Alzheimer’s disease is a deadly, and permanent disease that disables the brain from function. There is amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles disrupting synapse connections in the brain. (Medicinenet, 2013). The disease is not an infectious or viral. The disease cannot be caught nor spread like a common cold. Along with the disease being non-viral non- communicable , it is not age related. This disease is not a normal part of aging. (National Institute on Aging, 2013)
The short term memory is affected dramatically. The patient would experience short term memory loss. Along with the memory loss, the patient would become more forgetful and confused. Although, short term memory is deteriorating. Long term memory is still intact (sentence fragments). (Alzheimer's Association, 2013) This is because long term memory is stored in a different part of the brain. In the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease, only a few locations such as the hippocampus. The hippocampus is where new memory is formed and stored. (National Institutes of Health, 2000-2014)
The first identification of diagnosing the disease is the recent memory loss. Seventy five percent of Alzheimer cases patients start out not being able to recall recent events. (Medicinenet, 2013). Following the inability to learn and understand new information and material (sentence fragment). Furthermore, poor judgment and poor emotional response is another sign of early onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
There are over five million Americans affected by Alzheimer’s disease at the age of sixty five or older. (Medicinenet, 2013). Although there are some scientists that have the theory Alzheimer’s disease may have a predisposition (sentence fragment). There have been cases of patients as young as fifty years old suffering from the diseases. There is some blood test that can be performed, but is not an accurate test. Even though a blood test can test the DNA and alleles (sentence fragment). (American Association for Clinical Chemistry, 2013) It still will not prove that a person has a predisposition.
Alzheimer’s disease is classified in seven stages. Patients may not experience the same progression, but the stages is an outline to estimate the progression of the disease. Stage one, there is no impairment. The patient has normal function. There is no experience of any memory loss. A conversation with a medical doctor will result with no diagnoses of symptoms. (2014, Alzheimer's Association) Stage two, Slight cognitive loss (earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease) (sentence fragment). The patient may have experienced occasional loss of memory. Forgetting words, or the location of objects or places (sentence fragment). No symptoms of dementia can be diagnosed at this time. (2014, Alzheimer's Association) Stage three, Mild cognitive loss (early-stage Alzheimer's can be diagnosed). Patient have issues recalling words. Trouble recalling names of newly introduced people (sentence fragment). Noticeable trouble preforming everyday tasks (sentence fragment). Disorganized and misplacing objects (sentence fragment). (2014, Alzheimer's Association). Stage four, Moderate cognitive loss (Mild or early-stage Alzheimer's disease). An examination with a doctor will result with a diagnosis. The symptoms are prominent. Forgetfulness of events (sentence fragment). Unable to perform challenging tasks like counting backwards (sentence fragment). Unable to perform complex tasks such as preparing meals or cleaning the house (sentence fragment). The patient will not be able to recall history of their own life. The patient will go through emotional and moody (sentence fragment). (2014, Alzheimer's Association). Stage five, moderately severe cognitive loss (Moderate or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease). Laps in memory and thinking are prominent, the patient will need assistance in everyday living. Patient would not be able to remember their own phone number or house