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a brief history of alzheimer's disease
alzheimer's disease introduction paper
introduction for alzheimer's disease
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Appreciating Alzheimer’s disease The Alzheimer’s disease was discovered and named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown but certain features have been identified. This disease has different stages mild, moderate and advanced. As it relates to people with early-onset Alzheimer’s, a genetic mutation is usually the mainspring. People who have the Late-onset Alzheimer’s originates from a complicated series of brain changes that occur over a long period of time. Current drug treatments are given to slow down the cognitive damage temporally. Scientist are currently researching that the disease may be triggered by different factors however age is the most known factor . This nerve racking disease called Alzheimer’s also known as AD was discovered in 1906 by Dr Alois Alzheimer a German physician, this was not considered a critical Disease until the 1970s.It all began with a documented case of a woman by the name Of Auguste D in her in fifties who showed signs of a cognitive disorder as it relates to her memory and socializing with her family. She later died and this great physician decided to do an autopsy on her brain, he then noticed a shrinkage in and around the nerve cells of her brain which led significantly to the discovery of this disease. There were many persons who contributed significantly to making this disease known like Emil kraepelin who worked along with Dr Alois but the great Robert katzman a New York pathologist who in the 1970’s made it recognizable where it became a major public health issue in the aging population. The Alzheimer’s disease affects ones memory, behavior and the way they think (1). The symptoms of this disease slowly worsen overtime where it affec... ... middle of paper ... ... how it progresses. These findings definitely sheds light for people who would like to know how amyloid plaques and tau build up in the brain. References 1. Knopman DS (2009). Alzheimer disease and other dementing illnesses. In EG Nabel, ed., ACP Medicine, section 11, chap. 11. Hamilton, ON: BC Decker. 2. Wilcock GK, Esiri MM (1982) Plaques, tangles and dementia . A quantitative study. J Neurol Sci 57: 407 – 417 3. ACT on Alzheimer’s. (2014) Alzheimer’s disease Curriculum, Module III: Societal Impact. What roles does tau play in the biological makeup of Alzheimer’s? 4. McKee AC, Kosik KS, Kowall NW (1991) Neuritic pathology and dementia in Alzheimer’s disease. Ann Neurol 30: 156 – 165 5. Braak H, Braak E (1991) Neuropathological stageing of Alzheimer-related changes. Acta Neuropathol (Berlin) 82: 239 – 259»6. 6. Judith London PhD (2009) connecting the dots
The disease called Alzheimer’s is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States (Weiner, 1987). It is estimated that the elderly population will double between now and 2030. During this period, the number of elderly will grow by an average of 2.8% annually (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001). By 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer’s is estimated to range from 11.3 million to 16 million (Alzheimer’s Association, 2005). These startling numbers should prompt an examination into one of the leading causes of death among this group of people. Understanding what Alzheimer’s is and the known causes of the disease are a good starting point. For those who have aging family members, knowing the risk factors and warning signs of Alzheimer’s can be beneficial to both the patient and his family. Finally, once the patient has been diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s, a plan for treatment as well as providing the family and caregivers with a support system can help ease those involved through a very challenging, heartbreaking time.
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that affects cognitive function in the elderly population. The exact cause of the disease is unknown but may include genetic as well as environmental factors. A progression of specific neurological changes allows the progression of the disease. Short-term memory losses along with dementia are typical symptoms of the disease. A definite diagnosis of the disease currently can only be confirmed by an autopsy. The disease progresses in five stages that will vary with every patient. There is no current acceptable treatment to reverse or stop the progression of the disease.
Although Alzheimer’s disease appears to be the most common cause of dementia, “more than 50 conditions are associated with dementia, including degenerative ...
Alzheimer’s is a result from a combination of factors that cause progressive brain deterioration that affects the memory and behavior of an individual. There are two known risk factors. The first risk factor is age. Alzheimer’s usually affects people older than 60, and rarely affects those younger than 40. The average age
In the 17th and the 19th century dementia was synonymous with insanity. Still many knew that people with this disease suffered from permanent damage that was irreversible unlike mental disorders where the brain remains intact (2006). Dementia was often known as senile which is common with old age. Studies through the years have shown that it is much more serious and causes damage to areas of the brain. Alois Alzheimer in 1910 noticed tangles, plaques, and arterio...
Alzheimer’s disease was first postulated by the Bavarian psychiatrist by the name of Alois Alzheimer in 1906, however very little was known about the illness (Selkoe). Today, it is well documented that Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of the mental disorder known as dementia. Furthermore, dementia affects an estimated 25 million people in the world (Dalvi). The National Institute of Aging, under the purview of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines Alzheimer’s disease as “an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.” Alzheimer’s disease, like most diseases, has levels of severity and get worse of the course of time. In early or “mild” stage of Alzheimer’s disease, the person might start exhibiting issues that could include “wandering and getting lost, trouble handling money and paying bills, repeating questions, taking...
In the modern age scientists and researchers are constantly discovering new diseases and disorders that affect the human body. With technology improving and new equipment being introduced it enables scientists to gain more knowledge about the disorders than ever before. During the last century a German physician by the name of Alois Alzheimer linked a patient’s memory loss to her brain autopsy which displayed signs of brain shrinkage. His discovery is now known today as Alzheimer’s disease; which is a form of dementia and is a psychological disease that causes the brain to deteriorate. In today’s day and age, there are still many unanswered questions about Alzheimer’s disease (Crider, A., Goethals, G., Kavanough, R., & Solomon, P. 1989). A few known facts are that Alzheimer’s disease is it is most commonly found in elderly humans, with majority of carriers being age 60 or older. It is important to note that Alzheimer’s disease is not an old person’s disease and that it can also be found in adults of younger ages. Furthermore, there are two forms of Alzheimer’s disease. The two forms are called Early-onset which is found in adults ages 30-59 and Late-Onset which is more common and occurs in adults ages 60 and up. Alzheimer’s disease may not be curable, however with the right information it can be easy to conquer (Alzheimer and Dementia Resources).
Alzheimer’s disease is believed to be a result from a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that affect the brain over time. It is stated that less than five percent of the time Alzheimer's is caused by specific genetic changes that virtually guarantee a person will develop the disease. It is not yet fully understood the actual causes of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s affects the minds ability to function, and only worsens over time, to the point were you have to be cared for hourly. While there is not a cure for it, an interest by scientists sparks the desire to find one. The topic appealed to me because while it seems that Alzheimer’s doesn’t have much depth, it is actually a very complicated.
Alzheimer’s disease comes from the last name of a neuro-psychiatrist from Germany, Alois Alzheimer. The disease was first diagnosed when a woman in her early fifties began experience memory problems. “Alzheimer recounted the now famous case of ‘Auguste D.’ a 51-year-old housewife who had been failing mentally for several years. As a result she had been admitted to his care in the Asylum for the Insane and Epileptic…” (Maurer and Maurer 1). After her death, he continued to examine her brain to find causes and explanations for her behavior. He discovered “…classic neuro-pathological signs of plaques and tangles” (Maurer and Maurer 1). “Plaques are chains of amino acids that are pieces of the amyloid precursor protein…tangles are aggregates of the protein tau” (Secko 1). As plaques develop they produce tangles and “these two abnormalities ultimately lead to loss of cognitive function” (Secko 1) Alois Alzheimer’s research has allowed many specialist to conclude that the apolipoproetein E gene may contribute to the disease.
The first case of dementia was discovered in 1906 by a German physiatrist Alois Alzheimer. It was first observed in a female patient and she was forty-one years old her name was Auguste D. Dr. Alzheimer observed a decline in the patient’s cognitive abilities. She lost her memory, she exhibited behavioral issues, and she suffered from hallucinations, lost the ability to comprehend language, disorientation and lost her speech. After Augusta’s passing Dr. Alzheimer preformed an autopsy that showed the classic triangles and knots we associate today with Alzheimer. Those triangles and knots are a proteins and plaque. The brain is self looked smaller and had distinct characteristics. Still with modern medicine the only way to diagnose a person with Alzheimer is after their death with an autopsy. (THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT, 2014).
Purpose – I want to bring awareness to the fact that Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.
- Alzheimer’s: disease is a physical disease of the brain with progressive damage that causes dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events such as short term memory. The disease advances, symptoms can include problems with language, disorientation, mood swings, loss of motivation, not managing self-care, and behavioural issues. (Smith, G., Del Sala, S., logie, R. & Maylor, E.
(Alzheimer’s disease). Scientist are doing the very best they can to find more information on Alzheimer’s. Everyday, scientist grow closer and closer to finding a cure.
Alzheimer’s Disease is named after a German doctor, who specializes in the brain and nervous system, named Alois Alzheimer. This Disease forms in the brain. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of Dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to enter. The Tau protein ensures the tubes in your brain stay straight allowing molecules to pass through freely. In Alzheimer’s Disease the protein collapses into strands or tangles, making the tubes disintegrate. There is visible differences of brain tissue in the from misfolded proteins called plaques and tangles. Beta-Amyloid clumps block signals and communication between cells in the brain. Researchers agree that Alzheimer’s Disease is m...