...Causes of sign and symptoms People with Alzheimer disease also develop deposits of protein and fibre that prevent the cells from working properly. When this happens, the cells can't send the right signals to other parts of the brain. Over time, brain cells affected by Alzheimer also begin to shrink and denature. Causes of sign and symptoms People with Alzheimer disease also develop deposits of protein and fibre that prevent the cells from working properly. When this happens, the cells can't send the right signals to other parts of the brain. Over time, brain cells affected by Alzheimer also begin to shrink and denature. How it affects the body body systems effected; Central Nervous System, Alzheimer disease is principally a disease of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. Digestive System- Alzheimer disease adversely affects the digestive system in several ways. Swallowing difficulties occur in people with Alzheimer’s, bowel control is also adversely affected with Alzheimer disease, faecal incontinence occurs in most people with advanced disease. Neuromuscular System- people with advanced Alzheimer lose the ability to use their muscles in fixed ways. Patients with late-stage disease typically lose their ability to walk. The ability to maintain posture to sit safely in a chair may also be lost. The muscles become increasingly rigid as control of the neuromuscular system declines. Physical effects; Apraxia- impairment to perform motor...
Words: 1154 - Pages: 5
...Alzheimer’s Disease: Not Just Loss of Memory This is a 8 page, 10 resource paper discussing Alzheimer’s disease, discussing the history, symptoms, diagnosis and hopes for a cure of the disease. Alzheimer’s Disease: Not Just Loss of Memory Introduction Alzheimer's disease, a neurodegenerative brain disease, is the most common cause of dementia. It currently afflicts about 4 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Furthermore, Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of mental impairment in elderly people and accounts for a large percentage of admissions to assisted living homes, nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities. Psychotic symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, have been reported in a large proportion of patients with this disease. In fact, it is the presence of these psychotic symptoms can lead to early institutionalization (Bassiony, et all, 2000). Learning about Alzheimer’s disease and realizing that it is much more that just a loss of memory can benefit the families of those with the disorder as well as society as a whole. The purpose of this paper is to look at the disorder, as well as to discuss the history, symptoms, diagnosis and hopes of a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. History Around the turn of the century, two kinds of dementia were defined by Emil Kraepin: senile and presenile. The presenile form was described more in detail by Alois Alzheimer as a progressive deterioration of...
Words: 2453 - Pages: 10
...| | Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. The basics Symptoms Changes in the brain | | Plaques & tangles Research | | Alzheimer's and dementia basics * Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Bottom of Form * Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging, although the greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer's are 65 and older. But Alzheimer's is not just a disease of old age. Up to 5 percent of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer's (also known as younger-onset), which often appears when someone is in their 40s or 50s. Learn more: Early Onset Alzheimer's and Risk Factors * Alzheimer's worsens over time. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Those with Alzheimer's live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but survival can range...
Words: 1086 - Pages: 5
...Alzheimer’s Disease: Not Just Loss of Memory Introduction Alzheimer's disease, a neurodegenerative brain disease, is the most common cause of dementia. It currently afflicts about 4 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Furthermore, Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of mental impairment in elderly people and accounts for a large percentage of admissions to assisted living homes, nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities. Psychotic symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, have been reported in a large proportion of patients with this disease. In fact, it is the presence of these psychotic symptoms can lead to early institutionalization (Bassiony, et all, 2000). Learning about Alzheimer’s disease and realizing that it is much more that just a loss of memory can benefit the families of those with the disorder as well as society as a whole. The purpose of this paper is to look at the disorder, as well as to discuss the history, symptoms, diagnosis and hopes of a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. History Around the turn of the century, two kinds of dementia were defined by Emil Kraepin: senile and presenile. The presenile form was described more in detail by Alois Alzheimer as a progressive deterioration of intellect, memory and orientation. As a neuropathologist, Alzheimer studied the case a 51 year-old woman. When she died, Alzheimer performed an autopsy and found that she had “cerebral atrophy”...
Words: 2422 - Pages: 10
...David What is Alzheimer Disease? Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in which the brain cells start to die causing memory loss and the ability to concentrate fade away. Alzheimer’s typically occurs first in the hippocampus, where we record new memories. It also attacks the cerebral cortex. Alzheimer is also characterized by reduced production of certain brain cells called the neurotransmitters which enable nerve cells to receive and send messages and help us to carry out innumerable functions both cognitive and physical. Nevertheless AD is common among people aged 65 it is not part of aging. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer disease, there are treatments that can at least positively influence the progression of the disease. Scientists now know that Alzheimer’s progresses at the spectrum disorder with three basic stages including preclinical (no signs or symptoms yet), mild cognitive impairment, (MIC) and the final stage Alzheimer dementia. At this time, doctors cannot predict with certainty which people of MIC will or will not develop the disease. The only way to know for certain that someone has AD is to examine a sample of their brain tissue after death. Alzheimer’s early stage Although every case of Alzheimer’s disease is different, experts have identified common warning sign of the brain disease. Since AD is not a normal part of aging, it is important to look for signs that might indicate Alzheimer’s disease versus simple forgetfulness...
Words: 913 - Pages: 4
...Culture and Disease HCS 245 December 15, 2011 Dementia is not a disease on its own. It is a term used in describing a vast array of symptoms related to the decline of mental function, starting with memory loss and eventually impeding on the ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association website, 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases are Alzheimer’s patients. Alzheimer's worsens over time. It is a progressive disease, where the symptoms gradually worsen over a period of several years. In its early stages, memory loss is minor. A person might start to forget little things, like if they turned the oven off or momentarily forget how to tie their shoes. When a person suffers from late-stage Alzheimer's, he or she loses the capability to carry on a conversation or respond to his or her environment. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Those who suffer from the disease live an average of eight years after their symptoms have progressed enough that the people around them start to notice. Although somewhere around eight years is the norm, it is not uncommon to hear of people living anywhere from four to 20 years after others notice. A big part of how fast a person declines depends on age and other health conditions. One major thing to remember is that Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging. The greatest known risk factor for this disease is increasing...
Words: 1149 - Pages: 5
...Alzheimer’s disease HCA/240 Veronica Brinson Mary Lou. Jenkins August 25, 2013 Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic progressive deterioration of the brain leading to dementia, incapacitation, and death. Dementia is a condition marked by memory loss plus a minimum of one other cognitive impairment. Alzheimer’s disease has been referred to as both the plaque of the ages and the plague of the aged. Alzheimer’s disease was so poorly understood that people who suffered this dementia were label as tormented, affected, pixilated, weird, afflicted, senile, mad, crazy, and spellbound. People with Alzheimer disease were feared, avoided, ignored, and ridiculed. Years and years went by peoples suffered terrible inhuman treatment when their families hid them away from other family members, the public, restrained them at home, locked them up in rooms, and committed them to insane asylums. There are many symptoms follow a set course of decline. There are a wide spectrum of demented actions every person will exhibit every symptom is a downhill regression follow a general pattern of mental regression and physical decline. People with the Alzheimer’s disease the earlier symptoms are recognized the greater chances are to slow and prevent the progression of dementia. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are short-term memory loss, confusion, disorientation, wandering, mood swing, sundowner’s syndrome, eating habits and weight loss(changes) personal care, depression, agitation...
Words: 946 - Pages: 4
...April 28, 2012 Prolonging the Inevitable Alzheimer’s disease was named after a German neuropathologist and psychiatrist by the name of Aloysius Alzheimer who is credited with identifying two symptoms of the disease; amyloid plaques and neurofribrillary tangles in the brain. It is important to understand that Alzheimer’s disease is not a type of dementia; it is simply a disease that causes dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is an incurable progressive disease that can take up to twenty years to advance, but typically takes between eight to ten painful years for the Alzheimer’s sufferer and their family. Christian Nordqvist author of What is Alzheimer’s Disease? What Causes Alzheimer’s Disease? states that “During the course of the disease plaques and tangles develop within the structure of the brain. This causes brain cells to die. Patients with Alzheimer’s also have a deficiency in the levels of some vital brain chemicals with are involved with transmission of messages in the brain – neurotransmitters” (1). The disease is typically broken down into three common stages that people experience: mild, moderate, and severe. As well as the duration, the length of each stage can vary depending on the person, as Rosemary Blieszner and Peggy A. Shifflett confirm in their article The effects of Alzheimer’s Disease on Close Relationships Between Patients and Caregivers, “This disease is very unpredictable in terms of duration and nature of symptoms, with some patients living many years after...
Words: 1781 - Pages: 8
...Alzheimer’s disease General Psychology Term Paper Assignment Monday Night Class Abstract In the society that we are living right now, we can find a lot of different kinds of illness and health problems. A large number of these diseases have a cure and they also have a happy end; but there is one that does not. Over the past 20 years, Alzheimer’s disease came from an unknown dark side. Once studied as a strange disorder; it is one of the most common health problems that affect a lot of people around the world and their families. More of a 90% of Alzheimer’s disease cases shows up in people around 60 years old. Even do we ignore how this treats starts; science people have found that the change inside the brain starts 10 to 20 years before we can observe the symptoms. Knowing a little more about this illness, will help us to understand these people that are in need of love, attention and comprehension. Alzheimer’s disease In the society that we are living right now, we can find a lot of different kinds of illness and health problems. A lot of these diseases have a cure and they also have a happy end; but there is one that does not. Alzheimer’s disease is a very ordinary illness that severely affects our society, specially the older population. It is a fact that we have to deal with. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there that suffer...
Words: 2369 - Pages: 10
...Alzheimer’s disease is surprisingly the most expensive disease out of a patient with heart disease, and someone with cancer (Alzheimer’s association) Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. It was first described in 1906, and has been majorly researched since then. Care takers dealing with an Alzheimer’s patient is affected by the multiple complex symptoms, the major costs of caring for them, and the medication used to help treat the patient. There are many behavioural, physical, and psychological symptoms that come out of having Alzheimer’s disease. A lot of the effects tend to mix and cause many more symptoms to occur. Some of the physical effects will also have a behavioural effect on the patient. For example once the decreased...
Words: 1027 - Pages: 5
...Understanding Alzheimer’s disease What Is Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease is a neurologic disorder that affects the brain. It causes dementia. Its earliest and main symptom is steadily increasing memory loss. Problems with getting lost, language, and emotional control are also common. These deficits may worsen over five to 20 years. Treatments can help maintain thinking, memory, and speaking skills. No treatments can currently change or reverse the disease. But, there are many ways to help maintain quality of life. What Is the Difference between Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia? As the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease has improved, researchers now recognize that it is a process that can occur in people who initially have no symptoms. When Alzheimer’s disease causes very mild symptoms, the process is now referred to as mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease. When the symptoms begin to interfere with daily functioning, that phase of the illness is referred to as dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is a term that means the person has significant difficulty in daily life due to problems with thinking and memory. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. What Causes Alzheimer’s disease? The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not yet known. Some people may have genes that put them at higher risk for Alzheimer’s. Genetics is the likely cause when the disease strikes people in their 40s or 50s. But most people who get Alzheimer’s dementia...
Words: 789 - Pages: 4
...Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia that develops in an old age. The initial symptoms may appear as early as at 40 years of age, and after 70 years the rate goes up 30 percent more. A sharp deterioration in the memory is the first symptom of Alzheimer's disease. Later on, person loses an orientation in time, where new information is poorly stored and is constantly blended with memories of the past. More frightening symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are the loss of identity, delusions, hallucinations and other mental disorders, when, in general, not quite old person completely drops out of life. Today, the results of clinical trials for drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease are still far from satisfactory. However, the results...
Words: 266 - Pages: 2
...Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that is the most common form of dementia. Its onset affects 24.3 million people in the United States (Leifer, 2009, p. 588). The earlier symptoms of this disease are memory loss and decline of cognitive functions. These symptoms are often overlooked as the normal signs of aging. Alzheimer’s often is not diagnosed until it has progressed to the more debilitating stages. Fewer than 50% of people with the disease are currently diagnosed. Awareness of the pathology of the disease and understanding risk factors and early signs of Alzheimer’s is vital to prevention as well as providing a patient with an early successful treatment. There are multiple risk factors which contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, age being the greatest. Alzheimer’s disease is increasing in occurrence with 1 percent in adults’ age 60 years to nearly 45 percent in those age 85 years and older (Wierenga & Bondi, 2011, p. 37). There are genetic risk factors that also play a role with developing Alzheimer’s. Early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease has been linked to the presence of genetic mutations on chromosomes 21, 14 and chromosomes 1. Mutations found on chromosome 19 are a well-known genetic risk factor for late onset Alzheimer’s disease and may be the cause for 50 percent of the risk for developing it. Additional risk factors include cerebrovascular disease such as stroke, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, systolic hypertension...
Words: 879 - Pages: 4
...Alzheimer's disease was discovered by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, who did a great deal of research in the early 20th century regarding the disease. Research implies that there are some risk factors that seem to be linked in people with Alzheimer's disease. Much research has been done to try and track the origin of Alzheimer's disease, and many include environmental and genetic causes. (3) Alzheimer's is classified into two types; familial AD, which runs in families and follows inheritance patterns, and sporadic AD, in which no clear pattern of inheritance is found. Family history is considered a major risk factor. Individuals who have a relative with the disease are much more likely to develop it themselves. (4) Alzheimer's affects over four million people in the United Stares. Researchers predict that as the baby boomer generation begins to age, Alzheimer's could impact as many as 14 million people nationwide. The number of Alzheimer's cases is growing rapidly, afflicting 10% or more of people aged 65 or older and almost half of those over age 85. Alzheimer's is slightly more prevalent in woman than men. (3) Aging greatly increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is usually seen in those over age 65, a rare and threatening type of Alzheimer's can occur in younger people in their 40s and 50s. This type is usually a result of family history or traumatic brain injuries experienced earlier in life. Aging in normally associated with the decline in the abilities to remember...
Words: 2052 - Pages: 9
...current treatments exist to help with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease but as of today there is no known cure for the disease. Most treatment options include drug therapy and non-drug approaches such as behavioral and environmental modifications. Cognitive enhancers are medications that attempt to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s symptoms. According to Esther Heerema MSW (Alzheimer’s Dementia Expert) two classes of medication have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s. They are Cholinesterase Inhibitors and N-Methyl D-Aspartate (NMDA) Antagonists. (http://alzheimers.about.com/od/treatmentofalzheimers/a/Treatment-Of-Alzheimers-Disease.htm) Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger important for learning and memory. This supports communication among nerve cells by keeping acetylcholine levels high. Researchers have found lower levels of acetylcholine in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. They delay worsening of symptoms for 6 to 12 months, on average, for about half the people who take them. If side effects occur, they commonly include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements. There are three Cholinesterase inhibitors medications: Donepezil (Aricept) is approved to treat all stages of Alzheimer's. Rivastigmine (Exelon) is approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's. Galantamine (Razadyne) is approved...
Words: 931 - Pages: 4
