...Alzheimer’s is becoming common amongst elderly people ranging from ages 65 and older. About 5.3 million of Americans of all ages have this disease (Association A., 2015). Alzheimer’s is a reversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest everyday tasks. This disease develops slowly and worsens over time. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over the years. Those with this disease live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but survival can range from four to 20 years, depending on age and other health conditions. This disease is not a normal part of aging, although the greatest...
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...Analysis of Alzheimer’s Disease based on the D.N. case study. D.N. developed Alzheimer’s disease at age 50. Early signs were vague and included occasional errors in judgment and increased criticism of others, noted only in retrospect. Several years later, following several episodes of extreme anger, a diagnosis of Alzheimer was made. At this time, it was suspected that his father also had AD but had died from an unrelated cause before the diagnosis was could be made […] The neurologist prescribed gelantamine, an anticholinesterase inhibitors and regular attendance at a group center offering appropriate activities […] The degeneration progresses rapidly over the next 2 years. The maximum dose of galantamine is no longer effective. He is confused about any change and not capable of performing simple activities. Communication is impaired, including that with family members […] (Gould, Dyer, 2010 p.527) Although aging is a natural part of human existence, it is also considered the most difficult phase of ones life. Social, psychological and financial factors may remind a person that the quality of their every day is not what it used to be, but the physical changes that take place in the human body are the ones that affect aged people the most. Among a long list of conditions and diseases that are prevalent in the elderly population, forms of dementia are the ones that not only lead to unavoidable health impairment but...
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...Introduction: Affecting 64% of all dementia cases (Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, 2014), Alzheimer’s disease is a growing problem today. With close to 90 000 cases of dementia reported in the greater Toronto area (GTA) (Hopkins, 2010) and the number continuing to rise, it is a widespread problem in society. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by memory loss, difficulty completing daily tasks, confusion, communication problems, and emotional and social changes (Alzheimer’s Association, 2014). Alzheimer’s disease is most common from age 65 onward. There is no cure to alzheimer’s disease, and the exact mechanisms are unclear. Current research suggests that plaques and tangles are responsible for the destruction of neurones, leading to symptoms...
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...Epidemiology of Alzheimer' Disease Ronya Bentz NUR/408 March 4, 2013 Patricia Schwartz Epidemiology of Alzheimer' Disease According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is “not just the absence of mental disorder but as a state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” (Perry, Presley-Cantrell, and Dhingra 2010). Mental illness, “refers collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders that are characterized by alteration in thinking, mood or behavior (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning” (Perry, Presley-Cantrell, and Dhingra 2010). Mental health is an increasing concern with the vulnerable population of the elderly across America. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are the two leading psychiatric diseases effecting the elderly, causing deterioration of intellectual functioning. Scientists cannot completely comprehend the etiology and progress of these two diseases. Scientists have learned that both diseases have signs and symptoms parallel to one another (Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, 2011). It is important to get a better perception of the development of these diseases, so the importance of understanding epidemiology is relevant...
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...the Research Process The article “Are abnormal premorbid personality traits associated with Alzheimer’s disease?-A case-control study” is very informative for those researching such cases. This paper will provide an explanation as to how the research for the above article was conducted. Research is a vital process that consists of very specific stages which result in new conclusions. These stages consist of selecting an issue to conduct research on, formulate a hypothesis, reviewing the provided information, identifying each different aspect, providing an explanation, and analyzing the information/data in order to formulate a conclusion. Just as the article is titled, this is a case-control study. Each participant and informant which will be explained provided consent, whether it was written or verbal. This design of research was utilized to identify and provide factors which are believed to possibly play a role in certain medical conditions. As any other research is conducted and hypotheses are formed, a comparison must be made to establish the case. In this study, there were 217 participants which have onset Alzheimer’s disease. Out of the 217 participants, there were 57 males and 160 females. This portion of participants was grouped between the ages of 67 to 98 years of age. The control groups were made up of 76 siblings who do not have the same condition, Alzheimer’s. This group consisted of 32 males and 44 females, and was between the ages of 61-68 years of...
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...The Study Of Alzheimer’s What exactly is Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder that occurs in the brain in which specific brain cells degenerate, causing memory loss, and impairs thinking and behavior. It usually develops in people in their 60’s or early 70”s, and approximately 4 million Americans suffer from this disease and 100 million die each year. The risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease: There are 3 genes when mutated that cause Alzheimer’s disease. * APP gene (amyloid precursor protein) (chromosome 21) is expressed in the synapse and is thought to be responsible for forming and repairing synapses. Mutations of the APP gene have been associated with Alzheimer ’s disease and with early onset in particular. A primary cause of Alzheimer’s disease is deposits of a protein called amyloid-beta as plaques in the brain. Beta amyloid is released following cleavage of APP at a number of points, and mutations can lead to an increase in production of protein. More than 20 mutations of the APP gene haven been and cause early onset of Alzheimer’s disease. * Presenilin 1 gene (chromosome 14) and Presenilin 2 gene ( chromosome 19) are proteins that span the cell membrane and are primarily expressed in neurons. They also determine secretase activity, which is responsible for cleaving the amyloid precursor protein (APP). In sum APP cleavage can produce amyloid-beta, which is the primary component of plaques in the brains of Alzheimer patients...
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...Professor Staab Psychology 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...
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...suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. It is confusing how some people use these names interchangeably. While Alzheimer’s disease and dementia have similar characteristics, the treatment for the disease is based on symptoms as well as how the diseases are acquired. Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia so they are very closely related. (Fraller, 2013) Knowing the slight differences between the two diseases could, in some cases, mean a cure. Both Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are caused by a dysfunction in the brain. In Alzheimer’s disease, there is a loss of brain cells brought on by age. Studies have shown that 10% of all people over the age of 65 and 50% of people over the age of 85 have Alzheimer’s. Out of all those people, only 1% of them inherited the disease. Someone who has experienced multiple head injuries or high insulin levels are also at a greater risk of acquiring Alzheimer’s. On the other hand, dementia is caused by changes to the brain. These changes may be caused by a stroke, brain tumors, or even head injuries. Diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, hyperthyroidism, B12 deficiency, and fluid build-up on the brain have also been known to cause dementia. (Healthwise Incorporated, 2011) Once the causes of the two diseases have been determined, it is important to discuss the symptoms. The similarities between the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are typically what dupe people into thinking they are the same disease. Both diseases will cause...
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...Health Care Sector (2162) Lakendra Williams Stakeholder Analysis Professor Scott Burleson January 24, 2016 The stakeholder organization that I chose was Alzheimer’s Association. The association started in 1980 and had been in business for over 30 years. The association is a the largest nonprofit, health organization that provides support for people that may be dealing with the disease and their loved ones. The Alzheimer’s Association works on a global, and national level to fund research to find a cure for the disease. The disease can affect people that are 40 and up with 40's being and early onset of the disease. “As the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research, the Association is committed to accelerating the global progress of new treatments, preventions and ultimately, a cure. (Alz.org 2016)”. The mission of the Alzheimer's Association is: "To eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health (Alz.org 2016) Alzheimer's disease comes in three different stages. After being diagnosed with the disease, it seems that people only live a few years after the diagnosis. Having an association that fights for and advocate for those with Alzheimer’s will eventually help millions of people. “(The Alzheimer’s Association host support groups (Alz.org 2016.)", they ensure...
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...Cierra Myers Comp 1 3-26-14 According to an article titled “Methods Based on Speech Analysis Oriented to Automatic Alzheimer Disease Diagnosis”, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia among elderly people in Western countries and it has a large socioeconomic cost to society which is expected to increase in the near future”. There are a lot of things that people do to try and fight Alzheimer’s and usually they come up short. At this point in time Alzheimer’s is a disease that doesn’t have a cure. There is a lot of research and experiments happening to try and develop something for it. Alzheimer’s is said to be very high costly. Which is true, you have to pay for hospitals, nurses, homes, medicines and everything else eventually adds up. People don’t realize the effect the disease has on not only the person with it but the family as well. Growing up my family was extremely close. Every Sunday all the kids would go to Sunday school and church with my grandfather. While we were at Sunday school my great grandmother was cooking, she would always cook the same thing, breakfast tacos and tamales. Everyone in the family would come over and eat with us. After Sunday school my grandfather would meet all the kids at the church and sit through the service with us. Being a little kid we really didn’t want to sit through church for an hour, so all the kids knew if our parents didn’t show up and it was just grandpa we were leaving church early. When we arrived back...
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...Alzheimer’s Disease Kathryn Hardcastle, PSY 340 February 5, 2012 Chris Garwick-Foley Alzheimer ’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes a gradual and irreversible decline of cognitive abilities (Feldman, 2010, p. 325). Informally known as “old timers” disease, it strikes more than half of the elderly community greater than age 85 (Feldman, 2010). In addition to the loss of memory there are also major neurological, functional, and behavioral changes as well. There are a few risk factors including age, family history, and head injuries. There is no definitive way of predicting that a person will get Alzheimer’s, but there are genetic markers and neurological tests that can signify a person’s chances at acquiring Alzheimer’s later in life (Association, 2012). Although there is no cure at this time there are methods to treating symptoms, and leading a healthy lifestyle, eating right, and staying fit both mentally and physically can help with prevention. Defining Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease is neurological and affects short-term memory, behavior, the ability to match words with familiar objects, and attention span. The disease is degenerative with the gradual loss of neurological function. Alzheimer’s is distinguished from other dementias by the presence of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (Swaminathan, 2011). These create a disruption in the synapses responsible for critical thinking and changes in...
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...Amanda Farrington Research paper October 17, 2014 Despite the forgetfulness, we have of the seriousness of Alzheimer’s disease; the behind the scenes action is what we need to be taking a look at. Researcher is now choosing different routes of prevention, treatment and diagnostic studies to solve this serious illness. Which different stages of diagnosis it’s difficult to find the target of what triggers the disease. With the majority of patients being diagnosed being of the elderly stage of life, testing different options is risky because of old age. As many years and millions have gone on to find the cure to stop this tragic illness that overcomes thousands of loved ones every year, scientist have decided to step back and make a strategy. With so many failed attempts of curing this disease, they decided to find an attack approach before being diagnosed. Studies have gone into the smallest detail to find common traits that those diagnosed have. While this is an endless and tedious process, they continued. Scientist have discovered that there are ways to lower the risks of being diagnosed with the disease in the future. Although there is no cure once diagnosed, there have been studies found on how to lessen your chances of getting it. Multiple articles, including National Institute of Agings “alheimer’s prevention”, state that vitamins are always a natural and healthy route as well as anti inflammatory drugs. While a healthy diet and exercise can be effective...
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...Possibilities of preventing dementia One in 10 people age 65 and older (10 percent) has Alzheimer's dementia (Alzheimer’s Association, 2016 ). Over the course of many years, there has been an increase in people that have been diagnosed with dementia, a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental process caused by brain disease or injury. Studies have shown that there has been a decrease in memory loss when they’re older by living a certain lifestyle while they are young. Other studies have shown that dementia develops naturally and you do not know when to expect it. Dementia is to describe all the disease that are related to memory loss. Extensive analysis from cases of dementia and controls suggests that Alzheimer's disease is a primary irreversible nerve-cell disorder and not the result of accelerated ageing (Elsevier Ltd, 1979 ). Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells. People with dementia may have problems with short-term memory, keeping track of a...
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...Research Proposal Psych/610 Kristina England University of Phoenix Janice McMurray August 30, 2013 Research Proposal I. Introduction “Alzheimer’s disease causes 50% to 60% of all dementias and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and is the fifth leading cause among persons age 65 and older” (Heron, 2009). II. Seniors with dementia A. “Dementia is the progressive deterioration in cognitive function - the ability to process thought (intelligence)” (Nordqvist, 2013, pp. 1). “Dementia is a non-specific syndrome in which affected areas of brain function may be affected, such as memory, language, problem solving and attention” (Nordqvist, 2013, pp. 3). Dementia is most commonly seen in the elderly. B. Symptoms include; memory loss, moodiness, and communication difficulty. C. Causes of dementia include; Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, dementia with Lewy bodies, Fronto-temporal dementia, Huntington’s disease, and many other diseases. D. Two main categories 1. Cortical Dementia-“The cerebral cortex is affected. This is the outer layer of the brain. The cerebral cortex is vital for cognitive processes, such as language and memory. Alzheimer's disease is a form of cortical dementia, as is CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease)” (Nordqvist, 2013, pp. 9). 2. Subcortical Dementia-“A part of the brain beneath the cortex (deeper inside) becomes affected or damaged. Language and memory...
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...Alzheimer's Disease and its Link to the Normal Human Developmental Process of Aging Angel M. Perez Liberty University Abstract The cause of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is currently unknown. However, extensive studies using new technology has led to new ways of accurately identifying AD, an understanding of the mechanisms involved regarding the development of AD, and the damage it causes in the human brain. The general population is under the impression that AD is a result of the normal human developmental process of aging. The focus of this research is to dismiss this misconception by providing indisputable empirical evidence to the contrary. This paper looks at the various studies explored by researchers in an attempt to show the factors attributed to AD, a population over the age of 65 that do not suffer from AD, and a population of as young as 18 clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The author also addresses life style, environmental, and genetic risk factors attributed to the development of AD. Alzheimer's Disease and its Link to the Normal Human Developmental Process of Aging Contrary to popular belief, studies show that Alzheimer’s disease is not part of the normal human developmental process of aging. It is imperative that researchers acknowledge that AD is not part of the normal aging process. Researchers must keep an open mind during the research and experimental process, exploring all plausible arguments, in order to discover the cause(s) and/or...
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