Essay about Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease affects the world greatly, and the numbers of victims are growing. Alzheimer’s disease affects everyone affiliated with the sufferer. Alzheimer’s disease devastates the brain and its ability to function. The issue is sensitive, complicated, and is negatively impacting the world. Alzheimer’s disease may not always be fatal, but “Alzheimer’s disease has no survivors. It destroys brain cells and causes memory changes, erratic behaviors and loss of body functions. It slowly and painfully takes away a person’s identity, ability to connect with others, think, eat, talk, walk, and find his or her way home” (“What is Alzheimer’s”). This tragic disease impacts over five million people in the United States. Alzheimer’s disease touches all, and it is essential to understand the basics of Alzheimer’s.

Do you know what alzheimer’s disease is? Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, and the fifth leading cause of death in ages 65 and older. “2010 Alzheimer 's Disease Facts and Figures. Rep. Vol. 6. Chicago: Alzheimer 's Association, 2010. Print. Alzheimer 's and Dementia.” This disease is the deterioration of the brain that can, and probably will lead to brain loss that cannot be reversed. It is a very slow decline that can last years. Alzheimer’s usually targets short-term memory first, and can eventually impair thinking and reasoning later on, which will eventually cause problems with communication and daily living.

“Alzheimer`s disease is called a family disease” (ALZlive), because it impacts every family member who is slowly watching a loved one decline. Alzheimer’s disease has an impact on caretakers because caregivers can lead to a variety of emotions, from guilt to anger. When dealing with a client who has Alzheimer; caretakers have a huge responsibility, which can cause stress or depression. If the caretaking is a family member it might lead to finical problems, which can lead to the hard and controversial decision of putting someone in a nursing home, that is better equipped. Guilt is the main emotion that a caretaker can express “I have never spoken to my mother`s doctor, it occurs to me that other children of

As the number of people with dementia grows, so will the number of caregivers, this will lead to a major impact on the labor force, health insurance, pension plans and will increase the demand for health care services.

What is Alzheimer’s disease and how is it affecting lives in the world today? The Alzheimer’s Association state that every 67 seconds someone is diagnosed with the Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer’s Association, 2). The Alzheimer’s disease occurs in middle to older ages, and is a general deterioration of the brain. Symptoms of the Alzheimer’s disease include memory loss within the daily lifestyle, hard time completing tasks and problems, misunderstanding time and/or place, clarity problems with relationships or visual images, personality and mood deviations, and removing oneself from social and work activities that are in their normal lifestyle. The Alzheimer’s disease does get worse and progress overtime, and is one of the leading diseases for the cause of death. Bright Focus Foundation

During the stages Alzheimer’s in which the resident is in need of care, but that care is not too complex, it is most common to turn to an informal caregiver. According to the 2016 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures (2016), “In 2015, caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias provided an estimated 18.1 billion hours of informal (that is, unpaid) assistance, a contribution to the nation valued at $221.3 billion” (p. 32). Informal caregivers are mainly daughters and spouses of the residents. Females make up the majority of family member caretakers, but it is becoming more common for men to take on this role (Brodaty & Donkin, 2009). Roughly a third of the caretakers in the United States are over the age of sixty-five and the majority are married or are in long term relationships. It has also been found that around 23% of caretakers for residents with dementia also have their own children under age eighteen (Alzheimer’s Association, 2016). This can increase the level of stress that the caregiver faces, as he or she is being stretched in different directions.

Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. It is the most common form of dementia, most cases in which a person has dementia, 60-80 percent is Alzheimer’s.

In the pamphlet Basics of Alzheimer’s Disease, the Alzheimer’s Association adds late onset, traditionally known simply as Alzheimer’s, targets primarily people 65 and older. The disease follows a series of steps from mild decline with little noticed changes to very severe cognitive decline where the final stage of the disease is in progress (Basic 19-21). Throughout the stages, independence becomes lost and family members will become care takers and in the later stages nursing homes or hospice may be needed. One book encourages the care giver to communicate through body language, tone, and written instructions to help alleviate as much stress as possible for those living with Alzheimer’s (Living 47). The book further adds when caring for a person with Alzheimer’s remember to maintain patience and to show respect .

Alzheimer’s Disease is a horrible disease that is a form of dementia also known as senile dementia. When Alzheimer's is found in someone, it means that they will have memory loss and certain daily functions will be harder to do, because of the lack of memory. It accounts for 60-80% of dementia diagnoses.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects everyone involved: the victim and his/her’s loved ones. First of all, caregivers are often overlooked, and never realized for what sacrifices they give up to care for their loved one. Secondly, the financial burden of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is a big job that can hurt the opportunities that needed more time to get a better degree. Thirdly, although the victim of Alzheimer’s disease is the ill one, usually, they aren’t the only one suffering from this terrible disease. People must know that the caregivers are fighting just as much as the victim of the disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia which drastically affects the memory, behaviors, and though process of the patient. As Alzheimer’s disease effects the victim, society is dealt the aftermath of social and economic repercussions. By raising awareness about this disease, we can influence change in all sectors. Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease can have high physical, emotional, and financial cost. Alzheimer’s disease like any major disease comes with a price tag. Purchasing medication begins to drain our funds. As the disease worsens, the medication becomes dull and ineffective. Whilst in the late on set stage, it is best the patient be monitored around the clock, or be handle by a care taker. Care takers are higher in demand than ever due to the baby boomers aging. Many would disagree with my Thesis because even though many people are becoming victims of severe diseases, more jobs are being created in our time of need. Although this may contribute to the growth of job opportunities in the U.S, it doesn’t face the issue of unpaid caretakers. Data collected by Cynthia Ramnarace, writer of “The high costs of caring for Alzheimer’s Disease” demonstrates American’s provided 12.5 billion hours of unpaid care. This statistic only applies to the Alzheimer’s community. Financially, the loss in payment valued up to $144 billion dollars in 2009. From a prediction flow chart provided by the

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease that is seen in the elderly. It is the most common form of dementia, which is a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life (Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia). Alzheimer’s is one of the leading causes of death in America. Dementia and Alzheimer’s have been around for centuries, but Alzheimer’s disease wasn’t first described until 1906 by Dr. Aloysius Alzheimer. In the past, there was a stigma for elderly people with the disease and people with dementia and Alzheimer’s were seen as a burden on society. Society has only recently accepted and cared for people with the disorder. There are now treatments and research being done for dementia and Alzheimer’s, but no cure remains and many individuals still suffer from the disease. Future treatments for the disease include taking aim at significant aspects of the disease like fighting beta-amyloid plaques, recruiting the immune system, reducing brain cell inflammation, and studying the heart-head connection (Alzheimer’s Treatments: What’s on the Horizon?). There are other ways to possibly treat the disease in the future as well. Hopefully from looking at the history of the disease, how the disease affects the brain and body, and future treatments, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia will be a thing of the past.

With all of the advanced technology that the medical field possesses today, there is still suffering that occurs from incurable diseases. Alzheimer's Disease is one of those incurable diseases that take the lives of many today. This paper will examine

Currently, in the world, there are about 47.5 million people living with the neurological disorder known as Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease was discovered by a German scientist known as Alois Alzheimer’s in the 21st century. Alzheimer’s is a disease which develops in many people around mid-adulthood. Alzheimer’s disease is when an individual’s brain starts to degenerate because of neuronal loss and also when the neurotransmitters decline their function. Alzheimer’s is when an individual is losing their memories because of their neurons touching each other and their messages are going everywhere because there is no synaptic gap. This is a serious problem.

Alzheimer’s disease affects 1 out of every 8 people in the United States. It is a long and debilitating disease that affects every aspect of a person’s life from the way they preform daily tasks, to the physical and mental abilities that are diminishing. Along with the lifestyle changes that Alzheimer’s disease presents, it also affects one’s psychological perspective as well their view on what they can offer their family and society. There are some ways to maintain a level of independence with a disease of this magnitude but there are also factors in lifestyle choices that can make it worse. Alzheimer cannot be cured, it cannot be slowed, but there are ways to keep the effected person at a certain level of comfort, independence and safety