Alzheimer's Disease
comparative Essay
2312 words
What is Alzheimer’s? Alzheimer’s disease, commonly known as Alzheimer’s, is a degenerative brain disease most often found in people 65 years and older: more typically known as late-onset Alzheimer’s (en.wikipedia.org). Alzheimer’s is the third deadliest illness in the United States (www.bloomberg.com), and is considered to be the most severe memory disorder (www.alz.org). As of April 2014, a cure for Alzheimer’s has not been discovered, although doctors have created vaccines that slow down the progression of the illness (en.wikipedia.org). Alzheimer’s is divided into four main stages: pre-dementia, mild, moderate, and advanced (en.wikipedia.org). After the patient enters the mild stage of Alzheimer’s (usually after diagnosis), he or she begins to noticeably lose short-term memory (www.alz.org). As the disease progresses into the moderate and advanced stages, the patient begins to experience confusion, aggression, long-term memory loss, depression, and mood swings (www.alz.org). The average life expectancy of a patient after entering the mild stage of Alzheimer’s is eight years (www.dshs.state.tx.us). Currently, most Alzheimer’s patients live in developed countries, implying that the products of industrialization, such as air pollution and processed foods, may play a key role in the development and advancement of Alzheimer’s (en.wikipedia.org). On the other hand, many people in undeveloped nations may not have adequate medical care and therefore they may go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for another mental illness. Recently, geneticists have found supporting evidence that Alzheimer’s is inherited from chromosomes 1, 14, 19, and 21, with late-onset Alzheimer’s being linked to chromosome 19 (www.webmd.com). For example, the risk gene- ... ... middle of paper ... ...kipedia.org). Although scientists have developed drugs that slightly alter the progression of Alzheimer’s, which make the effects less severe, they have not found a way to completely halt the progression of the illness (en.wikipedia.org). On the other hand, scientists continue to suggest that a future cure of Alzheimer’s will most likely contain a certain mixture of the current drugs that treat patients with Alzheimer’s. Currently, there are a handful of drugs that claim to hold a cure for Alzheimer’s; however, these drugs require a certain number of successful clinical trials in order to gain approval by the FDA. After approval, these drugs can be used by doctors, hospitals, or nurses for their patients. Although these drugs may hold the cure for Alzheimer’s, although it remains unlikely, scientists around the world continue to search for a cure for Alzheimer’s.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alzheimer's is a degenerative brain disease most commonly found in people 65 years and older. it is the third deadliest illness in the united states.
- Explains that most alzheimer's patients live in developed countries, implying that industrialization, such as air pollution, and processed foods, may play a key role in the development and advancement of alzheimer’s.
- Explains that geneticists have found supporting evidence that alzheimer's is inherited from chromosomes 1, 14, 19 and 21, with late-onset alzheimer’s being linked to 19
- Explains that alzheimer's is the only form of dementia where plaques and tangles form inside the patient’s brain.
- Explains that the pre-dementia stage causes nerve cells to lose their function, which in turn causes them to die. this is called the "spark" for alzheimer's.
- Explains that alzheimer's spreads to the hippoclamus, the region of the brain shaped like a sea horse, which controls navigation and the conversion of short-term memory to long memory.
- Describes the mild stage of alzheimer's, wherein plaques and tangles develop in the short-term memory region of the brain, causing the patient to become more introverted.
- Explains that alzheimer's is the third stage of alzheimer’s, which is when the patient is mostly dependent on other people.
- Explains the advanced stage of alzheimer's, where the patient is bedridden and fed through tubes, which in turn weakens his or her organ systems, including the immune system.
- Explains that plaques and tangles continue to develop inside of the brain similar to the pre-dementia stage.
- Explains that alzheimer's can be prevented by living a healthier lifestyle. mediterranean diets, fried foods, and processed foods have better brain function.
- Recommends that patients exercise at least 3 hours a week, as the brain controls the respiratory system, and weightlifting increases muscle mass by pumping blood to different areas of the body.
- Explains that alzheimer's attacks patients who have a weak mind. brain-stimulating activities include chess, scrabble, sudoku, and crossword puzzles.
- Explains that stress destroys the nerve cells in the hippocampus region of the patient's brain, which ultimately deteriorates his or her memory.
- Recommends that the patient start by going to bed 45 minutes earlier and gradually build his or her way up to an appropriate sleeping cycle.
- Concludes that if the patient makes an effort to strengthen the aspects of his or her life that are major targets for alzheimer's, their risk for the disease will drastically decrease.
- Explains that alzheimer's is one of the leading causes of death in developed nations, and a cure hasn't been discovered yet.
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- Alzheimer's Diseaseexplanatory essayAlzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is the lost of thinking, remembering and reasoning so bad it screws up ability to do daily functions and eventually resolves in death. Dr. Alois Alzheimer’s first discovered the disease in 1906. Since then research has developed a deeper understanding of the changes in the brain.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alzheimer's disease is a progressive degenerative disease that affects the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking, and behavior.
- Describes the symptoms of alzheimer's disease, including memory loss, and how they can be remembered.
- Explains that the ninds, which is part of the national institute of neurological disorders and stroke, conducts research on alzheimer's disease.
- Explains that memory loss is one of the most common early signs of alzheimer's.
- Explains that people with alzheimer's disease can change a lot with age, such as being confused, suspicious, fearful, or dependent on family members.
1070 wordsRead More - Alzheimer’s Diseaseexplanatory essayAlzheimer’s disease defined: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, terminal, degenerative brain disease. It is the fourth leading cause of death in adults and currently affects over four million people in the United States. This number is expected to increase over the next several years as the baby boomers age, until it reaches fourteen million by the year 2025. Alzheimer disease generally occurs in people over seventy five years of age; however it does strike people in their forties, fifties, and sixties, but this is rare. When Alzheimer’s disease occurs prior to the age of sixty five, it is referred to as early onset Alzheimer’s.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that several medications are available that may, in some individuals, improve symptoms or temporarily slow the disease progress. other drugs are being tested and could be marketed in the near future.
- Explains that there is no quick and easy way to diagnose alzheimer's disease. a diagnosis can only be conclusively arrived at following autopsy of the brain.
- Explains that delirium produces confusion and disorientation, but in contrast to the dementia seen in alzheimer’s disease, it produces a clouding of consciousness.
- Explains that depression can produce symptoms common to alzheimer's disease such as: forgetfulness, difficulty making decisions, withdrawal, poor judgment, and irritable mood.
- Explains how alzheimer's disease can be divided into seven stages using the reisberg scale. these stages are helpful for understanding the progression of the disease and planning environments, programs, and interventions.
- Explains that alzheimer's disease sufferers and their family and friends are unaware that anything is wrong. during this stage, changes take place in the brain, much like cancer silently works.
- Explains that alzheimer's is a mild form of forgetfulness, which increases in frequency and intensity.
- Explains the denial or cover up stage, which is referred to as the early confusional stage. mild cognitive decline is evident to close family and friends.
- Explains that stage 4 is the late confusional stage. deficits are obvious and denial is intense. the person at this stage is confused about current events and unable to balance a checkbook.
- Explains that alzheimer's disease is a progressive, terminal, degenerative brain disease that affects over four million people in the united states.
- Explains that alzheimer disease is characterized by a gradual spread of sticky plaques and clumps of tangled fibers that disrupt the organization of nerve cells in the brain.
- Explains that alzheimer's disease is often used interchangeably with the term dementia, but these terms are not interchangeable. dementia is only a symptom of the disease, and it occurs only in the mid to late stages.
- Explains that dementia is the major symptom as alzheimer’s disease progresses through stages 5-7. dementia involves multiple cognitive thinking impairement.
- Explains that executive functioning impairments must be severe enough to significantly impact the individuals’ social or occupational functioning and must represent a decline from previous levels of functioning.
- Explains the cognitive decline and early dementia stages of alzheimer's patients. they can still make their needs known, though some may have expressive aphasia.
- Explains that the person in this stage is progressing backward and not forward as they progress through the disease. disciplinary action from the caregiver is not appropriate.
- Describes the end stage of alzheimer's disease, the failure to strive stage, which can last 5-7 years. the person in this stage is aware of only the immediate present, cannot make their needs known, and cannot recognize familiar people.
- Explains that people with alzheimer's disease become confused, restless, upset, and disoriented during the evening.
- Explains that communication is a major concern in living with or caring for indivudals with alzheimer's disease.
2552 wordsRead More - Alzheimer's Diseaseexplanatory essayAlzheimer’s disease is described as a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and clarity to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate, and carry out daily life. (r.1) Alzheimer’s is a disturbing disease affecting millions of elderly people. A person’s risk for the disease is fifty-percent when they reach the age of eighty-five.(r.1) Scientists have been studying the disease for many years now in hope to find answers to a cure for this depressive disease. The disease is persistently being studied with the hope of cures, and a better understanding of how one person can conquer Alzheimer’s disease.
In this essay, the author
- Describes alzheimer's disease as a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys memory and clarity to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate, and carry out daily life.
- Explains that alzheimer's disease contains no known single cause. scientists are patiently studying every aspect of the disease in hope to establish a precise cause
- Explains that as one ages, brain cells begin to die off, causing permanent damage. scientists are hoping with the development of new technology we may finally determine a single cause for the alzheimer's disease.
- Explains that alzheimer's disease is a progressive form of dementia that gradually destroys memory, cognitive ability, and ability to fend for themselves.
- Explains that dementia has seven main stages, beginning with no cognitive impairment, then to mild cognitive decline, to moderate, severe, and finally to severe. the symptoms are easy to establish and extremely noticeable once past the first three stages.
- Explains how scientists have discovered a method to find out whether there are plaques and tangles in the brain through the use of the microscope.
- Explains that there is no known cure for alzheimer's disease, but there are medications used to slow down cognitive deterioration.
- Explains that alzheimer's disease progresses through time, and many don't develop it until their late seventies. there is no cure to stop the progression of alzheimer’s, only a series of pills to "delay" the severity.
- Explains that there is no solution to the prevention of alzheimer's. there are possible steps a patient can take in order to postpone the disease.
- Explains that the hippocampus and motor cotex are affected by alzheimer's disease.
- Explains alzheimer's disease is being studied with the hope of cures, and a better understanding of how one person can overcome it. the pain the family endures through watching their loved ones literally fade away will eventually ignite an ambitious attempt to finally cure this disease.
1428 wordsRead More - Alzheimers Disease: An Essay On Alzheimer's Diseasecomparative essayAlzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disease which slowly destroys thinking and memory skills. These changes are severe enough to interfere with day to day life. This irreversible disease is the most common cause of dementia amongst the elderly, with an appearance of first symptoms after age 60.
In this essay, the author
- Illustrates alzheimer's disease as it progresses through the different stages. in the earliest stages, plaques and tangles begin to form in the brain areas.
- Explains plaques and tangles spread to areas involved in mild to moderate stage.
- Explains that a neurological exam is done to closely evaluate the person for problems that may signal brain disorders other than alzheimer’s disease.
- Explains that a mental status test evaluates memory, ability to solve simple problems, and other thinking skills. these tests are given to gain an overall sense of whether the person is aware of his/her symptoms.
- Explains the mini-mental state exam (mmse) series of questions designed to test a range of everyday mental skills.
- Explains that the mmse score of a person with alzheimer’s disease declines about two to four points each year.
- Explains how to draw a clock face showing all 12 numbers in the right places and the time specified by the examiner.
- Explains that magnetic resonance imaging (mri) is currently used to rule out other conditions which may account for cognitive symptoms. future use includes measuring brain tissue volume and if the shrinkage in the brain regions associated with alzheimer’s disease has occurred.
- Describes the number of cases of alzheimer's disease that are projected to increase by 2030 and by 2050.
- Estimates that the number of people age 65 and older with alzheimer's disease will reach 7.1 million by 2025, a 40% increase from the 5 million currently affected.
- Predicts that by 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with alzheimer's disease will triple, going from 5 million to a projected 16 million, excluding any medical breakthroughs which may prevent, slow or stop the disease.
- Explains that alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disease which slowly destroys thinking and memory skills. it is the most common cause of dementia amongst the elderly.
- Explains that the diagnosis of alzheimer's disease is made through a complete assessment that considers all possible causes.
- Explains that a mood assessment, along with assessing mental status, can detect signs of depression or other mood disorders. structural brain imaging is used to rule out other conditions that may cause symptoms resembling alzheimer's.
- Explains that the u.s. food and drug administration has approved four medications to treat alzheimer's disease, including donepezil, rivastigmine, or galantamine.
- Explains that alzheimer's disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the united states and the 5th lead cause for those 65 years of age and older.
2205 wordsRead More - Alzheimer’s Diseaseexplanatory essayAlzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition where the neurons degenerate in the brain, while the brain substance shrinks in volume. Alzheimer’s is also the number one cause of dementia. When it was first noticed, Alzheimer’s was thought to be a pre-senile disease, but now it is known to be responsible for seventy-five percent of the dementia cases in people over sixty-five years of age. Alzheimer’s disease usually causes several years of personal and intellectual decline until death. Because there is an increasing number of elderly citizens in the United States, research into the causes and possible cures for the disease is on the rise (1).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that neurofibrillary tangles are not exclusive to alzheimer's patients, but plaques in the brain are unique to down’s syndrome, and to a lesser degree, normal aging.
- Explains that alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition where the neurons degenerate in the brain, while brain substance shrinks in volume.
- Explains that the beta-amyloid protein has been studied extensively and is a transmembrane protein and receptor, but its actual function is unknown. alzheimer's disease cannot be diagnosed without examination of brain tissue.
- Explains that functional abnormalities in the amyloid precursor protein biochemical pathway may be causal in alzheimer's disease.
- Summarizes clayman, c. b., and sadock, h. i. on alzheimer's disease. the american medical association: encyclopedia of medicine, 1989.
- Explains that amyloid beta protein is involved in the causation of alzheimer's disease.
- Cites cohen, c. d., rosenberg, r. n. and cohen.
1671 wordsRead More - Alzheimers Diseaseexplanatory essayIn 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.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that alzheimer's disease is devastating for everyone affected by it, and that more time and money needs to go towards alzheimer’s research.
- Explains alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that impairs mental functioning. it attacks the part of the brain that controls memory, language, and thought.
- Explains that alzheimer's disease was named after dr. alois alzheimer, who noticed abnormal clumps and bundles of fibers in the brain tissue of a woman who had this strange illness.
- Explains that alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. it usually starts in the mid sixties and lasts approximately seven to fourteen years, but can rarely last for close to twenty years.
- Explains that alzheimer's disease is caused by several factors, including family history and age. people with down syndrome are also at high risk.
- Explains that before finding a cure for alzheimer's disease, scientists must research all aspects of the disease such as the cause, the damage to the brain, and genetics.
- Explains that researchers are mainly concerned with improving the quality of life for those with alzheimer's. social workers and care givers try to teach the patient how to communicate and interact in ways that improve functioning and reduce behavioral problems.
942 wordsRead More - Alzheimer's Disease Essayexplanatory essayAlzhiemer’s disease is the most common form of dementia . It is a disease in which nerve cells in the brain die. As nerve cells die it’s difficult for the brain's signals to be transmitted properly. The death of the nerve cells occurs gradually over a period of years. The gradual loss of brain function seems to be due to two main forms of nerve damage, nerve cells develop tangles (neurofibrillary tangles) and protein deposits known as beta-amyloid plaques build up in the brain. The first sign of Alzheimers is memory impairment. Recent memory is lost first and as time goes on, attention is lost, simple calculations become impossible, and ordinary daily activities become difficult, and the patient feels bewildered and frustrated. Symptoms tend to worsen at night which is known as the sundown effect. Patients have dramatic mood swings such as outbursts of anger, bouts of fearfulness, and periods of lethargy. The patient becomes increasingly disoriented and because of disorientation they may wander off and become lost. Alzheimer’s also results in physical problems like an odd gait, or a loss of coordination. Over the course of time patients lose physical and communicative abilities entirely. Alzheimer's disease can run its course from onset to death in as few as four years, or it may play out over a period of as long as 20 years. On average people suffer with Alzheimer's disease for about nine years. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. One person out of eight age 65 and over has the disease.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the u.s.
- Explains that there are three types of alzheimer's; early-onset, late-old-alzheimer, and familial alzheimer’s disease.
- Explains that alzheimer's disease is due to a combination of genetic and other factors. the amyloid precursor protein (app) is located on chromosome 21 and is duplicated in down syndrome patients.
- Explains that preselins 1 and 2 determine gamma-secretase activity and are responsible for proteolytic cleavage of app and notch receptor proteins.
- Explains that late onset alzheimers results from a combination of many genetic and environmental factors. genetic markers of load are apoe, clusterin, complement receptor 1 and phophatidylinositol binding clathrin assembly protein.
- Explains that alzheimer's has no cure. current treatments focus on maintaining mental function, managing behavioral symptoms, and slowing or delaying the symptoms of disease.
978 wordsRead More - How Do Alzheimer's Affect The Human Brainopinionated essayAmericans may have Alzheimer's. Unless the illness can be successfully treated or prevented, many people with it will rise significantly if current population trends remain consistent (Khalsa et al., 2017). Alzheimer's affects the human brain in dangerous ways rendering one unable to recall short term activities, followed by long term activities, and eventual death of the brain cells. Research concerning genetic links to Alzheimer's has been conducted over time, and numerous drugs to mitigate the disease have been discovered. There have been some setbacks; research continues to be performed with the hope that complete treatment to the disease can be found.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that alzheimer's affects the human brain in dangerous ways rendering one unable to recall short term activities, followed by long-term activities and eventual death of the brain cells.
101 wordsRead More - Alzheimer's Dementiaexplanatory essayAlzheimer's Dementia Alzheimer’s Dementia is one of the most common and well-known form of dementia. It is a progressive attack of the brain. There is no cure for dementia. Alzheimer’s is usually associated with the elderly. With new technology, the disease can be predicted years before symptoms begin.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alzheimer's dementia is a progressive attack of the brain and there is no cure for it. genetic testing is used to diagnose the disease.
- Explains schutte, d. l., genetic testing and alzheimer’s disease: implications for psychiatric-mental health nursing.
- Explains that alzheimer's dementia is a progressive disorder of the brain that affects individuals older than the age of 65.
- Explains the importance of genetic counseling for alzheimer's, stating that there is no cure for this disease. genetic testing is discouraged if the individual is asymptomatic.
- Explains that alzheimer's dementia has three stages: mild, moderate, and severe. the mild stage is when memory loss worsens and one becomes dependent on caregivers for care.
- Explains that there is not a cure for alzheimer's dementia. drugs are utilized to treat the symptoms, behavioral and sleep changes.
- Explains that memory loss is a natural part of aging and that it is not fatal.
- Explains that castellani, rolston, & smith, m. a. (2010). alzheimer disease. the american college of medical genetics and the national society of genetic counselors.
1741 wordsRead More - Late Onset Alzheimer's Diseaseexplanatory essayLate-onset Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease which becomes cumulative in affecting the brain over a period of time. This form of the disease occurs in men and women 65 years and older. One of the greatest risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer’s is age. This disease is referred to as sporadic because it sometimes occurs at irregular intervals. (1) Many symptoms occur in the early stages of Alzheimer’s such as memory loss, confusion, mood swings, and struggling to communicate. Symptoms tend to worsen as the stages develop, and start to infest the brain. The final stage of Late-onset Alzheimer’s results in terminal illness. By this stage, the disease has taken over functions of the entire brain. During this stage, patients require a
In this essay, the author
- Explains that late-onset alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain over time.
- Explains the pathophysiology of late-onset alzheimer's, stating that it works by killing off or damaging neurons which reside in the brain.
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