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Approaches to caring for someone with dementia
Approaches to caring for someone with dementia
Approaches to caring for someone with dementia
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Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia; it affects one’s memory and the ability to complete everyday tasks. In 1906, Alzheimer’s disease was founded by a German physician, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. He had a patient who had experienced a significant amount of memory loss, but not knowing why. In and around the nerve cell in the brain, while studying the patient’s autopsy, he was able to differentiate the deposits that led to the nerve cells and compared to normal brain nerve cells. Dr. Alzheimer has touched many lives with his findings about Alzheimer’s disease. A German Psychiatrist, Emil Kraepelin had worked with Dr. Alzheimer and named this disease after him. By 1968, researchers and doctors started to see the increase in the diagnosis of the disease in older adults. The cureless disease, Alzheimer’s is affecting many elders and their families; it is the sixth leading cause of death in the Unites States (“About Alzheimer’s”). Many researchers and scientists have been trying to find what causes this disease and they have found that it has to do with neurological brain functions or genetics. Alzheimer’s disease falls into two categories: risk genes and deterministic genes. Risk genes are when one may develop the disease but it’s not definite that it will happen. There is one gene that has been identified in the risk genes category called APOE-e4, it is the most common gene for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease (Atkins 45). The other category is called deterministic genes and it is the cause of the disease. If someone in one’s family has this disease, it will increase the chances of one developing the disease. According to the Alzheimer’s association, “ Deterministic genes, which are estimated to account for less than 5 percent of Alzhe... ... middle of paper ... ...usion, aggression, hostility, and uncooperativeness patients can use olanzapine, quetiapine, risperdone and siprasidone. All these drugs have to be used with extreme caution (“About Alzheimer’s”). Alzheimer’s disease is a rapid growing disease that is affecting millions of people around the world. From the discovery of Alzheimer’s disease in 1906 to now, technology has improved in finding the details in the brain and nerve cells. Research centers and doctors are working together to find the cure and other treatments to relieve the symptoms. It’s depressing to see these elders not being able to remember their own family and going through all the pain that this disease causes. Not only does it affect the patient but also the caregivers and/or family around them. Raising awareness for this disease is important so there can be more research done to help find the cure.
...apine, quetiapine, aripiprazole, risperidone, and may include ziprasidone) to treat psychotic symptoms, and mood stabilizers such as lithium or valproate to control manic episodes.
Michaels, A. (2007, April 22). Drug Treatment for Dementia Sufferers. Article Directory. Retrieved October 19, 2008, from Articlesbase database.
Memory plays a significant role in the everyday lives of people of all ages. It allows them to recall information and remember skills that were learned in the past. Memory also organizes past information to help people make current and future decisions. However, imagine forgetting the names of close family members or not having the ability to find your keys every time you want to leave the house. These are some of the struggles that people with Alzheimer’s disease face daily. Alzheimer’s disease was first identified by German neurologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906, and was discovered to have an overpowering effect on explicit memory loss (Gruetzner, 1988). There are two types of Alzheimer’s disease – early onset and late onset. Early onset occurs in patients who are diagnosed before the age of 65 whereas late onset occurs in patients who are diagnosed after the age of 65. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, short-term memory is often lost. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, problems with long-term memory begin to develop, in addition to short-term memory impairments. Although a lot is known about the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, the cause has not been conclusively identified. However, as research continues, new theories about the cause of Alzheimer’s disease are being proposed. This has led to a controversy over whether Alzheimer’s disease is caused by genetics or environmental influences (Gruetzner, 1988).
Alzheimer’s disease is a complex illness that affects the brain tissue directly and undergoes gradual memory and behavioral changes which makes it difficult to diagnose. It is known to be the most common form of dementia and is irreversible. Over four million older Americans have Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to triple in the next twenty years as more people live into their eighties and nineties. (Johnson, 1989). There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s but throughout the past few years a lot of progress has been made.
Furthermore, antipsychotic medications do not cure schizophrenia, but they do reduce the symptoms. In addition, the dosage given to the patient varies from patients and according to their mental disorder. Some new antipsychotic medications since to be better than the first drugs invented. Drugs such as Zyprexa or genetic names olanzapine, Risperdal generic name risperidone or Clozapine, which is has been extensively used to treat the negative symptoms of patients with schizophrenia. Antipsychotic medication like many other medications has side effects which consist on: drowsiness, restlessness, muscle spasm, tremors, dry mouth, and blurring of vision (First M.B., Tasman, A.2006, p.265).
The short answer is the antipsychotic medication that works best for you or your loved one!
In this day and age, it seems as though almost everyone has experience a loved one taken away form a very serious disease known as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is unbelievably devastating for everyone affected by it. This disease is causing major economical problems such as less occupancy in the nursing homes, and hospitals due to the rising population of elderly men and women being diagnosed with it everyday. Because there is not yet a cure for this disease and the percent of the population being diagnosed keeps rapidly rising, more time and money needs to go towards Alzheimer’s research.
Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that becomes more prevalent with age. Discovered by German psychologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906, it is associated with a memory loss, speech impediment, and dementia. In Canada alone, 500,000 people suffer from this terrible disease and the number of cases is predicted to double by 2031[7]. Worldwide, nearly 44 million people are believed to be experiencing Alzheimer’s disease and every 68 seconds, someone in the United States of America develops Alzheimer’s [8]. Alzheimer’s disease is also the sixth leading cause of death in North America. Furthermore, it is the only leading cause of death that is still increasing in prevalence. Not only fatal, Alzheimer’s is also severely crippling for all the friends and family that are affected by the patient. The memory loss and dementia that is directly linked to Alzheimer’s disease can cause the patient to forget the identity of their loved ones. For the people that have known the patient for many years, this can be very devastating. The long and terrible journey from an able-bodied and functioning member of society to a barely self-sufficient person is not a pleasant one. Undoubtedly, Alzheimer’s disease needs to be cured not only for those suffering from the affliction, but for their loved ones who have to endure the fateful journey as well.
Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed before age 65, although rare, and is caused by a mutation in 3 known genes. About 5 percent of those who are under 65 and possess the ailment have AD in their family history. Given that the symptoms of AD are caused by plaque in the brain, causing loss of nerve cells that help the body communicate with the brain, mutations to these genes; amyloid precursor protein, presenilin 1, and presenilin 2 cause a excessive production of certain proteins (primarily a B-42 form of amyloid protein), and therefore spark an excessive growth of plaque cells which are toxic to the neurons of the brain. For those cases of Alzheimer’s that occur after age 65, a genetic mutation has yet to be proven, although some may be linked, to the fact that a difference may cause an increased chance of developing the ailment. Whatever the case may be for patients over 65 years old, the disease and its symptoms are caused by neurofibrillary tangles of almyloid plaques. It is impossible for someone to test positive for Alzheimer’s Disease, because the only way to determine an affirmative case i...
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, and this terminal, progressive brain disorder has no known cause or cure. Its greatest known risk factor is increasing age which is why is it is infamous for developing in the elderly, typically in ages 65 or over, however for the 5%(1) that develop Alzheimer’s in their 40s or 50s it is known as early Alzheimer’s. Because Alzheimer’s worsens over time, those with it tend to struggle with completing daily tasks especially elderly people. Given that there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, the treatments available slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. It is not known what causes Alzheimer's, however, those with Alzheimer's have been found to have abnormal amounts of protein (amyloid plaques) and fibres.(The amyloid plaques and fibres are found in regions of the brain where problem solving and thinking take place e.g The cerebrum.) Due to the unusual amounts of amyloid plaques and fibres, it reduces the effectiveness of healthy neurons and eventually, destroying them.
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that attacks and destroys brain nerve cells or neurons eventually killing the cells. It is the most common form of dementia (around 50-60% of all cases of dementia). it affects 1 in 20 people over the age of 65 and 1 in 1000 people under the age of 65. Although it affects more people over the age of 65 it doesn’t mean that age is the cause of the disease. Patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease suffer from memory loss, thinking difficulty, loss of language skills and changes in behaviour. No one is immune to this disease. Alzheimer’s disease is named after Dr Alois Alzheimer’s. In 1906 he noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who died from an unusual mental illness. Her symptoms included loss of memory, language problems and unpredictable behaviour. After her death he examined her brain and found abnormal protein fragments called plagues and tangles. These protein fragments are the two major features of Alzheimer’s disease. The third is the loss of connection between nerve cells and the brain.
In 1906, a German physician named Dr. Alois Alzheimer dealt with a patient that had been battling severe memory and confusion problems and had tremendous difficulty understanding questions and basic functions. Alzheimer suspected that the ailment had more to it than inherent memory loss. During an autopsy of the brain, he discovered that there were deposits of neuritic plaques surrounding the nerve cells and twisted fibers, known as neurofibrillary tangles, inside of the nerve cells. These observations became the definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The plaques and tangles that develop are a natural part of aging; however, they develop far more aggressively in Alzheimer’s victims. The plaques and tangles then block communication among nerve cells and disrupt the cells processes, eventually killing them. This destruction causes memory failure, personality changes, and problems carrying out everyday functions. Alzheimer’s especially attacks the memory. A victim in the later stage of the disease can...
Thesis/Preview Statement – Alzheimer’s disease (AD) causes a decline in brain function, it destroys healthy nerve cells. Today, we have discussed Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis of AD.
Secko, David. “Alzheimer’s Disease: Genetic Variables and Risk.” Canadian Medical Association Journal. March 2005: 172-5.
This disease causes memory loss, difficulty in thinking processes, mood swings, depression, hallucinations, personality changes, and the inability to create new memories. Alzheimer’s disease is most common in people who are at the age of sixty years or older, but it can start as early as the age of nineteen. It can be categorized as a type of dementia. “Scientists believe Alzheimer’s disease prevents parts of a cell’s factory from running well” (Alzheimer’s Disease: The basics). Scientist believe that one cause of Alzheimer’s could be caused by plaques and tangles. Plaques are the build up of a protein called beta-amyloid in the nerve cells. Tangles are twisted fibers of the tau protein that build up inside of a cell. The exact cause of Alzheimer’s has not yet been determined, but scientists have reason to believe that it is because these plaques and tangles are blocking the communication of cells in the nervous system. Another probable cause is a mutation on the chromosomal genes 21, 14, and 1. This is why it is believed to be a genetically inherited