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. First off the list is the impending question; what is Alzheimer’s? In short, Alzheimer’s is a degenerative, …show more content…
While aluminum has been to be a neurotoxin, the fact that it could be a cause of Alzheimer becomes evident in the case of a 58 year-old Caucasian male who worked with the preparation of a material, "DARMATT KM1 that was used as insulation in the nuclear fuel and space industries"(Exley, 2). This indicates that he was exposed to " aluminum sulphate 'dust' ona daily basis over 8 years." The Caucasian male eventually died at the age of 66, after multiple complaints of "headaches, tiredness and mouth ulcers." This man's frontal lobe was then cut into fifty pieces each weighing approximately 300mg, this sample confirmed that this man had a extremely high dosage of aluminum in his frontal lobe alone and while it does not prove that it caused Alzheimer's to appear it does indicate that aluminum was highly likely to have contributed to the rapid progression of the disease. There have been many more theories as to what causes the degenerative disease; Oxidative stress which occurs when the body creates too many free radical and their is an imbalance of available antioxidants then damage can occur. Amyloid Proteins can also be named for contributing to the growth of Alzheimer's, such proteins as AB, tau, and oligomers can be "the real culprit in the neurotoxicity that is the characteristic of AD' (Shan 35). Clear indicators that one has Alzheimer's disease is the inability to
In the United States there are approximately 5.4 million people living with Alzheimer’s. Every sixty-nine seconds a person is diagnosed. This is an ongoing issue, and unless something is done, sixteen million people will be affected by 2050 (Latest).
In 1906, German physician Dr. Alois Alzheimer noticed one of his patients had extreme memory loss, unpredictable behavior, and difficulty speaking. Her condition continued to worsen and ultimately lead to her death. After his patient died he examined her brain, where he discovered an excessive amount of unusual clumps. This was the discovery of Alzheimer’s disease, and although Dr. Alois Alzheimer didn’t know it at the time, his discovery would be one that uncovered a dangerous future for millions of individuals around the world.
Of the estimated 5.5 million Americans living with this disease, an estimated 5.3 million are age 65 and older. Approximately 200,000 individuals are under age 65 and have younger-onset Alzheimer’s diease. One in ten people age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Every 66 seconds someone in the United States develops the disease. It kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Deaths from Alzheimer’s increased 68% between 200 and 2010. This disease is affecting more and more people each day and becoming a real problem in the United States. Unless Alzheimer’s can be effectively treated or prevented, the number of people with it will increase significantly if current population trends
What is Alzheimer’s? Many believe they know exactly what it is and how it affects us, but in reality, many don’t realize how deadly it truly is. Alzheimer’s disease is said to be the most common form of dementia (Brandt). It is a disease that slowly kills thinking skills as well as memory and the ability to function properly. The deterioration and changes in the brain, however, can begin anywhere from ten to fifteen years before the signs of memory loss appear (CDC). Changes begin as, abnormal deposits of proteins form amyloid
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
One in three seniors die of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia (Godman). Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia but all types of dementia diseases effect seniors and their families in a dramatic drastic way. Early signs of Alzheimer’s start as early as the age of 30 and can affect someone for the rest of their life. These diseases have become more reoccurring every year, effecting around 5.3 million Americans and will continue to change lives for the rest of time (Bender, 2). As of now, there has been no cure for Alzheimer’s but scientists and doctors are putting time and effort into an Alzheimer’s cure through research, trials and ways to prevent the disease.
With the growing number of people becoming diagnosed, and experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, we must begin to take precautions and somehow attempt to gain knowledge of how the disease can be better treated, and ultimately prevented.
Alzheimer's Disease is a condition that affects 50% of the population over the age of eighty five, which equals four million Americans each year. It is becoming an important and high-profile issue in today's society for everyone. There are rapid advancements being made in the fight against this disease now more than ever, and the purpose of this essay is to educate the public on the background as well as the new discoveries. There are many new drugs that are being tested and studied every day which slow down, and may even halt the progress of the disease.
More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s(“What is Alzheimer’s?). Alzheimer’s is a disease that progessively worsens and eventually kills brain cells. The damaged brain cells lead to memory loss and trouble with cognitive thinking. Alzheimer’s deteriorates the brain slowly. Currently there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments. The treatmeants can’t reverse the damaged cells, but the process can be slowed. Placing a patient with Alzheimer’s in a long-term care facility is best for the patient’s health and well-being, because Alzheimer’s patients require around the clock care, caregivers will be overworked tending to
Alzheimer’s is a progressive and currently irreversible brain disease that slowly affects and/or impairs a person’s memory, ability to learn, ability to communicate, personality and movement. It has been over a century since Alzheimer’s was discovered in 1906 and there is currently no cure for the disease. More than 5 million Americans currently have some form Alzheimer’s and the number is projected to grow in the coming decades. The large majority of those who have the disease are over the age 65; although it is possible to develop Alzheimer’s at an earlier age ranging from 30 to 50 years of age. It is currently the sixth leading cause of death in America and costs over 200 billion of dollars a year to care of those who have Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in America. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Alzheimer’s accounts for 70-80% of dementia cases. By the age of 65, 1 in 9 people are diagnosed and by the age of 85, 1 in 3 people will have the disease. According to the Alzheimer Association, 5 million people in American have Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s starts to form 20 years prior to being diagnosed. Learning about Alzheimer’s can help families understand how Alzheimer’s is more than just memory loss, it is an incurable mental disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative brain disease characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive impairment, and changes in behaviors and personality which has no cure. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults and is increasing in prevalence in the younger population (Gosar & Bottomley, 2013). Research has shown that there are more than 5 million people in the United States and over 35 million people in the world who suffer from the disease. The number of Alzheimer’s patients increases steadily as the baby boomers age. Researches predicted that the population with Alzheimer’s disease will be doubled by 2030 (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015; Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2013; Black et al., 2010; Mohamed,
Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that progresses over time and destroys important mental functions and involves memory loss. The disease usually occurs in elders ages 60 or older and the further the stages in the disease, the worse it gets. The entire health care system, family, friends, and the person with the disease are all greatly affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a major issue from a public health perspective because it is one of the most expensive medical conditions in the United States. People can live with Alzheimer’s for quite a long time, but they need care while living, so the cost continues to add up as people with Alzheimer’s continue to live, but having no way of functioning on
The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unclear. At this time the basic argument is whether it is caused by the formation of something called neuritic Plaques or by the formation of something called neurofibrillary Tangles in the brain. They also associate some gene defects in conjunction with
“It is estimated that more than five million Americans currently have Alzheimer’s disease; this number is expected to triple by mid-century” (AFA). Since its