Alzheimer's Disease Essay

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. Alzheimer’s disease affects central nervous, neuromuscular, and digestive system. In the digestive system, swallowing difficulties are common for people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. In the neuromuscular system, the ability to walk and maintain their posture in a chair is common for people with Alzheimer’s. In Alzheimer’s disease, the connections between brain cells and the brain cells themselves deteriorate and die, which causes a steady decline in memory and mental function. It is the most common cause for dementia, which is a brain disorder that results in the loss of intellectual and social skills. (Staff, 2013) It is severe enough to interfere with every day activities. It is important to seek support through counseling and maintain medical assistance through medication or any other form of aid. Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that should be considered a priority in order to be able to maintain a decent lifestyle. 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. In 1906, Dr. Alois Alzheimer discovered a “peculiar disease”. Dr. Alzheimer was an expert in linking symptoms to microscopic brain changes. Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of Auguste D., a patient who had died of an unusual mental disease. Her symptoms ranged from memory loss to unpredictable behavior. Afte... ... middle of paper ... ...ising is important in order to have normal life as possible. I have been able to observe the consequences and problems having Alzheimer’s disease may cause for a family through my grandfather. My grandfather did not seem to be sick, but it was slowly evident that he was forgetting some aspects of his life. When my mother and I visited him, he would occasionally forget who we were. It was truly heart-breaking to watch someone you knew your entire life somehow become a new person. Unfortunately, he passed away from complications a few years after his diagnosis. The moral is Alzheimer’s changes how you think, feel, and act, but it is not a complete game changer. People should seek aid from professionals and create an adjusted environment for themselves. People should surround themselves with support and love. After all, Alzheimer’s affects the brain, not the heart.