Alzheimer’s disease What is Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease is an acquired cognitive and behavioral impairment of sufficient severity that markedly interferes with social and occupational functioning. It is also the most common form dementia. Dementia is deterioration of intellectual faculties, such as memory, concentration, and judgment which results from an organic disease or a disorder of the brain. A German psychiatrist named Alois Alzheimer observed a patient at the Frankfurt Asylum, named Mrs.Auguste D. in the year 1901. This 51 year old woman suffered from a loss of short-term memory, and other behavioral symptoms that puzzled Dr. Alzheimer. Five years later, in April 1906 when the patient died the doctor sent her brain and medical records to Munich, where he was working in the lab of Dr.Emil Kraeplin. By staining sections of her brain in the laboratory, he was able to identify amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. And so this how the disease was named as Alzheimer’s disease. At first, it might be hard to recognize the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease as they are broken down into three stages which are; early stage, middle stage and last stage. In the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common symptom is short–term memory loss. It also has symptoms like difficulty performing familiar task. Everyday activities such as brushing of one’s teeth, washing of one’s hair or making telephone calls become difficult even confusing tasks. There is also a disorientation symptom in which the patient gets lost in his or her own neighborhood, and also is found putting household items in places they do not belong. Other symptoms of this disease in the early stage are increasing problems with planning and managing daily activities, trouble with language, rapid or unpredictable mood swings, Lack of motivation, and changes in sleep. Once a patient enters the middle stage of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms begin to demand constant attention and care. Symptoms of the Middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease are: Hallucinations, Strong feelings of paranoia, anger, and wandering. In the last stage of Alzheimer’s disease patients are unable to take care of themselves at all and the symptoms of this stage are: patients have an inability to communicate with or recognize other people; they have an inability to walk and a difficulty swallowing food and also an inability to smile.
Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed through a complete medical assessment. There is no single test that can show whether a person has Alzheimer’s or not. Most physicians can determine if a person has dementia, but it may be difficult to determine the exact cause. Diagnosing Alzheimer’s requires careful medical evaluation, which includes: A thorough medical history, mental status testing, physical and neurological exam and tests (blood tests and brain imaging) to check signs or symptoms like dementia, also to find the right physician is one of the steps of diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease.
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, treatment focuses on relieving and slowing down the progress of the symptoms, behavior changes, and complications. However, Alzheimer’s is more often treated by medications such as cholinesterase which is an enzyme that breaks down a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine acts as an important messaging system in the brain. A person with Alzheimer’s has a low level of brain acetylcholine so, cholinesterase inhibitors which stop the breakdown of this neurotransmitter and that increases the amount of acetylcholine in the brain and improve its function. These drugs not only improve or stabilize cognitive functions, they may also have positive effects on behavior and activities of daily living; they are not a complete cure, but they do slow down the rate of decline in some patients with Alzheimer’s. Two of most worrisome trends in healthcare today are the soaring rates of “Type 2”
Alzheimer’s Disease Carrie Young Rasmussen College Author Note This paper is being submitted on November 1, 2014 for Heather Heck’s Structure and Function of the Human Body course. Alzheimer’s Disease Imagine if your husband or wife woke up one morning and they didn’t know who you were, where they were, or their children’s names. They are in an altered state of mind, and you are unable to calm them down or help them remember. This could be a sign that you or a family member has Alzheimer’s…
Alzheimer’s Disease HCA/240 July 21, 2013 Dr. Alex Kadrie Alzheimer’s Disease In the year 1906 Dr. Alois Alzheimer first recorded certain abnormalities in the brain of a woman who died from dementia. The Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative and progressive form of dementia that seriously disrupts the daily living, such as their activities, behavior, and there moods (chapter 14, page 395). The worst thing about Alzheimer’s is that it can only be diagnosed only by autopsy, what we would have to do…
Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease is a slowly progressive, degenerative disorder of the brain that eventually results in memory loss and invariably leads to death. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, and gradually gets worse. Much still remains unknown about the destructive illness. Research is being done, and more is being learned each day. Alzheimer’s disease was first described in 1906, by a German physician, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. He had a patient in her fifties…
AD Alzheimer’s disease Rachelle Crabb Submitted to Ashley Spurgeon, BSN, in partial fulfillment of Clinical 1 Indian Hills Community College 4/10/15 Alzheimer’s disease Pathology Alzheimer’s disease is a deteriorating disease which affects the neurological connections and pathways in the brain. The two main abnormalities are senile plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles. Senile plaques are composed of Beta-Amyloid protein while neurofibrillary tangles are made up of Tau protein. Senile…
Alzheimer's Disease 1 Alzheimer's Disease HCA 415 Instructor Boone Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. Alzheimer's disease effects people in different ways, but the most common symptoms…
Introduction 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. 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. II.What is Dementia? 1. Impaired Memory, a. Alzheimer's disease is recognized…
weeks) and has been displaying changes in her mood. I immediately took her to a local hospital for help. Questions- I recalled that my grandmother (her mother) suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and am wondering if you think this is the same? If so, is this something I need to worry about? Is Alzheimer’s disease different from dementia? Is there a clinic that specializes in care for the elderly? Dr. Eadie: Mrs. Poyntz, let me first commend you for immediately seeking medical intervention…
Life with Alzheimer’s disease “Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder of the brain resulting in a progressive decline in intellectual and physical abilities and eventual dementia” ("alzheimer disease"). Alzheimer’s usually happens to individuals who are older than fifty years of age. This does not necessarily mean it will happen, but the older one gets the higher his or her chances are of getting it. Nobody has control over getting Alzheimer’s; it just happens naturally. Alzheimer’s is not an easy disease…
HISTORY OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE A. Dr. Alois Alzheimer III. WHAT IS ALHEIMER’S DISEASE? A. Definition B. Warning Signs C. Symptoms D. Diagnosis IV. WHO’S AT RISK? A. Risk Factors B. Biological & Genetics C. Other Possible Causes V. TREATMENTS A. Pharmacological Treatments B. Surgical C. Therapeutic VI. THE FUTURE OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE VII. CONCLUSION VIII. REFERENCE LIST Abstract As per the Alzheimer’s Association, An estimated 5.2 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease…
Health and Disease November 22, 2014 David Carmon Disease and Progression Alzheimer’s is classified as a degenerative disease with no promise of recovery. The disease slowly and progressively attacks nerve cells in various parts of the cortex of the brain, and some of the surrounding structures. When a person has Alzheimer’s they lose their ability to govern emotions, recognize errors and patterns coordinate movement, and the ability to remember. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease will eventually…