Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia, “a brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities (Shenk 14)”. Alzheimer’s is a progressive and irreversible brain disorder that slowly destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, make judgments, communicate, and accomplish daily activities. As Alzheimer’s progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or aggravation, as well as illusions or hallucinations.
Alzheimer’s disease is named after a German doctor, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer became aware of changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual
…show more content…
As a result, the brain has difficulty performing mental functions such as thinking and remembering.
In times past many people thought that memory loss was a normal occurrence for elderly people. This thinking was major reason for why Alzheimer’s disease was not caught until very later in the stages. Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. After heart disease, cancer, and strokes, Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of death in adults in the Western world. “It is estimated that 4.5 million Americans over the age of 65 are affected with this condition. After the age of 65, the incidence of the disease doubles every five years and, by age 85, it will affect nearly half of the population” (Robinson).
The beginning and symptoms of Alzheimer's are usually very slow and gradual. Alzheimer’s hardly ever occurs before the age of 65. It occurs (according to the AHAF) in the following seven stages: In stage 1 There are no impairment- Unimpaired individuals experience no memory problems and none are evident to a health care professional during a medical interview. Stage 2 Is a very mild decline- Individuals at this stage feel as if they have memory lapses, especially in forgetting familiar words or names or the location of keys, eyeglasses, or other everyday objects. But these problems are not evident during a
Alzheimer’s disease named was named after Alois Alzheimer in 1907(Sims, Odle, & Davidson, 2007, pg. 15).
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, meaning it attacks the neurons within the brain. Neurons are the areas of the brain that allow for chemical messages, or neurotransmitters, to be transmitted. These neurons are necessary for connections with other nerve cells, and without them, the neuronS ultimately die. Alzheimer’s is a form of, and the most common cause of, dementia, or loss of intellectual capacity and personality. ("Dementia.") Alzheimer’s disease, or AD, is not a normal part of aging, although risk of developing the illness increases with age. The onset behavior of the disease normally doesn’t appear until age sixty and older. Though symptoms that appear before age sixty have occurred, it is less common and tends
Alzheimer’s Disease was first described by the German neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer (1864–1915) in 1906. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia defines Alzheimer’s Disease as “progressive degenerative disorder of the brain”. One suffering Alzheimer’s may suffer with
“Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, a neurologic disease characterized by loss of mental ability severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living, lasting at least six months, and not present from birth.’ AD usually occurs in old age, and is marked by a decline in cerebral functions,
Alzheimer's disease is a mental disorientation that can appear during middle or geriatric age, due to generalized degeneration of the brain. This disease is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is another term for memory loss and other psychological abilities, deliberate enough to conflict with simple daily life activities.
The origin of Alzheimer's disease goes back to 1906 when a German physician named Dr. Alois Alzheimer, introduced the case history of a fifty-one-year-old woman who suffered from a rare brain disorder. A brain autopsy showed the plaques and tangles that today now describe Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer’s is a continuous disease that demolishes memory and other mental functions. Scientists believe that Alzheimer’s caused by a certain combination of genetics. Lifestyle and environmental factors also affect the brain over time.
First, those who may be suffering from Alzheimer’s or have a loved one who may be suffering from Alzheimer’s should be aware of the symptoms. A few of the main symptoms would include trouble remembering newly learned information, disorientation, mood and behavior changes and deepening confusion about events, time and place. Trouble remembering newly learned
As I stated before Alzheimer’s diseases have different stages, early stages are memory loss. Just like our bodies, our brains age also, we tend to think at a slower pace and occasionally become forgetful about certain things. When it comes to Alzheimer’s the brain cells are failing, chronic memory loss, confusion, and other serious mental issues that become more noticeable. Patients tend to lose memory of new information because Alzheimer’s start to stop the brain from learning anything. As the diseases move through the brain it also causes disorientation, mood and behavior changes, confusion about events, time and place, becomes suspicious of family and friends. Some cases have been found of serious memory loss, behavior changes, unable of speaking, swallowing and walking. The brain has over 100 million nerve cells or how scientists refer as neurons, each nerve cells connects to one another to create a form of communication, and each of the nerve cells have a special job. These groups of nerve cells have the job of thinking, learning, or
Early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s are Memory problems which are typically one of the first signs of cognitive impairment. As it progresses in the second stage they start wondering and getting lost, issues with handling money, and repeating questions. During the Moderate stage damage will start to control the brain such as language, processing, reasoning, and conscious thought. Some symptoms include problems recognizing family and friends, inability to learn, and impulsive
Most people with the disease generally begin to experience symptoms during their mid-60s. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s include serious memory loss and confusion, which may indicate that brain cells are failing.
Everyday life for a person suffering this disease can be frustrating at times. Most people that have it don’t even realize that they do. The people around them start to notice the differences in their personality and behavior. Alzheimer’s affects people from age 65 and up. This means that it’s a disease that happens to develop from old age. Up to five percent of people with
Alzheimer's Disease progresses in stages, therefore the symptoms depend on in which stage the affected person is. The onset of the disease is slow, but gradually over time it becomes
Alzheimers was first named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer first noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental disease. He saw dramatic shrinkage and abnormal deposits in and around nerve cells.
It is said that memory declines as people age, and this can be just a natural part of life. However, in many cases as people grow older, they develop a mental disorder known as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes problems with memory, thinking, and overall behavior, and progressively becomes a bigger problem. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and is a very common disease in people over the age of 65. This terminal disease puts tremendous stress on the victim and the victim’s family. A cure for Alzheimer’s has yet to be discovered; however, through healthy and constant use of the brain and the aid of certain drug treatments, Alzheimer’s disease can be both naturally and medically prevented.
Alzheimer's is a disease that robs people of their memory. At first, people have a hard time remembering recent events, though they might easily recall things that happened years ago. As time goes on, other symptoms can appear, including: trouble focusing, a hard time doing ordinary activities, feeling confused or frustrated, especially at night, dramatic mood swings -- outbursts of anger, anxiety, and depression, feeling disoriented and getting lost easily, physical problems, such as an odd walk or poor coordination, trouble communicating. People with Alzheimer's might forget their loved ones. They might forget how to dress themselves, feed themselves, and use the toilet. People who get Alzheimer's disease are usually older, but the disease isn’t a normal part of aging.