Degenerative Disease In African Americans

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).

Alzheimer’s disease is a common problem in today’s society and within the older population this disease makes up the largest form of dementia. Although it is a problem in mainly older people, this disease can still occur in the younger population also. People in their 30s-50s can be diagnosed with this disease, even though it is not as common as people in their 60s-90s. The number of people with Alzheimer’s in the U.S. is close to five million and is expected to double within the next 30 years. With our modern medicine and advancements one would think a cure would be available, however, getting to the cause of the disease is a major factor. The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is one that is very debatable and questionable and most likely is a result of multiple factors rather than one. The main issue with finding the cause is because this disease affects the brain and can

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 in many ways is not yet defined. It is a progressive disease afflicting between 5 and 15 percent of people over 65. Additionally, it is not restricted to the elderly, reportedly having

“Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia in elderly people which accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases (Krishnan, D. S.)”. World Health Organization indicated that Alzheimer’s disease is the “6th leading cause of death in the

As a person ages, theirs body cannot perform the way it used to. This will cause many elderly people to loose their job or choose to go into retirement. Both of these options cause a loss in health care as well and a reduced or exterminated income. Here alone lies a reason that the elderly population is challenged. The elderly population also has a tendency to develop a chronic illness that can be life threatening if not treated or controlled properly. This means that need for health care treatments also increases. At least 40% of those over age 65 will have nutrition-related health problems requiring treatment or management (Gigante, 2012). It is important to realize that 10% of people over the age of 65 and will develop Alzheimer’s disease and 50% of those over the age of 85 will develop this disease (Gigante, 2012). More elderly African American men and women use government aid than white men and women. Therefore, this population will be vulnerable because of the lack of funding, proper health care and insurance.

In a study that was done called aging, demographics and memory study (ADAMS) it was found that older African Americans are two times more likely than older whites to develop Alzheimer or any other dementia. Some of the reasons that have been discovered as to why older African Americans are more common to have Alzheimer’s is because they are found to have higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, along with other vascular diseases. Some other factors that can affect who may end up with Alzheimer’s are lower level of education, and socioeconomic characteristics which are found to be more common in African Americans. In the health and retirement study (HRS) 80% of African Americans were found to have high blood pressure. Other risks that have been found to have increased risk of Alzheimer’s are those with lower educations, low income being below $18,000 a year, and

When it comes to cultural issues pertaining to this issue, Alzheimer's disease and dementia affect all racial and ethnic peoples. Communities of color and other historically underserved groups often encounter problems when accessing services or information about Alzheimer's disease. Because of this, the local chapter is working to increase awareness of the disease and understanding about the obstacles to service for rural communities, ethnic groups, and communities of color. This though should not be a reason people do not step out on their own and seek help

What is Mr. Watt’s risk factors related to colon cancer? Consider all aspects of his health, his family history and his culture.

According to findings from Wilson, Capuano, Sytsma, Bennett, and Barnes (2015), cognitive aging differences were apparent between black persons and white persons. In their study, Wilson and partners drew older white and black participants with identical protocols from three longitudinal studies. In order to be part of the study, participants had to not have any signs of dementia at baseline and had to be similar in terms of age, cognition, and education. They found that blacks scored lower at all ages in semantic memory, perceptual speed, and visuospatial ability, with the effect being stronger in older adults (Wilson et al., 2015). Interestingly, however, the decline rate for whites was found to be faster

as the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth leading cause of death for individuals age 65 and older. While living with the disease an individual may face years of ill health as the disease progresses over time. Alzheimer’s is a terminal a brain disease that affects an extensive number of Americans. Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia. Although the disease itself can be associated with aging; it is not synonymous with aging (Grossberg & Karmat, 2011). The relevance of the previous statement is significant to African Americans because they tend to associate aging with a decline in memory; hence they are less likely to

If diabetes is not diagnosed at an early stage, individuals will not notice the presence of the symptoms until they experience trouble with their heart, brain, kidney, and etc. Therefore, it is always best to speak to a health care provider or ones doctor regarding hypertension. In 2009, Americans visited their health care providers more than 55 million times to treat their high blood pressure. (Roger, Lloyd-Jones, 2012). One can also prevent the risk of hypertension by exercising regular, maintaining a healthy body weight, and avoiding heavy salt intake and excess alcohol use. Treatment is also available for hypertension. Various drugs like diuretics which work on the kidney to flush out excess water and salt from one’s body, beta and

Alzheimer’s is a disease that usually develops in adults after the age of 65, but there are cases where people at a younger age develop it as well. Alzheimer’s has a higher chance of occurring the older you get. Studies have suggested that Mexican Americans have a higher chance to be affected by this disease, according to the New York times. A study by the Alzheimer’s Association states that by 2050 about 1.3 million Hispanics could have Alzheimer’s. This is worrisome to health care professionals because Hispanics are the largest growing minority in the United states as of now.

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 is a disease that affects the elderly most. The disease was discovered by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in the year 1906 when he was examining a female’s brain. He found out that the woman displayed memory loss, language problems and some inexplicable changes in behavior. The disease was named after the doctor who was a German psychiatrist and a neuropathologist. Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder that leads to memory loss, personality changes, and language problems (Gilbert & Julie 2). The disease is mostly diagnosed in people over the age of 65 years, though there is a small minority of people under the age of 50 who get the disease. Studies show that 1% of a whole population aged between the ages 65-75 have severe