Understanding Alzheimers Disease Essay - 1846 Words

Understanding Alzheimers Disease With all of the advanced technology that the medical field possesses today, there is still suffering that occurs from incurable diseases. Alzheimers Disease is one of those incurable diseases that take the lives of many today. This paper will examine this disease thoroughly by looking at its definition, and discussing general information, facts, and figures. The cause of Alzheimers Disease, and the much thought about question of if it is genetic or not will disputed. Also the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimers Disease will be addressed. Included will also be tips on how to make the life of an Alzheimers patient easier. What is Alzheimers Disease? Alzheimers Disease (AD)†¦show more content†¦Currently there are approximately two to four million Americans that have AD, and due to the fact that the population as a whole will age, by the middle of the 21st century, that number might reach 14 million. Rarely does AD strike people in their 40s or 50s, and when it does it is considered to be a subdivision called early-onset AD. Elderly people age 65 or older is the class most often effected by Alzheimers Disease. Three percent of all people age 65 to 74 have Alzheimers. Nineteen percent of those between the ages of 75 and 84 are affected, and for those over age 85 forty-seven percent are affected. The average cost of caring for someone with Alzheimers Disease is considerable, and is approximately $174,000 per person over the course of the disease. This figure is for those persons who can be cared for at home by a friend or family member. If the condition is bad enough and the persons caregi ver has to seek outside help, such as a nursing home, the cost rises. (Robinson, 1999) By reading all of these startling facts one may wonder what causes such a horrible disease. In the year of 1906, Dr. Alois Alzheimer, the man in which the disease is named after, conducted an autopsy on a woman who died from an unusual mental illness. His findings showed changes in the womens brain tissues. He found abnormal deposits, now called senile plaques, and tangled bundles of nerve fibers, now calledShow MoreRelated Understanding Alzheimers Disease Essay3172 Words   |  13 Pagesthat still haunts me to this day. Did you hear the words that haunted me as well? Did a close family of yours get diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a detrimental disease that burdens not only the patient, but the family as well? What is Alzheimer’s exactly? According to What is Alzheimer’s Disease? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment, published on Medical News Today, Alzheimer’s is â€Å"†¦ a neurological disorder in which the death of brain cells causes memory loss and cognitive decline† (Macgill). Now that youRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : A Type Of Dementia1117 Words   |  5 Pageswith Alzheimer’s disease for more than ten years. During the last couple of years she was alive I barely ever visited her, and I never understood why she was always in bed, and whenever I went to go see her she never remembered who I was. I feel that because of this disease, I lost my grandmother a long time ago; hopefully by the end of this paper I will have a better understanding about the disease that took her away, years ago. According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2015), Alzheimer’s is aRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : The Most Common Form Of Dementia998 Words   |  4 Pagesof Alzheimer disease, especially adults who have a family member in late adulthood. If people were to have knowledge on how to help or treat someone who has Alzheimer disease it would be beneficial for both of them and it would make living together much easier. Many people don’t know what Alzheimer disease is â€Å"Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. The risk of AD increases with age† (Takashi 2015). As someone ages they are most likely to get Alzheimer disease, this due to generalizedRead MoreA Brief Note On Fighting Alzheimer s Disease1038 Words   |  5 PagesJanuary 18, 2017 Fighting Alzheimer’s â€Å"So now, we feel it is important to share it with you. In opening our hearts, we hope this might promote greater awareness of this condition. Perhaps it will encourage a clearer understanding of the individuals and families who are affected by it.† This was part of the fortieth president Ronald Reagan’s speech announcing the start of his battle with Alzheimer’s Disease that would last ten years (Adams 21). Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects millions of AmericansRead MoreThe Disease Of Alzheimer s Disease1172 Words   |  5 PagesAlzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in America. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Alzheimer’s accounts for 70-80% of dementia cases. By the age of 65, 1 in 9 people are diagnosed and by the age of 85, 1 in 3 people will have the disease. According to the Alzheimer Association, 5 million people in American have Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s starts to form 20 years prior to being diagnosed. Learning about Alzheimer’s can help familiesRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : The Neurological Thief822 Words   |  4 Pages Alzheimer’s Disease: The Neurological Thief Ashley E. Campbell Psychology 210 October 31, 2015 Malvereen Harris Alzheimer’s Disease: The Neurological Thief It is a wicked disease that slowly steals our loved ones memories, independence and eventually their lives. While no one knows the exact cause of Alzheimer’s Disease, it is the leading cause of dementia related deaths to date. It was first described in 1906 by Alois Alzheimer, a German psychologist and neurologist. Alzheimer’s DiseaseRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Alzheimer s Disease920 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough there is no cure for Alzheimer’s there are ways to treat this disease. Certain medications may help lessen the symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion but only for a limited amount of time. The Food and Drug Administration have approved the following types of medications: cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, both of these medications treat the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer s disease. (Office) Unfortunately, as Alzheimer’s advances the patient’s brain cells progressively die andRead MoreJenkins Keith HCS245 Wk3 Mental Behavioral Case Study Essay651 Words   |  3 Pagesgrandmother might be suffering from early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. Upon doing research on the disease I learned that Alzheimers disease is perhaps the most common form of dementia, although several others exist. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease of the brain. In the early stages, people experience some memory loss which progresses to marked memory loss, then to a decrease in thinking ability such as decision making. Later the disease leads to the loss in the ability to perform activitiesRead MoreCase Study: Alzheimer’S Disease. Mary Wipf. Phgy 220- Gerald1252 Words   |  6 PagesStudy: Alzheimer’s Disease Mary Wipf PHGY 220- Gerald McGraw April 2, 2017 In the world, there are new cases of dementia for somewhere between 10 and 15 people per 1000. Five to eight per 1000 are cases of Alzheimer’s. Dementia is a term that simply defines a mentally deteriorated condition. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease and is the most common cause of dementia in older people. Alzheimer’s is a disease of theRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease And Dementia1329 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to the Alzheimer’s association, over five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. It is also noted that Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the US, causing more fatalities than breast and prostate cancer patients combined. With that being said, how many commercials have you seen about Alzheimer’s awareness? How many 5k’s and walk-a-thons have you seen advertised opposed to cancer awareness? My purpose with this paper is to shed light on Alzheimer’s and dementia