Alzheimer's Disease Essay

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Alzheimer’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.
Alzheimer’s disease contains no known single cause. Scientists are patiently and determinedly …show more content…

There are possible steps a patient can take in order to post-pone the disease. Possible prevention methods include Estrogen Therapy, Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Antioxidants, Cardiovascular exercise, and Continued education. Women who took estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) had a decrease of the disease 40% lower than those who did not (Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center). Studies on rats support the benefit of estrogen on the brain. The estrogen appears to alter the nerve cells and make them more sensitive to the hormone, NGF, and to stimulate production of acetylcholine, the chemical found in much reduced levels in Alzheimer’s patients. Anti-Inflammatory drugs allow a patient’s brain to respond better and keep mood swings at a lower level. Exercise keeps the patient active and their body responsive. Education is extremely helpful by challenging the mind to keep it active and alert. Scientists suggest crossword puzzles. (r.8)
The brain is severely affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The Hippocampus is one of the earliest areas of the brain to be affected by Alzheimer’s. By stage five, the brain is already fifty-percent destroyed. Once the Hippocampus is destroyed, the patient may not recall the last three years of their lives. Eventually an Alzheimer patient can develop Visual Agnosia, where their brain will be unable to comprehend what it is seeing. The Motor Cotex is the last area of the brain to be affected by Alzheimer’s disease. At this point, the person will be unable to swallow, talk, or even

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