Alzheimer's Disease Paper

When it comes to Alzheimer’s, I know firsthand how it affects individuals and their families. My great grandfather had Alzheimer’s for many years before his passing late last year, at age 92. Alzheimer’s is a disease that many individuals suffer with each year, but yet with all the advancements in modern medicine we still have no cure for it. There are different ways to conquer this disease, understanding the causes, knowing effects, and researching possible treatments.

The disease called Alzheimer’s is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States (Weiner, 1987). It is estimated that the elderly population will double between now and 2030. During this period, the number of elderly will grow by an average of 2.8% annually (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001). By 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer’s is estimated to range from 11.3 million to 16 million (Alzheimer’s Association, 2005). These startling numbers should prompt an examination into one of the leading causes of death among this group of people. Understanding what Alzheimer’s is and the known causes of the disease are a good starting point. For those who have aging family members, knowing the risk factors and warning

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 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,

Many believe that Alzheimer’s is a non-lethal disease, however, they couldn’t be more wrong. Alzheimer’s is a disease that leaves no survivors. It is lethal and has absolutely no mercy towards any one. It does not discriminate between race or gender, rich or poor. Anyone can be a target. So much, that it is now the sixth leading cause of death and it continues to rise each year (Ryan). Yet, the scariest thing about Alzheimer’s, is not just the memory loss, but also the fact that it has no cure and is irreversible. All hope, however, is not lost. New research has shown that if caught at a very early stage, the rate of deterioration of the brain due to Alzheimer’s, can be slowed down through treatments and therapy (Robinson). Although it is no cure, it can buy more time with a loved one diagnosed with this mindless killer. By catching Alzheimer’s at an early stage and looking out for the symptoms, one can slow down the deadly effects of Alzheimer’s.

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.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive and neurodegenerative form of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, reasoning, judgement and decision-making, recognizing, as well as behavior, and is serious enough to interfere with daily life and activities, that eventually leads to profound physical as well as mental disabilities, resulting in the need for institutional care (Hoyer & Roodin, 2009). AD is most widespread in senior population aged 65 and over, which constitutes approximately 85-95% of the cases, in the rest of 5-15% of the times Alzheimer’s Disease can have an early-onset (before 60 years of age) (Hoyer & Roodin, 2009). According to Alzheimer’s Association, today Alzheimer’s Disease is at the forefront of biomedical research, as it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States (alz.org). Researchers hope that better understanding of Alzheimer’s and related dementias can lead to discovering new and effective treatments. United States is not the only country that is facing this issue, this problem is global. According to the recent epidemiological studies, the worldwide prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease will rise from 27 million people worldwide in 2006 to 66 million in 2030, and 115 million in 2050 (Werner, 2012). The main risk factor for developing AD is chronological age (Hoyer & Roodin, 2009). This means that by 2050, one in three persons over 80 years of age will most likely suffer from some sort of dementia, most likely from AD

Alzheimer’s disease could be one of the scariest things an individual could ever have to experience. The sad thing is that there is not much that can be done about this disease at the time; however, researchers are working day and night to either find a cure or come up with better treatments. The most important thing people need to remember is that this is a brain disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, it can be assessed through different technologies, can be somewhat slowed down by medication, and possibly prevented by exercise.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was initially described in 1907 by Bavarian neuropathologist and psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer, and today is defined as a progressive and irreversible decline in cognitive abilities related to memory, behaviors, functionality, orientation, communication, language, abstract thinking and learning (Jacob, 2013). According to the latest figures, AD affects 10% of adults 65 and older and almost 50% of those over the age of 85. There are as many as 4.5 Americans currently living with AD, and the estimated that upwards to 13 million we be inflicted with AD within the next 50 years (Imbimbo, Lombard & Pomara,

Many people have heard of Alzheimer’s Disease, but very few of them would know that more than 5 million Americans h ave the disease. This number will keep increasing if the current population trends continue. That number also constitutes people who are unaware that they even have the disease, because the symptoms of Alzheimer’s are not easily recognized. This is due to the fact that Alzheimer’s disease affects brain cells and cannot be seen visually. In addition, Alzheimer's symptoms vary from person to person because each person with the disease is unique, and can be at different stages of disease development. More importantly, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, which brings to my attention the question of why there is no cure or prevention

A ravenous disease known as Alzheimer’s is a, still, relatively unknown illness. While a fair amount of people may suffer from it eventually in their life, little can be done about it. Research, however, is continually being conducted into this baffling matter. Rendering people completely helpless, Alzheimer’s has claimed the lives of many, including several members of my family long before they would’ve passed normally.

Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects an estimated 5.2 million people worldwide (Gies, 2009). This disease process works on memory, over time increasing with age. Early symptoms are memory

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.

In medicine, an early diagnosis can mean the difference between life and death. With today’s advancements in technology, early diagnosis is becoming a real possibility for many diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Worldwide it is estimated that 24 million people have dementia, the majority of these people are thought to have Alzheimer’s disease. (Mayo Clinic, 2014) According to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) (2015) Alzheimer’s disease is among the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. Affecting 5.1 million Americans. Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging, but the risk of developing this disease increases with age.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder which causes dementia in the elderly and affects one in nine older adults. There is an estimated 5.2 million Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States (Alzheimer’s Disease Program, Chronic Disease Branch Division for Disease Control and Prevention Services, Texas Department of State Health Services, 2013; Tiwari & Soni, 2014). Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the deterioration of memory and cognitive functions over time and usually results in complete incapacity and death of the patient within nine years (Tiwari & Soni, 2014). Currently, there is no or a treatment proven to prevent, or slow the progression