Final Research Paper Ryan Hermes Health 106 SP 13

“Alzheimer’s Disease; A Disease Without A Cure” Alzheimer’s disease, otherwise known as dementia, is a genetic disease that causes the brain to deteriorate until death. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and once the diagnosis is given the disease only gets worse. The disease isn’t very well understood, however researchers are working to help treat the symptoms of the disease. With all of the advancements in medicine there are no treatments available to stop or reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. In 1901 a German psychiatrist named Alois Alzheimer’s documented the first recorded case of Alzheimer’s disease. He studied a woman named Auguste Deter, she was a woman in her fifties who had severe early onset Alzheimer’s disease, and she died in 1906. After her death, Alzheimer’s worked with two Italian physicians on staining techniques to study Auguste’s brain. He noted certain plaques that infiltrated her brain, however technology could only go so far at the time so the results of the brain examination were speculative. Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain in a way that causes its victims to lose some or most of their memory. This causes the patient to forget things such as who they are, who their relatives are, where they are, how to get home, or even when or how to eat. These problems make caring for the patient difficult because the care person has to do almost everything for the person affected. This puts a feeling of guilt upon the family because they feel that they should care for their own family members. The places where the patients do go provide all the needs that a person with Alzheimer’s disease could need. This includes: feeding, clothing, exercise, giving medication, take care of personal hygiene and what not. Taking care of Alzheimer’s patients is one of the hardest job because when your taking care of them, your taking care of baby, that is experiencing everyday things for the first time again. Treatments for Alzheimer’s disease have been in wide demand in the last 50 years. Researchers are looking for new ways to treat Alzheimer's. Current drugs help mask the symptoms of Alzheimer's, but do not treat the underlying disease. A breakthrough Alzheimer's drug would treat the underlying disease and stop or delay the cell damage that eventually leads to the worsening of symptoms. There are several promising drugs in development and testing, but we need more volunteers to complete clinical trials of those drugs and increased federal funding of research to ensure that fresh ideas continue to fill the pipeline. The latest in finding a cure has led to the treatment of leprosy and arthritis. The treatment of both leprosy and arthritis involves large doses of medications known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs include such common, over-the-counter medications as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, but not acetaminophen (Tylenol). With women being at a greater risk for contacting Alzheimer’s disease, the use of estrogen after menopause has lowered the risk. Estrogen boosts the production of acetylcholine, a key chemical neurotransmitter involved in the transmission of nerve impulses across the tiny gaps between nerve cells. In addition, estrogen improves blood flow through the brain and enhances verbal abilities of postmenopausal women who take hormone replacement therapy. The genetic mechanisms of familial Alzheimer’s remain largely unexplained, but a few genetic mutations have been identified that greatly increase risk in some families. Research has focused on specific abnormalities of genes on chromosomes 1, 14, and 21. A mutation in chromosome 21 causes Down syndrome. Instead of having a pair of this chromosome, people with Down syndrome are born with three. Down causes a characteristic physical appearance, and a particular form of mental retardation. Until fairly recently, people with this condition usually died in their thirties, but today, many live longer. If people with Down syndrome live into their forties and fifties, they almost always develop Alzheimer’s disease. On autopsy, the brains of Down and Alzheimer’s s sufferers are often indistinguishable. Chromosome 21 contains the gene for amyloid precursor protein, or APP, which appears to play a role in the deposition of beta-amyloid, the substance involved in the senile plaques of Alzheimer’s s disease. People with Down syndrome appear to produce extra APP, which in turn leads to unusually high levels of beta-amyloid peptide. The defects on chromosome 14 occur in a gene called presenilin 1. It appears to play a major role in early-onset hereditary Alzheimer’s s disease, accounting for up to 80 percent of cases of this type of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease is typically comprised of seven different stages. The first stage is a mix of no impairment and very mild decline. The onset stage can last for a period of up to five years. Onset stage symptoms often appear very gradually, symptoms include: minor memory loss, particularly short-term memories. The patient may have difficulty in using the right words for a simple conversation. Work performance tends to decline and distinct changes in behavior may start to become evident. The second stage, the mild to moderate decline stages is characterized by: problems with language function, which is typically the most obvious sign of progression into the progressive stage. People in this stage may have difficulty remembering the names of common objects, or maintaining a coherent conversation. Severe changes in personality may begin to become apparent, and behavior is noted by: paranoia, delusions, and illogical thoughts or actions. Within this stage, patients are often confused with day-to-day tasks, which can frustrate them or people close to the patient. They may also have difficulty understanding directions or instructions. People with Alzheimer’s disease often become confused when it comes what day it is, where they are, and whom they are with. Memory loss is more obvious in this stage than the early onset stage. They may also begin to experience loss of self-care skills, including the ability for maintaining hygiene. This stage can last over a decade. In the third stage of Alzheimer’s disease, patients experience substantial memory dysfunction. This stage includes moderate decline, and moderately severe decline Basic cognitive skills like eating and drinking are forgotten. Because of eating problems, many people experience a substantial loss in weight, up to 20-30 percent. They may eventually lose their ability to maintain balance and walk. Their ability to recognize other persons and their environment is gone. Both long- and short-term memories are lost. At this stage, persons affected require complete 24-hour care and often become bedridden and inactive. Because of this, they are at increased risk for ant infection, especially pneumonia, and consequently are far more likely to die. These changes, leading to death, may last for three of more years. In the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease, severe and very severe decline is noted. These stages the patient will display the following dysfunctions: problems distinguishing familiar and unfamiliar faces but have trouble remembering the name of a spouse or caregiver, they need help dressing properly and may, without supervision, make mistakes such as putting pajamas over daytime clothes or shoes on the wrong feet, patients also experience major changes in sleep patterns — sleeping during the day and becoming restless at night, needing help handling details of toileting (for example, flushing the toilet, wiping or disposing of tissue properly) and have increasingly frequent trouble controlling their bladder or bowels. The disease has ran it’s course when the patient may experience major personality and behavioral changes, including suspiciousness and delusions (such as believing that their caregiver is an impostor) or compulsive, repetitive behavior like hand wringing or tissue shredding, they also tend to wander or get lost. The research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease remains incredibly important. Organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) have information available for families or people who are susceptible to this crippling disease. The organization is a non-profit that was formed in 1980 to advance research and enhance care for people living with the disease. There are numerous nonprofit organizations that provide help to end this horrible disease. This research project was especially eye opening for me, because my grandmother had Alzheimer’s disease, and I remember how painful it was to watch her go through the symptoms. I didn’t always understand what she was going through, or what was actually happening to her brain. It was interesting to learn about the various stages of the disease, and to find out what was happening on the inside. I am grateful to have a better understanding of this disease, I know that there are numerous activities that older people can do to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Overall, this is a disease that affects millions of people worldwide; almost everyone I know has a family member or knows of someone with this disease. This research paper has taught me a lot about the ins and outs of this disease, prior to this paper I had little knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease, now I have a much better understanding of the disease. Word Count: 1507