Alzheimer’s: The Disease Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder that is found in older adults. One of the most famous American painters, Norman Rockwell, yielded to Alzheimer’s after a long and illustrious career. Interestingly enough, Rockwell’s (cited) paintings are now used sometimes in dementia therapy because of the memories and nostalgia they elicit. Can you imagine that one day the very thing you loved to do, would be helping others remember their lost memories and that you succumbed to that very same disease. This disease is a physical disease that affects the brain. There are proteins that build up in the brain to form structures called 'plaques ' and 'tangles ' that ultimately leads to loss connections of certain nerves cells and the loss of brain tissue. Alzheimer 's disease, as of yet, does not have a cure. I want to focus on the disease itself, medications for treatment, signs and symptoms and the alternatives to medicine. Also, I would like to focus on the many stages that the disease takes a person through. The earliest and most common sign of Alzheimer 's is the deterioration in memory. This memory loss affects recent memories more than long term memory. This would also lead to a short attention span and often losing interest in long conversations. Moreover, disorientation develops and those with Alzheimer 's may even get lost on their own street. The affected person also may not speak grammatically correct and talk in a child-like manner. They may substitute forgotten words for unclear descriptions or make up new words. There is no cure for Alzheimer 's disease. So far, there are only a few drugs that can slow down the effects of it. Donepezil (Aricept) [C] is the main drug for the treatment of... ... middle of paper ... ...orget about good old fashion one on one therapy with a specialist. So, in closing, when people realize that Alzheimer 's disease is a serious disease, just like Breast Cancer or even HIV, then maybe we all will start to pay attention. Our elderly are just as important in our lives as any other generation. We should not just shrug off one of our loved ones when they forget something significant and blame it on old age. It just might be the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The reason why there hasn 't been a cure upfront for this disease is because scientists try to attract grants by working on a problem that people think is more serious and controversial than Alzheimer’s disease. If there was as much attention that was paid to Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction or even AIDS as there was in Alzheimer’s disease, then maybe there will be an answer.
Alzheimer’s disease is like many other diseases; early detection is best because deterioration of the brain cells can be delayed. (Greutzner, H) Alzheimer’s disease has a tremendous effect on the lives of those who live with the disease. Forgetfulness is just one of the symptoms that Alzheimer’s disease causes. Alzheimer’s disease ranks as the most common cause of dementia in the elderly population.
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.
People who have Alzheimer’s disease are affected by short term memory loss. With all the research and attention being given to Alzheimer’s disease, it is hopeful that a treatment to cure short term memory loss will be found. I do not personally know anyone with Alzheimer’s disease, and it is hard to imagine having the disease myself or someone I care for deeply having the disease. It would be very heartbreaking for me to have any of my loved ones not to remember who I am from day to
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 Introduction to Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain. It was first described by the German neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915). in 1905. This disease worsens with advancing age, although there is no evidence. that it is caused by the aging process.
Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder which kills the brain cells, causing memory loss and cognitive decline. This leads to severe psychological impairments which changes how people think, behave and other complications such as paranoia, disorientation and unprovoked aggression. These psychological impairments reduce people’s functional ability and therefore reduce their quality of life.
Alzheimer’s disease, named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, is a disease that is on the rise in America and the rest of the world. People should learn as much as they want about this disease, because as you age, your chances of becoming an Alzheimer’s Disease, or AD, patient increases. It is estimated that approximately 3 percent of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have the illness, and more than half of all people over age 85 have the ailment.
Alzheimer's disorder is a mental disorder that affects your brain, and in particular the disorder affects the memory part of your brain. The disorder slows down the memory section of your brain, and as a result the number one symptom of Alzheimer's is memory loss. The disorder usually doesn't affect younger people, but instead affects people that are older than the age of sixty. The disorder can get so serious that the patient could loss there of about everything that has ever happened in their life. Patients usually loss their memory of their childhood during the most severe, intense, and last stage of the disorder. Alzheimer's disorder can also have a drastic effect on the patient's family, because during the disorder the patient can forget about their entire family.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the leading causes of death in America and there are currently more than five million people living with the disease (Alzheimer’s Association, 2014). What may be most troubling about these numbers is the fact that Alzheimer’s disease has no current cure. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurocognitive disorder and a common form of dementia that will affects a person’s memory, way of thinking and their behavior (Alzheimer’s Association, 2014). AD typically develops slowly and the more time a person has the disease the worse the symptoms will become. AD in its later stages becomes so severe that people with the disease cannot even do simple daily tasks. Although there is no cure there are still ways to prevent, delay, and possibly treat the disease.
...er’s disease. The medication prescribed to Alzheimer’s patients can only delay the developments of Alzheimer’s. Donepezil, Galantamine and Rivastigmine are prescribed to patients with mild and moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine can be prescribed either to patients with severe Alzheimer’s disease.
A myth about Alzheimer disease says that nothing can be done about the disease. This is not true. Much can be done to assist the person with Alzheimer’s disease to maintain the highest possible level of functioning as long as possible and in providing the highest quality of life.
According to an article from a magazine, Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library it explains that between 2.4 million and 4.5 million people in the United States in 2009 have been diagnosed with a disease that destroys the memory of elders. This brain disease continues to worsen as it goes on. Alzheimer’s Disease is one of the many diseases that slowly deteriorates ones memory. It is a terrible progressive disease that affects elders everywhere. A solution would be to find a cure by research and testing. Alzheimer’s Disease does not only affect the elder, it also affects the people around him/her as well.
...hed and streamlined to allow for earlier diagnosis. In the case of tertiary prevention, the pharmaceutical companies have a huge financial incentive to create a cure for Alzheimer’s but that is not enough. More government funded research should be dedicated towards finding methods to delay or cure Alzheimer’s disease. The baby boomer generation has already entered their 60’s. As people live longer, as a result of new treatments for common killers such as heart disease and cancer, the chances that they will succumb to Alzheimer’s increases. Failing to find preventative or curative measures will be costly. On a personal level, Alzheimer’s disease slowly attacks cognitive function-the higher thought processes; individuals degenerate into infantile dependents. The cost of caring for increasing numbers of such dependents will be a burden on both family and society.
Doctors and researchers are confident that there will soon be a treatment for Alzheimer's. There have been millions who have died or who have progressed too far in their disease. The symptoms` of Alzheimer’s Disease are very hard for the sufferer to deal with. They do not want to rely on a family member to take care of themselves because something is wrong with them. Alzheimer's is a very complex disease. This why scientists have still not found any cure for it. People with Alzheimer's suffer for almost twenty to twenty five years before their death.The worse thing about this disease is the patient does not even remember their family or friends. They also do not release what the actual meaning of life is by the time they die. People suffering from Alzheimer's are emotionally dead long before the physically die.
Jonas-Simpson, C., & Mitchell, G. J. (2005). Giving voice to expressions of quality of life for persons living with dementia through story, music, and art. Alzheimer's Care Quarterly, 6(1), 52-61.