...Imagine waking up and not being able to recognize the person sleeping next to you or not remembering your kids names. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. About 5.5 million people live with Alzheimer’s, and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Alzheimer’s is mostly mistaken as a sign of aging, it worsens over time and unfortunately has no cure. Many people tend to believe that Alzheimer’s is a problem for old people, but that is incorrect. A normal healthy way to age is skin becomes more sensitive, hair loss, bone density can be lost, a decrease in sight and hearing. It is common to have some memory loss, slower recall of information, however memory loss...
Words: 884 - Pages: 4
...There are different types of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes dementia. This is the best-known cause of dementia. There are two kinds of abnormal proteins that appear in the brain during the Alzheimer’s. They form clumps that interfere with how brain cells communicate with each other. They also make new memories. Vascular dementia is the second well-known disease that causes dementia. It happens when the blood flow in the brain is reduces. Blood carries oxygen through the vessels and without it the brain cells can die. There are two types of vascular dementia: * Stroke-related dementia happens following a stroke when parts of the brain are affected. This can cause difficulties in speech, coordination and moving. * Subcortical vascular dementia is caused by a series of small changes to blood vessels in the brain. They can damage parts of the brain and cause memory loss. Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is caused by small clumps which appear inside nerve cells in the brain. The protein clumps damage the way nerve cells communicate and work. Sometimes it is difficult to recognize whether it is Alzheimer’s of DLB because some of the symptoms are typical for both. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is disease where frontal and temporal lobes of the brain shrink. There are three types of proteins, which become toxic to brain cells if they clump together. One of the ways of memory impairments happens to the people who are diagnosed with stroke...
Words: 1323 - Pages: 6
...Parkinson Disease Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder that can cause your muscles to tighten and become rigid, making it difficult to walk and engage in daily activities. People with Parkinson’s disease also experience tremors and, in some cases, may ultimately develop cognitive problems, including memory loss and dementia. Parkinson's disease was first characterized extensively by an English doctor, James Parkinson, in 1817. Today, we understand Parkinson's disease to be a disorder of the central nervous system that results from the loss of cells in various parts of the brain, including a region called the substantia nigra. The substantia nigra cells produce dopamine, a chemical messenger responsible for transmitting signals within the brain that allow for coordination of movement, learning ability, reward feeling, and placebo effect. Decreased dopamine production causes neurons to fire without normal control, leaving patients less able to direct or control their movement and contributes to mood and cognitive disturbances later in the course of the disease. Parkinson's disease is one of several diseases categorized by clinicians as movement disorders. Parkinson's disease Triggers In Canada alone there is over 100,000 Canadians affected by Parkinson's disease. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease (after Alzheimer’s disease). Parkinson’s disease is most commonly found in people who are older than 50; the average age at which it occurs is...
Words: 1281 - Pages: 6
...Those with the disease often try to cover up their mental decline in the early stages, making early diagnosis even more difficult. Educating the medical community and the general population about the signs, symptoms and causes of dementia is an important step in seeking out a cure for this fatal disease. Dementia is a general term for a syndrome that is progressive in nature and is marked by deterioration in cognitive function that is greater than what would normally be expected. There are many types of dementia, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease accounts for over 60% of the cases of dementia. Vascular Dementia is the second most common form. Others include Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinsonian Dementia, and Frontotemporal Dementia. There is no cure for any type of dementia, although there are treatments that help lessen the symptoms. Dementia is a progressive disorder and always results in death, either from complications such as falls" or pneumonia or the dementia itself. The number of people with dementia worldwide is expected to reach over 115 million by the year 2050. The current cost of treating dementia is over 1.5 times that of all cancers combined (Hurd, 2013), yet it receives significantly less dollars for research. Pathophysiology Some types of dementia are diagnosed more readily than others. Alzheimer’s Disease typically has a slow onset and the early signs often go unnoticed. Typically, the progression of dementia is...
Words: 2319 - Pages: 10
...Jack Kevorkian – “Dr Death” The issue of assisted suicide or human euthanasia is one that is an ongoing controversy to date. So far only three states have actually passed laws allowing for assisted suicides; Montana, Oregon and Washington. Whether or not more will follow suit is an up in the air concept that is continuously up for debate. There are groups who are great supporters of the right to end one’s own life and in the same right there are those who vehemently oppose the idea of assisted suicide. It is through the efforts of a select group that the issue has gained countrywide recognition. One such person was none other than, Jack Kevorkian. Jack Kevorkian was born Murad Kevorkian, on May 26, 1928 in Michigan to refugee parents of the Armenian Massacre. Jack was the second of two children born to his parents, refugees of an Armenian massacre that took place after WWI. They were strict and religious people who worked hard to raise obedient Christian children. Being a very smart and inquisitive child, Jack did not agree with some of the views shared by his parents and their church. He decided to stop attending church at the age of 12. His parents also pushed each child to excel in their education; putting much of their focus on Jack, as their only son. Jack did very well as a child, not only in his academics but musically and with the arts. He even debated with his teachers whenever he thought it necessary due to his advanced level of intelligence. Jack...
Words: 976 - Pages: 4
...She, a person seventy-one years old, had been able to live alone for eleven years perfectly fine. No one thought that this would happen. Dementia takes the lives of healthy, hard working, and amazing people; just like it did to Esther Welp. Those affected by this disease have these: memory loss, executive dysfunction, spatial disorientation, personality changes, trouble communicating, and appearance change(Shea). They lose the ability to do everyday normal tasks such as bathing, cooking, and using the restroom that people sometimes take for granted. Dementia can be caused from many different reasons, and it possible to treat it in multiple ways or even completely healed. Studies have been able to prove that aging, genetic diseases, infections, trauma, tumors, strokes, nutritional deficiencies, and diseases cause memory, cognitive decline, and personality changes; otherwise known as dementia(Shea). All of these can induce the damage of brain cells. This damage causes the inability for brain cells to correspond with one another. The brain has specific regions and each has its own job. When the cells in...
Words: 956 - Pages: 4
...Special Populations Virginia Skov BSHS/402 March 25, 2011 A. Marie Davis Special Populations Special populations include individuals requiring help with finding resources, programs, and services to live a normal life. I researched special populations including people with disabilities, people with HIV/AIDS, addicts, senior citizens, and many more. After reviewing the different vulnerable populations and seeing the challenges each has I have decided to focus on the senior population. This is an area I am passionate about and hope to work as an advocate for in the future. The following information will address the special needs of senior citizens, programs and services for the aging, and the multicultural issues faced by this vulnerable population. The Senior Population The senior population usually refers to people who have reached the age of 65. This population is vulnerable because seniors typically are on predetermined incomes, live alone or with an aging spouse, have some form of debilitating disease, and lack the ability to perform daily activities. This vulnerable population is continuing to grow as the Baby Boomers have reached senior citizen status. According to the Washington State Office of the Attorney General (2009), The United States is in the midst of huge demographic shifts, with a third of [the] population reaching retirement age in the next few years. On January 1, 2006, [B]aby [B]oomers...
Words: 1259 - Pages: 6
...Alzheimer’s Disease a Fight for Information and Understanding ABSTRACT Alzheimer’s disease slowly deteriorates the brain, causing loss of both memory and the ability to control emotion. This review will discuss possible indicators, hypothesized causes, and both current and experimental treatments of Alzheimer’s. The disease mostly affects people over the age of 60 but can occur earlier. The problem with detecting Alzheimer’s early is that there are no clear indicators, and the changes in the brain progress before symptoms in the patient are visible. It’s hypothesized that the main cause of Alzheimer’s is neuronal plasticity and a build up of plaques. The plasticity leads to neuron tangles, causing blocks in synaptic signaling. Research on assays for detecting amyloid-beta ligands and disease treatments will need to involve human trails for future investigation. KEY WORDS: Alzheimer’s disease, neuronal plasticity, Tau-directed Therapy, amyloid-beta ligands, dementia INTRODUCTION Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a deteriorating disease of the brain that attacks neurons throughout the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus.1,2 The deterioration the cerebral cortex leads to the impairment of a person’s ability to control emotion, coordination, and the ability to comprehend configurations.6 The loss of memory caused by AD comes from the deterioration of the hippocampus.5 Alzheimer’s is most common in people 65 years or older, however for people with early onset Alzheimer’s...
Words: 2763 - Pages: 12
... With dementia comes Alzheimer’s, which is a type of dementia.The skills that tend to deteriorate with these mental illnesses are cognitive skills. Researchers have found that yoga, which is a physical and mental exercise, can help to improve cognitive skills. In fact, epidemiological observational studies have shown...
Words: 926 - Pages: 4
...Alzheimer’s Disease is an irreversible, degenerative brain disease that is marked by the build up of plaque and tangles in the neurons of Alzheimer’s patients, which induce memory loss and inhibit mental functions. Estimates vary, but experts believe as many as 5.1 million Americans are currently suffering from Alzheimer’s (Alzheimer’s Fact Sheet). Although there is no cure for the disease, early detection of Alzheimer’s is crucial because it allows the patient to immediately begin a drug regimen that slows the process of the disease. In modern medicine, two types of PET imaging, fluorodeoxyglucose and amyloid, are the most effective methods of diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease. The degenerative aspect of Alzheimer’s is caused by plaque and tangles in the nerve cells of the brain. Abnormal clusters of protein fragments called beta amyloid accumulate in the synaptic gap between neurons and block cell-to-cell signaling (Alzheimer’s Association). This build up of plaque may also activate an autoimmune response, which kills the deactivated cells (Medicine Net). Simultaneously, tangles in a protein called tau destroy a vital nerve cell transport system. Healthy transport systems are kept orderly and parallel by tau (Alzheimer’s Association). In Alzheimer’s patients, however, tau collapses in to twisted strands called tangles. The transport system can no longer stay parallel, which causes it to disintegrate. Key materials like food molecules and cell parts can no longer move through...
Words: 1957 - Pages: 8
...Alzheimer’s Disease We live in an advanced world of technology and medicine. As much as many things positively impact society, numerous may also have a negative effect. Throughout the years, we were able to create cures through medicine that have allowed the life expectancy of the older generation to outlast the previous ones. But for many seniors, new problems arise that still require an antidote with the help of research and development. Even though females have a higher rate in life expectancy, they also have a greater chance in degenerating diseases; but both have an equal chance in getting a specific disease. One of which is the most common form of Dementia called Alzheimer’s that is caused within old age. Alzheimer causes memory loss and it goes from losing a little portion to even forgetting your entire past. This paper will discuss what happens with Alzheimer’s, who it targets, what are the signs of detecting this disease, and if there is a way to cure it. Alzheimer’s was first discovered in the early 1900’s by a German physician, Alois Alzheimer. He discovered the disease while observing a patient, a 51 year old woman named Frau Auguste D., who developed symptoms of memory loss and had difficulty understandings and speaking. After a few years of observations, Dr. Alxheimer discovered a progression of the symptoms which inevitably led to the death of the patient. Upon autopsy, abnormal impairment of the brain was discovered, along with a remarkable...
Words: 2692 - Pages: 11
...Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. Research advances have enabled detailed understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of the hallmarks of the disease-ie, plaques, composed of amyloid β (Aβ), and tangles, composed of hyperphosphorylated tau. However, as our knowledge increases so does our appreciation for the pathogenic complexity of the disorder. Familial Alzheimer's disease is a very rare autosomal dominant disease with early onset, caused by mutations in the amyloid precursor protein and presenilin genes, both linked to Aβ metabolism. By contrast with familial disease, sporadic Alzheimer's disease is very common with more than 15 million people affected worldwide. The cause of the sporadic form of the disease is unknown, probably because the disease is heterogeneous, caused by ageing in concert with a complex interaction of both genetic and environmental risk factors. This seminar reviews the key aspects of the disease, including epidemiology, genetics, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as recent developments and controversies. 100 years ago, Alois Alzheimer gave a lecture at a congress in Tubingen, Germany, on the first case of the disease that Kraepelin some years later named Alzheimer's disease.1 In this single case. Alzheimer described typical clinical characteristics with memory disturbances and instrumental signs, and the neuropathological picture with miliary bodies (plaques) and dense bundles of fibrils (tangles), which we today...
Words: 7059 - Pages: 29
...1521-0472 online DOI: 10.1080/03601277.2013.863573 Gaps in Alzheimer’s Knowledge Among College Students Elaine M. Eshbaugh School of Applied Human Sciences, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA Despite the prevalence of the disease, it appears that there may be a need for increased education for formal and family caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Today’s college students will be asked to fill both of these roles in the future. This study examined the level of knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease among college students. Two-hundred college students at a mid-sized midwestern university completed an online survey that included the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (Carpenter et al., 2009). Although most participants knew that people with Alzheimer’s remember things from the distant past better than more recent events, many college students were unfamiliar with risk factors and average life expectancy. Implications and recommendations for educational programs and curriculum are discussed. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are significant health concerns affecting our older adult population (Sullivan & Muscat, 2007). As our population continues to age and our demography shifts to higher proportions of elders, the number of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia continues to increase. Although the causes of dementia are numerous, Alzheimer’s disease, which is irreversible and ultimately fatal, is the...
Words: 5598 - Pages: 23
...within different scenarios, strategies to overcome these barriers and evaluating these different strategies. Scenario 1- you are a nurse at Stafford Hospital. Maggie, aged 60, has been admitted to your hospital ward for tests after being very tired and struggling for breath. Six months ago she had cancer of the womb and underwent surgery to have a full hysterectomy followed by a course of radiotherapy. Tests have revealed that, unfortunately, Maggie’s cancer has returned and is now in her lungs and kidneys. The consultant arrives for ward round with her junior doctors. The ward is busy and fairly noisy; no curtains are drawn around the six beds in the bay. Maggie is alone. The consultant arrives at Maggie’s bed to tell her the results of her tests. As Maggie has been submitted to hospital, she may find it difficult to communicate with nurses/doctors as hospitals are noisy and professionals may not be able to hear Maggie, this could lead to either Maggie becoming frustrated with the professionals or the professionals getting frustrated with Maggie or misunderstanding what she’s saying and this may then lead to Maggie not having her needs met. Due to Maggie going through surgery and finding out her cancer has returned, this’ll lead to her self esteem being eroded and may cause anxiety so she may feel too scared to talk to anyone. As the ward is busy and no curtains are drawn, there’s a lack of dignity for these service users and there’s no personal space for the users and there’s...
Words: 2802 - Pages: 12
...diseases can cause dementia, for example Alzheimer’s disease: the most common and best known cause of dementia. Individuals with dementia may experience mood changes, communication problems, loss of motivation, depression and memory loss (NICE, 2006). Persons with progressive loss of cognitive abilities will find activities of daily living becoming more difficult and will need assistance accomplishing...
Words: 1713 - Pages: 7
