The major effects of Alzheimer’s disease

The former liberal party leader, Michael Ignatieff said in his essay, “Deficits” (2010) “Sometimes I try to count the number of times she asks me these questions but I lose track” (p.108). Ignatieff is expressing his own feelings towards his mother’s Dementia of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German physician discovered a patient that suffered from a severe dementia due to brain abnormalities. Alzheimer’s disease is the second most-feared irreversible illness in America, following Cancer. It affects as many as 5 million Americans, a number that could soar to 16 million by 2050 (Hoffman, Froemke, and Golant, 2009, para 1). These numbers are due to the fact that there is no cure. The major effects of this specific disease can be depicted by Ignatieff (2010) in “Deficits” and also scientific studies that create a clear picture of how an individual is affected through the brain, how the individual does not have that sense of security and those caregivers who are trying to cope with the disease to that individual. The brain is a vital organ in the human body, when the brain is affected; the entire functions of the body are affected. In most individuals affected by Alzheimer’s, memory loss is usually the first sign. The individual begins to lose memory of recent events and later the ability to complete regular tasks declines as nerve cells break down. In the book, “The Everything Health Guide to Alzheimer’s disease” Terry said, “My mom couldn’t keep track of the time of day or day of the week, and she couldn’t keep track of money” a son of the mother who showed early stage signs to Alzheimer’s disease (Dezell & Hill, 2009, p.21). Thus, it is not a surprise that there is a change in personality and behaviors. The individual loses a piece of themselves, they no longer have unique qualities or a