Alzheimer's Disease Research Paper
As a new era dawns upon us many people find themselves asking the question; "What is Alzheimer 's Disease?" Alzheimer 's Disease today affects almost all people in some way. Since the amount of lives this disease affects continues to increase epidemiologists have named Alzheimer 's Disease, "The Disease of the Century".
In 1906 a German neurologist Alois Alzheimer performed a neurological autopsy on a 56-year-old woman who had suffered deteriorating mental health for many years before her death. Alzheimer noticed a disorganization of nerve cells in her cerebral cortex, the area of the brain responsible for controlling memory and reasoning. There were two oddities he found. The first was an accumulation of cellular debris surrounding the nerves …show more content…
The disease is also known as "senile dementia" or "pre-senile dementia". Dementia refers to the lost of mental health. The term "senile" means old. "Pre-Senile" refers to those patients less than 65 years of age. …show more content…
Patients are unable to recognize themselves and close family members. They become bedridden; and only slight useless movements are made. The only way of communication they use is screaming out. (http://www.ahaf.org) (http://www.alzheimers.com)
Diagnosis of this disease is very difficult. Doctors are only 100% certain of the presence of the disease from autopsies after death. Diagnosis is based on the judgment of physicians and their experience with Alzheimer 's Disease. Current accuracy of correct diagnosis is 90%. Recently they have discovered a way to test the level of Tau protein; this has helped with correct diagnosis. Sometimes mental tests are run to test the memory, learning skills, language skills, and the ability to follow instructions.
Many people also question the heredity of the disease. It has been found that some forms of the disease are hereditary. The "Pre-Senile" Alzheimer 's which usually sets on in a person around 40, 50 years of age is found to be hereditary. There are three types of genetic proteins that have been linked to Alzheimer patient 's apoliprotein E2, E3, and E4. Those who inherit E4 have a higher chance of developing the disease.
In 1906 a German neurologist Alois Alzheimer performed a neurological autopsy on a 56-year-old woman who had suffered deteriorating mental health for many years before her death. Alzheimer noticed a disorganization of nerve cells in her cerebral cortex, the area of the brain responsible for controlling memory and reasoning. There were two oddities he found. The first was an accumulation of cellular debris surrounding the nerves …show more content…
The disease is also known as "senile dementia" or "pre-senile dementia". Dementia refers to the lost of mental health. The term "senile" means old. "Pre-Senile" refers to those patients less than 65 years of age. …show more content…
Patients are unable to recognize themselves and close family members. They become bedridden; and only slight useless movements are made. The only way of communication they use is screaming out. (http://www.ahaf.org) (http://www.alzheimers.com)
Diagnosis of this disease is very difficult. Doctors are only 100% certain of the presence of the disease from autopsies after death. Diagnosis is based on the judgment of physicians and their experience with Alzheimer 's Disease. Current accuracy of correct diagnosis is 90%. Recently they have discovered a way to test the level of Tau protein; this has helped with correct diagnosis. Sometimes mental tests are run to test the memory, learning skills, language skills, and the ability to follow instructions.
Many people also question the heredity of the disease. It has been found that some forms of the disease are hereditary. The "Pre-Senile" Alzheimer 's which usually sets on in a person around 40, 50 years of age is found to be hereditary. There are three types of genetic proteins that have been linked to Alzheimer patient 's apoliprotein E2, E3, and E4. Those who inherit E4 have a higher chance of developing the disease.