BIO 145
April 11.2012
Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating disorder of the brain and “is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States” (Alzheimer’s Association) which has three stages. The first stage referred to as mild Alzheimer’s is marked with frequent memory loss and difficulty in retrieving newly learned information, as well as, difficulty in problem solving and personality deviations. The second stage is considered moderate Alzheimer’s and its recognized symptoms are; even greater memory loss and deepening confusion (at this stage one may receive a phone call at 6:00 AM requesting they pick up their grandmother and pay for her groceries because she can’t remember where she left her billfold or how she arrived at Kroger’s), assistance with daily activities is usually required at this stage. The third and most debilitating stage; severe Alzheimer’s, exhibits a rapid decline in an individual’s physical and mental capabilities. These victims must have assistance with daily living because they cannot tend to their own needs and are most often incoherent.
Alzheimer’s disease consists of several factors that result in the death of neurons in the brain resulting in brain shrinkage. The cause of death of these neurons is still not fully understood and is currently the subject of intense scientific research. We do however know that the presence of Amyloid plaques play a significant role in disrupting normal synaptic communication between brain cells and neurofibrillary tangles contribute to the death of individual neurons by destroying the “supply line” within the cell. Tau proteins disengage (the glue that holds microtubules together) and nutrients cannot be transported throughout the cell resulting in cell death. The Mayo Clinic states that “less than 5% of the time, Alzheimer’s disease results from combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain over time” (Mayo).
Research has shown that gene recognition and therapy may be the most promising avenue of approach for identifying and treating prospective Alzheimer’s victims before the disease takes hold. For now however, there are drugs that help ease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Cholinesterase inhibitors have shown promising results; as they allow more of the neurotransmitter Ach to stimulate the post synaptic membrane of brain cells. Perhaps the best defense for our middle aged and older population is to have a great offense by keeping our bodies and minds active and minding our lifestyle choices. It has been observed that those who consume “more fruits and vegetables, high-fiber foods, fish, and omega-3rich oils (sometimes known as the Mediterranean diet) and eat less red meat and dairy may have some protection against dementia” (WebMD).
Works cited
“What is Alzheimer’s?” Alzheimer’s Association. Web. April 11.2012. http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp
“Alzheimer’s Disease- Prevention Web Page”. WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise. November 9.2010. Web. April 11.2012.
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Alzheimer’s disease: Treatments and drugs.” Mayo Clinic Web Page. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Jan.18. 2011. Web. April 11.2012.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Loss of short term memory, denial of memory loss, language difficulty, and behavioral changes are all symptoms of the disease. Initial changes are subtle and as the disease progresses they enter a moderate stage of disease which may last several years and is marked by more global impairments of cognitive function. This moderate stage includes complications such as: degenerative changes in higher cognitive functioning needed for problem solving, spatial relationships, and language. Depression may begin to occur at this stage due to an awareness of deficits. Extreme confusion, lack of insight, disorientation, and the inability to carry out activities of daily living. Personal hygiene begins to be neglected and language begins to become impaired because it is difficult to remember and retrieve words. Behavioral changes can include agitation, sleep problems, restlessness, and wandering, aggression, and suspiciousness. Some may be abusive to others or become hostile. People at this stage are unable to live alone and need to be supervised and assisted in making decisions. Severe Alzheimer disease is the last stage of the disease process. It carries several extreme complications such as: a loss in ability to respond to the environment. Patients become total care and are bedridden most of the time related to the loss of almost…
- 1406 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and social/behavioral skills. The direct cause of it is not yet fully understood, but based on studies, the disease seems to be a result of the combination of genetic material, lifestyle, and environmental factors that affect the brain. While Alzheimer’s is most commonly found among people above the age of 65, it is not what would considered a normal part of aging. However, it is the most common risk factor for this disease. As the age of a person reaches 65, the risk of getting this disease doubles every five years.…
- 956 Words
- 4 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains a major cause of senile dementia, which is characterised by an impairment of neuronal and synaptic function in addition to the accumulation of β-amyloid plaque and formation of neurofibrillary tangles within distinct portions of the brain (De Strooper and Annaert, 2000). Progression of this distinct pathology of neurodegeneration does not typically vary from patient to patient, beginning in cerebral cortex before targeting the hippocampus, neocortex as well as the sub-cortical nuclei (Braak and Braak, 1995). The role of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease is pivotal. The cleavage of APP by the proteases β and γ- secretase releases β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides which results in aggregation of the peptides due to misfolding to form fibrils of Aβ which comprise the key components of amyloid plaque deposits in the brains of AD patients (Glenner and Wong, 1984).…
- 2014 Words
- 9 Pages
Better Essays -
Stage 2: Might have normal age-related changes, but no symptoms of dementia can be detected.…
- 624 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Alzheimer’s affects more than 5.1 million Americans and nearly as 44 million people worldwide. “Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes,” (Alzheimer). Alzheimer’s is an illness that develops in individuals as they are aging and the number of cases of individuals developing Alzheimer’s have doubled in recent time. Alzheimer’s attacks the brain in ways the effects how a person lives their daily lives. It prevents people from being independent since it attacks the brain functions and causes them to become forgetful and confuse most of the time. During the early stages of Alzheimer’s individuals forget small things like where they placed something, and in later stages they…
- 657 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Alzheimer's is a strange and mysterious illness. There are many frequently asked questions that must be answered.…
- 875 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
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. In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear after age 60. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older people. Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—and behavioral abilities, to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. Dementia ranges in severity from the mildest stage, when it is just beginning to affect a person’s functioning, to the most severe stage, when the person must depend completely on others for basic activities of daily living.…
- 1243 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized as a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. It is irreversible and it slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to perform simple tasks. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and over five million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s. There are many symptoms within each category of Alzheimer’s. In mild Alzheimer’s disease, where Alzheimer’s is usually diagnosed, the person presents with memory loss and other problems such as behavior changes, losing things, repeating questions, getting lost, and taking longer to complete activities of daily living. In the next category, moderate Alzheimer’s…
- 1234 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
* Early onset AD: Symptoms appear before age 60. This type is much less common than late onset. However, it tends to get worse quickly. Early onset disease can run in families. Several genes have been identified.…
- 1526 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Alzheimer’s disease is the number one form of dementia in the United States today. The more this disease progresses the worse it gets because there is no cure for it at this time. Most people do not show signs or symptoms of this disease or even get diagnosed until about age sixty-five. There is also no known cause for this disease and mostly people want to link Alzheimer’s to being hereditary. Mr. Speed will require secondary care especially in this case because Mr. Speed is barely in the early stages of the disease. When his disease progresses even more and is in the final stages, which can be five to ten years from now, maybe sooner, he will then require tertiary care.…
- 454 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. It includes memory loss, difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language, and etc. Brain damage due to symptoms by certain diseases is result of Alzheimer’s. Alois Alzheimer was the first person who describes the disease. It is a physical disease and also a progressive disease that affects the human brain. It slowly damages the parts of the brain, at first it is generally mild but they get worse over time and start to get involved with daily life. Nowadays, it is one of the common disease causes of mental deterioration in the elderly, acetylcholine-releasing neurons, which the cell bodies recline in the basal forebrain, selectively degenerate developed from compelling evidence.…
- 274 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Learning about Alzheimer’s disease and realizing that it is much more than just a loss of memory can benefit the families of those with the disorder as well as a whole. The purpose of this paper is to look at the disorder, as well as to discuss the history, symptoms, diagnosis and hopes of a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.…
- 2196 Words
- 9 Pages
Powerful Essays -
The ultimate result of this is the reduction of efficiency of the neurotransmitter system in the brain. The catabolism of dopamine also serves as a large source of free radical generation in Alzheimer’s disease. Another possible mechanism involved in Alzheimer’s disease is the creation and accumulation of glutamate hydroxyl radical (Behl et al., 1992) and also the over production of superoxide dismutase. This leads to the accumulation of hydroxyl radical produced from the conversion of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). A characterization of Alzheimer’s disease is by the loss of the amyloid B (beta) protein which is in the neocortex that is associated with oxidative stress and neuronal demise. The cause of the neuronal loss in patients with Alzheimer’s…
- 299 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder in which the death of brain cells causes memory loss and cognitive decline. A neurodegenerative type of dementia, the disease starts mild and gets progressively worse. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging, although the greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer's are 65 and older. But Alzheimer's is not just a disease of old age. Up to 5 percent of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer's (also known as younger-onset), which often appears when someone is in their 40s or 50s. Alzheimer's worsens over time. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Those with Alzheimer's live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but survival can range from four to 20 years, depending on age and other health conditions. People with Alzheimer disease also develop deposits of stuff (protein and fiber) that prevent the cells from working properly. When this happens, the cells can't send the right signals to other parts of the brain. Over time, brain cells affected by Alzheimer disease also begin to shrink and die. Lots of research is being done to find out more about the causes of Alzheimer disease. There is no one reason why people get Alzheimer disease. Older people are more likely to get it, and the risk gets greater the older the person gets. For instance, the risk is…
- 423 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Thesis statement: Alzheimer’s disease changed the way my father perceived his world and the way I perceived my father.…
- 1706 Words
- 5 Pages
Powerful Essays