Imagine this, you walk into your mother's room one day the smell of candles fills the air, you can hear her humidifier going off, and she blankly stares at you as you walk in. She looks you up and down with the most confused look on her face, she appears scared and frightened as you notice her muscles tense up, she looks at you and says “Are you the new nurse?” When most people hear the word Alzheimer's they instantly think memory loss, while yes memory loss is a key factor of Alzheimer's it is far from the only problem that arises from Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease, to put it bluntly is the most common form of dementia which is the general term for memory loss, but Alzheimer's affects a lot more than just memory. Dementia is strictly
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
How does a person maintain that connection when they can no longer remember their own story? Alzheimer’s disease patients understand this struggle more than anyone. Alzheimer’s disease is a cognitive degenerative disease that strips its victim’s identities from them. It takes over their minds and their very lives. However, art therapists have begun the practice of understanding those losing cognitive processes. Art therapy with confirmation through mental autopsy is able to diagnose new cases with Alzheimer’s disease and separate the differences between senility, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurocognitive disorders. There is an increase in attempts to gain more research to discern fact from myth about why people develop this disorder or what the explanation is for how the disease forms to begin with, and if there is any cure. Many health facilities have conformed in order to accommodate for the challenges that arise accompanying this disease. To understand the basics of Alzheimer’s disease, one must learn how professionals read the signs and diagnose this disorder, what form it takes in an individual, probable sources for where it originates from assuming there is a known source, how art therapists have come to diagnose and comprehend complex minds with this disease, and how having this disease is not a normal development of aging. It is in fact a disease, deadly and violent to the brain’s
I chose Alzheimer's disease for my disorder, commonly known as senile dementia. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia which is a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities enough to disrupt every day life. Alzheimer's causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse with time. I think I would choose to prescribe Aricept (donepezil) for treatment because it can be used at any stage of Alzheimer's. The common side effects are appetite loss, muscle cramps, drowsiness and nausea. Aricept is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to donepezil hydrochloride or to piperidine derivatives. If about to take Aricept somebody should notify their doctor if they have
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia which is generally a term for memory loss. The people who experience this disease progress slowly over time becoming worse until it interferes with their daily life. This disease is personal to me because my grandfather’s best friend had Alzheimer’s. It was difficult to watch the person he was slowly disappear to the disease. Every time I would go to see him he would never remember who I was, but we were always there to help and support him.
There are 5.3 million people in America of all ages that suffer with Alzheimer’s and of those 5.3 million affected, two-thirds are women, and each year the number of people affected by the disease increases. Alzheimer’s disease is a deterioration of the brain cell connections, and the cells degenerate and then die. The disease slowly destroys the memory and thinking skills, and eventually makes it extremely difficult to carry out simple tasks. It affects the person, and the brain psychologically, cognitively, behaviorally, and their mood as well. There is no cure for the disease or methods to slow it down, there are only medications and management strategies that can temporary improve the symptoms. Although, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s
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.
It is estimated that by the year 2050, around 160 million people will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (Park, “How Exercise”). Alzheimer’s is a genetic disease, meaning it is passed down through one’s family. Daisy Duarte has had to care for her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, for four years. Seventy-five percent of Daisy’s family has had the disease, so she decided to get tested to see if she carries the gene. “Finding out your genetic destiny can be life altering” (Park, “How Exercise”). Alzheimer’s disease affects many people, but there are ways to slow the process, and maybe even prevent it.
In 1901 Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a german psychiatrist, first described the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. A specific type of dementia that irregularities in the brain's structure destroys important mental functions and memory in elderly people. This type of disease has many symptoms that mainly target cognitive functioning. There is currently no cure for alzheimer's but medication can be used to slow down its progression. This disease is considered datal and it a major focus of research efforts.
When treating Alzheimer’s disease the main goals are to maintain mental function, manage behavioral symptoms, and slow or delay the disease. As of right now there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. There is also not much we understand about the disease or know its causes.
“Alzheimer’s Disease is an incurable disease that strips you from your memory and other functions used in daily life." The brain cells degenerates and dies, which result in the patient forgetting how to perform simple daily functions like eat, sleep, walk, or talk. The size of the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s will shrink because the tissue has fewer nerve cell and connections. Studies have shown that every 67 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
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).
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological progressive degenerative disease that has debilitating effects on those stricken. While Alzheimer’s disease will manifest itself in the aged, it can also appear as early as the 40’s. Additionally, Alzheimer’s disease does affect both genders, but is more harshly prevalent with female population. Female population usually represents 60% of the Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. There is no known cause for this disease only speculation that it could come from environmental or genetic risk factors. It is believed that the brain size shrinks allowing for fewer nerve cells and connections to make communication. Along with nerve cells
It is estimated that between 4.5 and 5.4 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) (Vanmeter. P. 376). AD is a progressive disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Changes with Alzheimer’s Disease are degenerative and results in gross atrophy of the cerebral cortex. The disease destroys brain cells which causes two types of abnormalities; neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques (orange book p. 212). Neurofibrillary tangles cause death of neurons, which contributes to the development of dementia. Amyloid plaque disrupts transmission of nerve impulses. It is not clear if the plaque causes AD or a by-product of the AD process causes it. (212 orange).
Alzheimer's disease, is one form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time ("What is Alzheimer’s?," 2012). It causes a decline in memory and deterioration in many other abilities ("U.S. national library," 2012). To fully understand Alzheimer’s, you must appreciate the symptom’s, diagnosis, and treatments of this terminal disease. Alzheimer’s can be described with memory loss, disorientation with time and place, and confused actions ("What is Alzheimer’s?," 2012). As the disease progresses in your body, your memory loss and motor skills deteriorate quickly.
Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic continuous loss of neurons that usually starts slowly and gets worse over time. It is the cause of 60% to 70% of cases of dementia. This is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most cases, the first symptom usually occurs in mid-60s.