Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, brain disorder that causes a slow and permanent decline in memory, language skills, perception of time and space, and, eventually the ability to care for oneself (Encarta, 1). Alzheimer’s is the most common from of dementia. Dementia is the impairment of memory and other mental powers due to a disease. It is also the fourth leading cause of death among older adults (Do You Need).

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, about four million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s affects about ten percent of the people over 65. At the age of 85 there are about 50 percent of people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. However, Alzheimer’s can affect people in there 40s and 50s, also (Do You Need). The rate of progression of this disease from the start of the symptoms until death is from three to twenty years. The average amount of years is eight. The cost of diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care from people with Alzheimer’s is an estimated $100 billion per year in the United States (World Almanac, 504).

According to the book What You Need to Know About Alzheimer’s that was written by John Medina, Alois Alzheimer discovered Alzheimer’s disease in 1906. He discovered the disease when he was doing a study on a 51-year-old woman, who could not remember objects immediately after seeing them. When the woman died he examined her brain and found that many of her brain cells were missing. There were two different kinds of brain cells missing, tangles and plaques. After his discovery, he published a book, which made him famous for the disease (Medina, 12-13).

They are many different warning signs or symptoms of Alzheimer’s. The onset of Alzheimer’s disease is very gradual. Most of the time patients will have mild problems learning new information and remembering to do routine things (Is it Alzheimer’s). Eventually people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease will become incapable and unable to care of themselves (World Almanac, 504). The warning signs of Alzheimer’s are difficulty with familiar tasks, slipping job performance, language difficulties, confusion of place and time, lack of judgment, problems in abstract thinking, misplacing objects, mood fluctuations, changes in personality, and lack of initiative (Medina, 14-15).

People with Alzheimer’s have a difficult time remember things, such as, making some kind of fo...

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...ing with a patient with Alzheimer’s disease. I used this pamphlet in my paper to tell the reader about ways to communicate and help a person that is affect or suffers for Alzheimer’s. This pamphlet would be a nice help to someone who is trying to help a loved one cope with this disease.

Alzheimer’s Association. Is it Alzheimer’s? Warning Signs You Should Know. Chicago. 1996.

The Alzheimer’s Association produced this pamphlet to explain to people the warning signs and things that can happen to people with Alzheimer’s disease. This pamphlet helped me in writing this paper about Alzheimer’s because it explained all of the warning signs in a clear and efficient manner. I believe this could help someone who is wondering if they or a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s Association. Do You Need Help Caring for a Loved One? Chicago. 1996.

The Alzheimer’s Association provided information in this pamphlet about statistics about Alzheimer’s disease. It also provided information about ways that the Sioux Chapter can help people with Alzheimer’s. This pamphlet helped me in my paper because it gave me realist idea about Alzheimer’s and how many people this disease affects.

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