Alzheimer’s Disease is a chronic neurological disease characterized by memory loss, behavioral changes, and a progressive loss of intellectual function. This disease has a wide array of symptoms and effects that vary greatly from person to person throughout the three stages of disease progression. The three stages are classified as mild, moderate, and severe. It is tough to give an accurate prognosis with Alzheimer’s patients seeing as everyone reacts differently to the disease and the medications. According to Gould and Dyer (2011), about 4.5 to 5.4 million Americans experience the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. When a patient is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it has the potential to turn their loved ones’ worlds upside down. Since there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, loved ones have to constantly monitor and help the person affected. Treatment is a group effort consisting of using doctors and therapists for guidance while family members take care of the person affected. Alzheimer’s has many potential causes that are currently being thoroughly investigated such as “exposure to metals, viruses, and metabolic syndrome” (Gould & Dyer, 2011, p. 522) which causes the disease to be multifactorial in origin. Gould and Dyer (2011) have confirmed a connection linking four defective genes to Alzheimer’s located on chromosomes 1, 14, 19, and 21 caused by genetic mutations. “These mutations account for less than 5 percent of Alzheimer’s disease” meaning that only a small number of
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 (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with relentlessly progressive losses in cognition, memory, and language. According to research by Herbert, Weuve, Sherr, and Evans (2013), 5.3 million people are affected by AD, and that number is expected to almost triple by the middle of the century. As cognitive decline progresses, independence and the ability to perform self-care is lost as caregivers must assume this considerable burden. Given the prevalence of AD, its devastating pathology, and its impact on loved ones and caregivers, the social impact of this disease cannot be overstated.
“ People look at me and think there is nothing wrong; I am not in a wheelchair, I have full use of all my limbs, I can see, hear, speak and listen….but not for much longer. I am dying: day by day, hour by hour my life is ending. I don’t understand what people are saying: the words run together and they may as well be speaking a foreign language. I can no longer speak or write like I used to. I was once a sociable person, but now I go to a happy affair only to be tortured by the noise and surrounding conversations because I am overwhelmed by the stimulus of sight and sound.” This quote portrays a male suffering from a heart-breaking disease. Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive, degenerative disorder of the brain affects millions of people on planet
Alzheimer’s disease has long been considered as a irremediable illness for old people. According to the data collected by Alzheimer 's Association(2016), the overall 5.4 million American suffers from Alzheimer 's disease, and this population is growing in a certain rate for majority of this population aged 65 and up. Identify possible Alzheimer’s symptom could be rather difficult because people are lack of the awareness of their implicit illness, which later contribute to the Alzheimer 's disease. Also, to maintain a current Alzheimer 's patient is struggle for a single family. However, recently, a research conducted by University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of California-San Francisco reported that though the cause of Alzheimer disease remains unknown, Care giving treatment is effective and low-cost than people expecting on slow down the memory loss and the recession in their ability to take care of themselves (Liesveld, J. &Tribune, F., 2016). Despite of the growing population, many prospective methods are now going under experiments and practices. Following their mission to improve the condition of AD patients, formed on April 10, 1980, Alzheimer 's Association not only improve the technology and making the treatment accessible for all AD patients, but also enhance the importance of daily care for the them. Supported by many Alzheimer 's families, scientists are now approaching several safe options for AD patients and their relatives. This research paper
The Journal of the American Medical Association reports the latest break through in the study of gene causing Alzheimer’s has pointed to two genes, chromosomes 2 and 19 that cause the disease (7). The article also points out another gene, A polipoprotein E-e4, is also linked to Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease, Jose Vina and Ana Lloret writes that women are at higher risk of Alzheimer’s due
Gary B. was a real estate attorney. He gradually found himself starting to have difficulties in doing his work, becoming less organized, and being forgetful. As a result, he was fired from 2 companies within 3 years. Gary was confused with his unusual behaviors until he went to a doctor and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (UsAgainstAlzheimer 's, “My Story with Alzheimer 's”, 2015). Actually, many people with Alzheimer’s share similar stories with Gary. Alzheimer 's disease (AD) is a type of dementia that slowly destroys memory and other important mental functions. It is difficult to detect in the early stage because its symptoms are not obvious in the early period and usually develop slowly. In the United States, there are around 5 million people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and this number is growing rapidly (Baker, 2011, p. 195). Although AD is becoming a common disease among old people, the cause of it is still unknown and there is no cure for Alzheimer’s currently, but some drug and non-drug treatments have been proven that can help with patients’ cognitive and behavioral symptoms. With the symptoms become worse over time and finally severe enough to destroy the ability to perform daily tasks, people with Alzheimer’s need to be taken care of by caregivers, which are usually their family members. The Alzheimer 's Association is the largest non-profit organization in the world dedicated to Alzheimer 's
As the world becomes more happy and joyful, people haven’t stepped into the world of Alzheimer’s yet. Just imagine losing your ability to do normal things you do every day and then you can’t do them anymore. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes changes and differences in memory, behavior, and how the person’s brain works. The symptoms of Alzheimer’s worsen over time. (Alzheimer’s Association 2015). All of the family members will be affected if one person gets this disease. This is disease is ranking sixth for the leading cause of death in the US; this is how bad it is. This disease is very common in the USA. The stages of this disease can be very graphic and sometimes extremely disturbing for the family. Ultimately people that have Alzheimer’s usually die from the disease. (National Institute of Health 2015).
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), first described and named after Dr Alois Alzheimer in 1906, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, neuropathologically characterised by gross cerebral atrophy, extracellular senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (Zetterberg & Mattsson, (2014). Clinically, AD is characterised by memory loss, cognitive impairment and behavioural and psychological changes (Carter, Resnick, Mallampalli & Kalbarczyk, 2012). The Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) have a significant impact on the quality of life of the person with dementia and the caregiver (Rouch et al, 2014). The existence and intensity of the BPSD has a greater negative impact on caregivers then the actual cognitive decline (Rouch et al, 2014).
Alzheimer’s is a neurological disease, which causes memory loss, and other cognitive impairment due to the degeneration of the brain. It’s also a progressive disease, since its symptoms develop slowly, and gradually get worse over time. It usually occurs in three stages, which include early (mild), middle (moderate), and late (severe). In the early stages of this disease, memory loss is most common, whereas in the late stages, it becomes severe enough to affect daily tasks, such as communicating with friends and family. Moreover, Alzheimer’s symptoms, include memory loss, delusions, mood swings, etc., thus it causes issues with the individual’s memory, thinking and behavior. Furthermore, an individual diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can live up
I think one of the saddest day in my life was when I found out my father had Alzheimer’s disease. It took an emotional toll on me and my family members. I believe Alzheimer is much harder on me and my loved ones than on my grandfather; because he was unaware of what was going on. It’s painful watching my grandfather degrade and get worse each and every day. The worst thing is that he doesn’t even know who I am anymore. In this paper I will discuss certain risk factors, background of Alzheimer’s,
In the year 2015 5.3 million people in the US will have Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease, also known as Presenile and Senile Dementia can have a genetic or environmental basis. Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of a more general group of memory disorders known as dementia. What differentiates Alzheimer’s from Dementia is how quick the progression of symptoms is. Characterized by debilitating memory loss, confusion, comprehension and changes in personality, that is not normal age related cognitive problems. Although Alzheimer’s disease is normally in elderly patients, it can be expressed in younger patients, known as early onset Alzheimer’s Disease, developing symptoms as
Alzheimer’s disease, also known as senile dementia, is defined as a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. It is very traumatic for many people and has the capability to rob someone of their entire memory. Many are affected by it every year. Within the U.S. alone, there are over 3 million known cases of Alzheimer’s per year. Alzheimer’s is a stressful and frightening disease that may allow one to actively endure in rehabilitation practices and various other activities to help ease the rapid increase of this devastating disease.
Kevin Arnold from the Wonder Years said “Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, and the things never want to lose.” Memories are the things that are upheld, whether good or bad, those memories are imprinted in the mind and cannot be taken away that is, until later in life. As one ages it is natural for some memories to fade. Loss of memories and brain function deficits that occur and are not from normal aging may indicate a person is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. With an aging population, Alzheimer’s is bcoming increasingly prevalent; causes, symptoms, and treatment are being researched even more the information being discovered is beginning to solve the mystery.
Individuals older than age 85 are the quickest growing age group and have a tremendously high prevalence of disease.
I never imagined a loved one of my own diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This disease effects a person brain cells causing impaired memory, thinking and performances. Not only does Alzheimer affects a person’s daily activities, this affects everyone involved. For many who are facing a severe condition of Alzheimer’s have life-threatening situations that involves more than just a physician. Alzheimer’s disease consists of three different stages, which requires major support, care, and resources for a patient.