which affects people in their 40s and 50s, instead of the normal age of 65 and older (1).
Though there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there are aids that can help. There are two medications that help slow down the progression, memantine and cholinesterase inhibitors (Adams 68). There are also simple everyday things people can do to decrease their risk of AD such as exercise (71). Long-term memories tend to last longer than more recent experiences so looking at old photos can also help (72). Early diagnosis can really help, it will give doctors a chance to put the person on medication that will slow down the progression of AD (24). Mental exercise and frequent social interactions have shown to help reduce risks (84).