Understanding Alzheimer's Disease

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 is a degenerative brain disease of unknown cause that is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer’s usually starts in late middle age or in old age and results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation and changes in personality and mood. It is an irreversible, progressive disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills which leads to the eventual inability to carry out the simplest tasks. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older adults.

Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that eventually destroys memory and other other very important functions. First it starts with mild confusion and the patient has a hard time remembering. Soon after that they may get much worse

Alzheimer’s Dementia is one form of dementia. It affects over five million people in the U.S. alone (Latest Facts & Figures Report, 2014). Alzheimer’s is a group of symptoms caused by diseases or disorders. Every 67 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’s in the U.S. (Latest Facts & Figures Report, 2014). Alzheimer’s can take 7-10 years to fully develop. During development the brain reduces in size. Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s changes the patient’s life significantly. He or she must make many changes in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. Unfortunately, unlike other forms of dementia Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that involves memory loss, thought and language which can seriously affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), “as many as 5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease. The symptoms of the disease first appear after age 60 and the risk increases with age. Younger people may get Alzheimer’s disease, but it is less common. The number of people with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. By 2050, this number is projected to rise to 14 million, a nearly three-fold increase. Although scientists are learning more every day, unfortunately

Alzheimer’s can be seen in people, starting at ages 30-60. This subset of the disease, known as “early onset” Alzheimer’s is rare and accounts for less than five percent of the total population of people with Alzheimer’s. The majority of victims develops “late-onset” Alzheimer’s, and falls in the age group of 65 years old or above. ("Alzheimer's Foundation of America.") The proportion of people who are effected

People with down syndrome start to show signs and symptoms ten to twenty years earlier than other people. A gene contained in the extra chromosome that causes down syndrome significantly increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (Mayo Clinic Staff).

Alzheimer's is most common in people over the age of 65, and approximately 200,000 people under the age of 65 have early-onset Alzheimer's. The disease Alzheimer's worsens over time, it is a progressive disease. There are 7 stages in the progression of Alzheimer's. The first stage is ‘No Impairments. This is the stage where the disease is not detectable, there are no symptoms. The second stage is the ‘Very Mild Decline'. This is where the patient may begin to notice. The third stage is the ‘Mild Decline'. The mild decline is where friends and family begin to notice the patient has memory and cognitive problems. They begin having difficulty remembering names and dates. The fourth stage is the ‘Moderate Decline'. They have noticeable symptoms

This means that roughly five million Americans are directly affected, not to mention, the family members of the person diagnosed who have to care for their loved one. I know from personal experience, that this disease takes a toll not only on the person diagnosed but on the family. The family has to sit and watch this disease take the life out of their loved one with no way to help. The effect this has had on my family is why I took it upon myself to do more research and find more information. Alzheimer’s Association states that deaths due to Alzheimer’s Disease increased sixty-eight percent from the year 2000 to the year 2010. (Alz Association) That statistic baffles me because I cannot help but wonder why this horrible disease is becoming drastically more common with every passing second. The number of people diagnosed each year is not just increasing in America but worldwide. The United States is actually not the leading country, but is close behind Europe, where, Alzheimer Disease is most commonly found. This disease is less common in Africa and India, but they still have a high percentage of people diagnosed each year. Alzheimer’s disease is known to primarily be found in people over the age of 65, so researchers believe that the cases of the disease diagnosed are increasing due to population aging. “Epidemiology of Alzheimer’s Disease” states that worldwide population aging has become a “phenomenon” especially when dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the “...the projected number of older people (65+) in the world is expected to increase from 420 million in 2000 to nearly one billion by 2030…” (citation) Researchers believe that since the number of people over the age of sixty-five is increasing drastically, that the number of diagnoses a year will also increase

The first symptom noticeable in the early mid stage of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss (Caring concepts, 25). The rest of the brain works normally, however, so the person still moves, and feels things, sees, hears, and integrates information. The process of judgment, reasoning, and social skills are still normal. In the beginning stage of the disease process, probably no one will be aware of the problem. The person will appear normal and never consult a

That is approximately the number of people in the United States who have Alzheimer’s disease; with a tally of 36 million people worldwide. Experts predict that by 2030 that number will have doubled, and by 2050 tripled. Alzheimer’s is listed as the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. Recent studies, however, elevate it into 3rd place, right after cancer and heart disease.

Alzheimer’s is not due to old age although advanced age is a risk factor. Scientists believe that special cells in our brains that allow for communication are not working properly in the person with Alzheimer’s. They believe some of these cells are damaged or dead, which causes irreversible damage and contribute to the symptoms seen in Alzheimer. Initial symptoms may be short-term memory loss in the early stage. In the advanced stage, the person may present with increased cognitive difficulties such as reasoning, confusion, agitation and mood swings.

As Alzheimer is a progressive condition, it is usually difficult to identify it or recognize there is a problem with the person in question. In places like Africa where little is known about both dementia and Alzheimer, most people associate the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease with old age (since it affects mostly people above the age of 65). And thus, thinking it is natural, they do nothing about it. This might also be due to the fact that Alzheimer’s disease is rarer in Africa (developing countries in general) than in other parts of the world. It has been discovered that both environmental and cultural factors have a role in the acquisition of Alzheimer (Josefson, 2001). Besides, it is very important to diagnose Alzheimer early, so as to have the best chance of preparing for the future. Unfortunately, up to date, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. On the other hand, medications which can slow down the development of the disease and improve symptoms, are available, although these medications target the symptoms and not the disease itself. People who have contracted Alzheimer’s disease live for around 8 to 10 years on average. Some people might be luckier and live longer, but others not. Although Alzheimer’s disease is dangerous, it is not usually the main cause of death. Pneumonia, for example, is

“Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States”(“2015 Alzheimer’s…”). Today, more and more individuals are diagnosed with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. This disease is not curable and the symptoms get worse over a period of time. After a closer investigation on the causes, symptoms, effects, diagnosis, and treatments, one discovers the severity of this dreaded disease and how it is managed.

In 2016 5.4 million people have been recorded to have Alzheimer's in America alone, Alzheimer’s disease has grown more than nearly any disease in selected cause of death since 2000, in fact from 2000- 2013 the number of people who die from Alzheimer's has increased nearly 71%. Alzheimer's is 60%-70& of dementia cases and has a huge affects on patients friends and family