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The Origins And Development Of Dementia

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The Origins and Development of Dementia
Dementia is a disease that affects a vast number of Americans, and people worldwide. As people grow and live longer in today’s world the cases of clinical dementia are increasing. There are many causes of dementia, equally leading to different forms and symptoms of this disease. Most causes of dementia are known, and labeled in order to establish proper treatment. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for more than half of all people with dementia. The cause, and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are well known within the scientific community, but a cure is yet to be discovered. This show that there is still much improvement to be done within the scientific and medical …show more content…

The family of dementia consist of about a dozen forms that have been identified. Sometimes the symptoms can overlap several times, making it extremely difficult to classify the cause of this disease. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, affecting most often the hippocampus part of the brain. The hippocampus is known as the memory unit of the brain; it controls pieces of our memories. Alzheimer’s disease is the by far the most common degenerative, progressive, and fatal form of dementia, being accountable for up to 70% of all dementia cases. Getting lost, and forgetting things are usually one of the first warning symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s neurologically changes the human brain creating the rapid death of cells, and neurofibrillary tangles. Another characteristic is neurotic or amyloid plaques, which are spherical structures comprising of a core of beta-amyloid surrounded by degenerated fragments of dying or dead neurons (Gustavsson).
There are numerous symptoms involved in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, still a definitive diagnosis can only be done by autopsy. The cognitive function gradually changes in the forms of declining attention, learning, and judgment. Memory is also extremely affected, in which coincidentally impacts remote memory. Additional cognitive function failures are: difficulties in word finding and communication; declines in personal hygiene and self-care skills; inappropriate social behavior and changes in

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