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Alzheimer's Disease Research Paper

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Can you remember what you did on May 8th of last year? Most likely not, but that’s common with people who lives are just so busy and it’s just too much to keep up with. Or remember when you were a teenager and your parents’ friends would come up to you and say “Look how much you’ve grown! Do you remember me?” The answer was typically no, but that is also normal. Now if your children were to approach you and you are unware of who they are, there may be a problem. You may be showing signs of Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that continues to destroy the memory and thinking skills within a human body. It is also the most common form of dementia. It was first discovered by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1906, when he examined …show more content…
According to the Alzheimer’s Association (n.d.), the first and most common symptom is the loss of memory at an early stage. This happens because the disease begins to change the part of the brain that is necessary for learning. Along with memory loss, during the mild stage of Alzheimer’s disease the individual may start forgetting names of people, misplacing objects, and are unable to plan events. Most individuals are diagnosed with the disease in the mild stage. The moderate stage can last for years which is why it’s known as the longest stage of Alzheimer’s. People who are in the moderate stage begin feeling confused about certain things such as who certain people are, things that have happened in their lives, what day it is, and dressing for the appropriate season. They begin to have trouble using the bathroom and sleeping at night. They also may have hallucinations and one of the biggest signs, wandering and getting lost. Behavioral and mood swings happen during this stage because the nerve cells in the brain that are used to express thoughts and feelings are damaged. The last stage is the severe stage. This happens to be the worst stage of Alzheimer’s disease and during it, individuals are mostly unable to perform certain activities like walking, talking, and eating. They have a difficult time understanding their surroundings and have a weakened immune system. Some families choose to put the severe patients in …show more content…
There is no actual cure to Alzheimer’s disease however, there are medications to manage the mental and behavioral functions. Cholinesterase inhibitors, Aricept, Razadyne, and Exelon, are medicines used to slow down the process of a neurotransmitter breaking down. This will prevent the communication ability from destroying so rapidly. Another medication used is Namenda. This particular medicine controls a neurotransmitter, glutamate, that is located in the brain used for learning and memory (Alzheimer’s Association,

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