...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
...Alzheimer ’s disease SOC 313 Social Implications of Medical Issues Instructor: August 8, 2011 Alzheimer’s disease is irreversible progressive brain disease that destroys memory and thinking skills. “Its onset is generally insidious that gradually deterioration of cognitive function and eventually resulting death.” (Falvo, D. 2009). Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia among older people from age 65 or older. “Nearly 70 percentages of dementias are Alzheimer’s, and over 4.5 million Americans have it” (www.alz.org). This disease happens in older people, but a small percentage that can affect those in their middle age. One of the greatest risk factors that increase Alzheimer’s in family history is ages, and genetics. Alzheimer’s develops in genetic, lifestyle, and environmental work factors that cause this disease process. “Research shows that Latinos and African Americans in the United States have higher rates of vascular disease for developing Alzheimer’s”. (www.alz.org). If someone in your family has Alzheimer’s such as a brother, sister, or parent, they are more likely to developing the chance to getting the disease. There are two stages to having the disease, early onset and late onset. The early onset stage affects a small percentage of people under the ages 35 to 65. The early onset stages are usually inherited from a family history meaning a greater chance for developing the disease. The person tends to deal with forgetfulness, mood swings...
Words: 1311 - Pages: 6
...When you hear about Alzheimer's, and dementia you may think that they are the same disease, the words are almost always together and when you associate dementia you will almost always associate it with Alzheimer’s and although they can work hand in hand there are a lot of differences between the two. In this paper, this author will compare and contrast Alzheimer's and dementia. This author will discuss the differences between the two as well as how the two can be the same. This author will also discuss what each disease is, how it can affect the brian of the people living with the disease, the causes of the disease, the symptoms of the disease, and the treatment for it. According to the national institute of aging, dementia is not a disease it is a disorder of the brain that can highly impact the performance of the daily act of living and can impact the way you communicate with others. Alzheimer's instead of being a syndrome or disorder it is a disease that can affect major parts of the brain that include your...
Words: 635 - Pages: 3
...Mental Health Disease Robin Cameron NUR/408 Janruary 16, 2011 Nancyruth Leibold Mental Health Disease According to Perry, Presley-Cantrell, and Dhingra (2010) “Mental illness is term health conditions that are characterized by alteration in thinking, mood, or behavior or perhaps a combination that is associated with distress and/or impaired functioning” (p. 2333). Mental health has become an increase concern in the vulnerable elderly population across the nation. Two of the major mental diseases that are prevalence in the elderly population are Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Alzheimer and Dementia are both diseases that affect the elderly population across the nation by declining loss of intellectual functioning. Not much is known about these disease processes but what is known is both these diseases are similar in signs and symptoms (Fisher Center For Alzheimer‘s Research Foundation, 2011). To explore and understand more about Alzheimer and Dementia disease process, it is important to understand what epidemiology is. Then this paper will show how the steps and methods the epidemiology uses to help determine the cause and effect of a disease. The paper continues to review how the epidemiological triangle is used. It is important to tie it altogether by explaining how epidemiology is used to help explore and understanding in how the disease process develops, any identifying causes and how to either slow the effects or prevent the disease process of Alzheimer from...
Words: 2092 - Pages: 9
...Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease is becoming a problem among society and the increasing age population. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, with prevalence of 5% after 65 years of age, and an increased prevalence of about 30% in people aged 85 years or older (Galimberti & Scarpini, 2011). There are many misconceptions that you must be “old” in order to develop Alzheimer’s disease, but this is not entirely true. Although increased age is the greatest risk factor, older people are not the only ones that can develop the disease (Alzheimer’s Association, 2016). Early (or younger) onset Alzheimer’s can also affect individuals that are as young as 40 or 50 years old, although this number comprises...
Words: 1623 - Pages: 7
...Alzheimer's disease is a disease of the brain that is eventually fatal and affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts. It is an "irreversible disease and destroys brain cells causing thinking ability and memory to deteriorate." ("Alzheimer's Disease", 2016). Each individual with this fatal disease is affected in different ways. There is no order in which symptoms occur or the speed of their progression. Alzheimer's disease affects a person's ability to make decisions, perform simple tasks, or follow a conversation. It also affects a person's emotions, mood, and physical abilities. Individuals with this disease can lose interest in their favorite hobbies, become less expressive and withdrawn. An individual may also seem "different" or out...
Words: 1697 - Pages: 7
...Alzheimer’s disease General Psychology Term Paper Assignment Monday Night Class Abstract In the society that we are living right now, we can find a lot of different kinds of illness and health problems. A large number of these diseases have a cure and they also have a happy end; but there is one that does not. Over the past 20 years, Alzheimer’s disease came from an unknown dark side. Once studied as a strange disorder; it is one of the most common health problems that affect a lot of people around the world and their families. More of a 90% of Alzheimer’s disease cases shows up in people around 60 years old. Even do we ignore how this treats starts; science people have found that the change inside the brain starts 10 to 20 years before we can observe the symptoms. Knowing a little more about this illness, will help us to understand these people that are in need of love, attention and comprehension. Alzheimer’s disease In the society that we are living right now, we can find a lot of different kinds of illness and health problems. A lot of these diseases have a cure and they also have a happy end; but there is one that does not. Alzheimer’s disease is a very ordinary illness that severely affects our society, specially the older population. It is a fact that we have to deal with. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there that suffer...
Words: 2369 - Pages: 10
...“overall;” disease. The disease in itself is one that is generally a degeneration in mental ability which is severe enough to interfere with everyday life. One major symptom that is associated with the disease is memory loss. Doctors will diagnose dementia if there are two or more of the following symptoms brought to them by their patient: • Memory • Language skills • Spatial Skills • Understanding of Information • Judgment and • Attention Not all patients will experience every symptom because each symptom depends on which part of the brain the disease is affecting. Thinking skills that are bad enough will reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities like hygiene and grocery shopping. People with Dementia...
Words: 1932 - Pages: 8
...Epidemiology of Alzheimer' Disease Ronya Bentz NUR/408 March 4, 2013 Patricia Schwartz Epidemiology of Alzheimer' Disease According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is “not just the absence of mental disorder but as a state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” (Perry, Presley-Cantrell, and Dhingra 2010). Mental illness, “refers collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders that are characterized by alteration in thinking, mood or behavior (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning” (Perry, Presley-Cantrell, and Dhingra 2010). Mental health is an increasing concern with the vulnerable population of the elderly across America. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are the two leading psychiatric diseases effecting the elderly, causing deterioration of intellectual functioning. Scientists cannot completely comprehend the etiology and progress of these two diseases. Scientists have learned that both diseases have signs and symptoms parallel to one another (Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, 2011). It is important to get a better perception of the development of these diseases, so the importance of understanding epidemiology is relevant...
Words: 2045 - Pages: 9
...Alzheimer Disease 2013 michaeltin [Type the company name] 4/30/2013 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. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease. 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. Alzheimer’s disease is named after Dr. Aloes Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. Her symptoms included memory loss, language problems, and unpredictable behavior. After she died, he examined her brain and found many abnormal clumps (now called amyloidal plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillary tangles). Plaques and tangles in the brain are two of the main features of Alzheimer’s disease. The third is the loss of connections between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain...
Words: 1411 - Pages: 6
...ADMINISTRATION Many Alzheimer’s patients would love to remain at home living in the community they are a part of. They are used to their surroundings and enjoy being around the things, activities, and the people they love. Caregivers often go to great extents trying to make this happen often to the loss of their own financial, physical, and emotional well-being. The U.S. Administration on Aging (AOA), a program division within the Administration for Community Living (ACL) (Link, 2015), has been in the forefront of helping caregivers. The ACL assist in maintaining a wide range of support programs that address daily issues caregivers face. The ACL has made considerable advances in meeting the various, rapidly changing support needs of...
Words: 995 - Pages: 4
...Alzheimer’s Disease Susan Edmonson Daymar College Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimers Disease is a progressive, deteriorating disease that attacks the brain causing diminished memory, thinking and behavior. Therefore it is imperative to know how Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed, risks and the different stages of the illness. It is an illness that is evident in a gradual decline in brain function that gets worse with time. It can affect a person’s ability to find words, finish thoughts or follow instructions. Learning about Alzheimer's disease and realizing that it is much more than memory loss can benefit the families of those with the illness. This disease is progressive and eventually leads to death. While there is no cure, it can be treated. Alzheimer’s is not a classic part of aging (What is Alzheimers, 2015). It can earnestly affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. Those affected by Alzheimer’s live an average of eight years after the symptoms are evident. One can survive from four to twenty years, dependent on the age of the person and their health situations (What is Alzheimers, 2015). “In 2013, as many as 5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease”(Center for Disease Control, 2015 ). There are quite a few risk factors that can increase one’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (Cummings,2008). “Aging is the most powerful risk”(Cummings, 2008). Having a family history of dementia can also be a risk factor, even though it is uncommon...
Words: 1811 - Pages: 8
...57-year-old client, Mr. Speed, has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. At this time, he seems to be in the early stage of the disease, and I feel that he would benefit from medication and therapy. He lives with his wife, and both of them are employed full time. He would like to continue working and living life to the fullest. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a brain disease that progressively destroys thinking skills and memory. Although the cause of this disease is unknown, researchers believe that the accumulation of the protein amyloid in the brain may contribute to its onset. Although most individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are 65 years of age and older, it is not uncommon to develop the disease at a younger age, like my client, Mr. Speed. Early-onset Alzheimer’s has been known to affect people in their 50’s.Jade Galvan HCS/245 July 26, 2015 Mental/Behavioral Case Studies My 57-year-old client, Mr. Speed, has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. At this time, he seems to be in the early stage of the disease, and I feel that he would benefit from medication and therapy. He lives with his wife, and both of them are employed full time. He would like to continue working and living life to the fullest. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a brain disease that progressively destroys thinking skills and memory. Although the cause of this disease is unknown, researchers believe that the accumulation of the...
Words: 322 - Pages: 2
...symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease but as of today there is no known cure for the disease. Most treatment options include drug therapy and non-drug approaches such as behavioral and environmental modifications. Cognitive enhancers are medications that attempt to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s symptoms. According to Esther Heerema MSW (Alzheimer’s Dementia Expert) two classes of medication have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s. They are Cholinesterase Inhibitors and N-Methyl D-Aspartate (NMDA) Antagonists. (http://alzheimers.about.com/od/treatmentofalzheimers/a/Treatment-Of-Alzheimers-Disease.htm) Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger important for learning and memory. This supports communication among nerve cells by keeping acetylcholine levels high. Researchers have found lower levels of acetylcholine in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. They delay worsening of symptoms for 6 to 12 months, on average, for about half the people who take them. If side effects occur, they commonly include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements. There are three Cholinesterase inhibitors medications: Donepezil (Aricept) is approved to treat all stages of Alzheimer's. Rivastigmine (Exelon) is approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's. Galantamine (Razadyne) is approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's. ...
Words: 931 - Pages: 4
...There are many significant health issues that come with aging, one of which is Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys the memory and thinking skills of its victims. Eventually victims of Alzheimer’s lose their ability to complete tasks of daily living (National Institute on Aging, 2013). The discovery of Alzheimer’s disease was made by Dr. Alois Alzheimer upon an examination of the brain of a woman who died of an unusual mental illness. The doctor saw changes in the tissue of the brain. The National Institute on Aging (2013) website states that the symptoms of the woman’s illness were: memory loss, language problems, and unpredictable behaviors. In the examination of the brain, the doctor found abnormal clumps and tangled bundles of fibers. The clumps are amyloid plaques and the tangled bundles of fibers are neurofibrillary tangles. These plaques and tangles are two of the main features that accompany Alzheimer’s disease. A third feature is the loss of connection between neurons (nerve cells) in the brain (National Institute on Aging, 2013). Developing some knowledge of what Alzheimer’s disease is will help people understand what the symptoms of the disease are, how the disease is diagnosed and what treatments can be used to help slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease: Symptoms The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are tricky and can be easily written off as a sign of aging. It is not so...
Words: 1809 - Pages: 8
