Alzheimer Disease Not Just Memory Loss Essay Example

Alzheimer Disease Not Just Memory Loss Essay Example Alzheimer Disease Not Just Memory Loss Essay Alzheimer Disease Not Just Memory Loss Essay Mem?ry loss ?s like ?n old age wh?re ?t ?s ? c?nd?ti?n which m?nk?nd h?s always reluct?ntly recognized ?nd always w?th resign?ti?n. Mem?ry loses ?r? s?metimes trivial ?nd me?n?ngless ?nd g? unrecognized. Howev?r, when th?se losses ?r? s? gre?t th?t ? p?rs?n does n?t kn?w who ?r wh?re th?y ?r? th? c?nc?rns ?r? qu?te grave. Although ?t ?s realize th?t Alzheim?rs d?se?se destroys th? bra?n mem?ry functi?n, m?ny do n?t realize prec?sely how th? mem?ry ?s destroyed ?nce ?ne ?s aw?r? ?f th? process; ?t b?comes f?st?r t? w?rk f?rw?rd t? ?llevi?te th? destructi?n.W?thout mem?ry th?re ?s n? kn?wledge t? recre?te ?r reproduce p?st p?rcepti?ns, emoti?ns, thoughts ?nd acti?ns th?t ?r? s? v?tal t? live ? full ?nd functi?n?ng l?fe. Mem?ry ?s th? key th?t unlocks do?rs th?t keep us functi?n?ng, n?t ?nly ment?lly but physic?lly. Discussion As ? new era dawns up?n us m?ny people f?nd th?mselves ask?ng th? questi?n; Wh?t is Alzheimers Disease? Alzheimers Disease t?day affects almost ?ll people ?n so me way. S?nce th? amount ?f lives this disease affects c?nt?nues t? ?ncrease epidemiologists have named Alzheimers Disease, Th? Disease ?f th? Century. Edw?rds?n, 2007, p361-362) ?n 1906 ? Germ?n neurologist Alois Alzheimer perf?rmed ? neurological aut?psy ?n ? 56-ye?r-old wom?n who had suffered deteri?r?t?ng mental health f?r m?ny ye?rs b?f?re her de?th. Alzheimer noticed ? dis?rg?niz?ti?n ?f nerve cells ?n her cerebral c?rtex, th? ?rea ?f th? bra?n resp?nsible f?r c?ntroll?ng mem?ry ?nd reas?n?ng. Th?re were two odd?ties he found. Th? first was ?n accumul?ti?n ?f cellul?r debris surround?ng th? nerves he c?lled this senile plaque. Th? sec?nd odd?ty were groups ?f nerves th?t were bunched ?nd twisted he c?lled this neur?fibrill?ry t?ngles. n th? follow?ng ye?rs as m?re aut?psies were c?nducted th? same odd?ties th?t were found ?n 1906 were found ?n p?tients display?ng th? same sympt?ms. ?t th?t time ? prestigious Germ?n psychi?trist, Emil Kraepel?n, proposed nam?ng th? disease ?n h ?n?r ?f ?ts discoverer Alois Alzheimer. (First, 2008, p56-88) Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimers Disease is ? chr?nic bra?n dis?rder th?t destroys ?nes abil?ty t? reas?n, rememb?r, imag?ne ?nd le?rn. Th? disease is also known as senile dementia ?r pre-senile dementia. Dementia refers t? th? lost ?f mental health. Th? term senile me?ns old. Pre-Senile refers t? those p?tients less th?n 65 ye?rs ?f age. Lesi?ns ?n bra?n cells th?t take th? f?rm ?f senile plaques ?nd neur?fibrill?ry t?ngles cause Alzheimers Disease. Healthy bra?n tissue is n?rm?lly ?rr?nged ?n ?n ?rg?nized p?ttern. Th?se knots ?nd t?ngles throw th? bra?n ?nt? mass c?nfusi?n tak?ng over ?nd destroy?ng healthy bra?n tissue. This causes th? bra?n cells t? st?p functi?n?ng. Recently ? prote?n Tau has b?en discovered ?n th?se t?ngles ?nd knots. This prote?n is found ?n healthy bra?n cells, but is found ?n much l?rger qu?nt?ties surround?ng ?reas affected by this disease.Oth?r ailments have b?en l?nked t? th? ?nset ?f th? disease. Th?se ?nclude head trauma, problems w?th th? immune system, blood c?ncer, thyroid problems ?nd Downs Syndrome. Stages ?f Alzheimer’s Disease Th?re ?re four dist?nct stages ?f progressi?n. Th? progressi?n ?f Alzheimers c?n take from three t? fourteen ye?rs. This time sp?n is based ?n th? time from diagnosis t? de?th. ?ll p?tients g? through th?se stages just ?t d?fferent r?tes. Th? first stage ?f Alzheimers th? p?tient experiences ? slow?ng down ?f m?ny fact?rs ?f b?havi?r. Th?y have less energy, slow t? le?rn new th?ngs, ?nd th?ir reacti?n time decreases.P?tients experience ?nly mild f?rgetfulness ?f recent events, famili?r people ?nd places. Th?y have ? decrease ?n judgment, ?nd trust. Also, th?y b?come ?ncreas?ngly stubb?rn ?nd restless. M?ny people ?re unaw?re ?f th? presence ?f ? disease b?cause frequently mem?ry loss is comm?n ?n th? elderly due t? f?tigue ?r ? period ?f sickness. (Gelb, 2006, p1393-1400) ?n th? sec?nd stage th? p?tient b?comes ?ncreas?ngly f?r getful ?nd has m?re trouble rec?ll?ng recent occurrences. Th?y have d?fficulty ?n skills such as decisi?n mak?ng, pl?nn?ng ?nd judgment.Th? p?tients speech ?nd comprehensi?n b?come much slower ?nd ?ften loose th?ir tra?n ?f thought ?ften. Th?y ?re usu?lly able t? complete comm?n tasks but need assist?nce w?th m?re complic?ted ?nes. Th?y must b? given cle?r ?nd repe?ted ?nstructi?ns by c?regivers. Victims st?rt t? b?come aw?re ?f illness ?nd b?come depressed, irr?table, restless, ?nd soci?lly w?thdrawn. ?n th? third stage Alzheimer p?tients loose ?ll abil?ty t? recognize famili?r people ?nd places. Th?y have trouble complet?ng simple everyday tasks like e?t?ng, b?th?ng, gett?ng dressed ?nd us?ng th? t?ilet.Th?y lack ?nterest ?n pers?nal hygiene ?nd loose ?ll sexual ?nst?ncts. Th?y have d?fficulty communic?t?ng verb?lly. P?tients ?re easily ag?t?ted ?nd deny th?y ?re ill. Th? fourth stage ?f Alzheimers Disease is th? stage th?t ultim?tely leads t? de?th. P?tients ?re unable t? recogni ze th?mselves ?nd close family memb?rs. Th?y b?come b?dridden; ?nd ?nly slight useless movements ?re made. Th? ?nly way ?f communic?ti?n th?y use is scream?ng out. Diagnosis ?f Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis ?f this disease is very d?fficult. Doct?rs ?re ?nly 100% certa?n ?f th? presence ?f th? disease from aut?psies ?fter de?th.Diagnosis is based ?n th? judgment ?f physici?ns ?nd th?ir experience w?th Alzheimers Disease. Current accuracy ?f c?rrect diagnosis is 90%. Recently th?y have discovered ? way t? test th? level ?f Tau prote?n; this has helped w?th c?rrect diagnosis. Sometimes mental tests ?re run t? test th? mem?ry, le?rn?ng skills, l?nguage skills, ?nd th? abil?ty t? follow ?nstructi?ns. (H?rm?n, 2005, p155-187) M?ny people also questi?n th? hered?ty ?f th? disease. ?t has b?en found th?t some f?rms ?f th? disease ?re hered?t?ry. Th? Pre-Senile Alzheimers which usu?lly sets ?n ?n ? pers?n ?round 40, 50 ye?rs ?f age is found t? b? hered?t?ry.Th?re ?re three types ?f g enetic prote?ns th?t have b?en l?nked t? Alzheimer p?tients apoliprote?n E2, E3, ?nd E4. Those who ?nher?t E4 have ? higher ch?nce ?f develop?ng th? disease. ?ne scientist, B?rb?ra Talamo, has discovered th? tissue found ?n th? upper nose g?es through th? same ch?nges th?t th? cerebral c?rtex tissue g?es through. She pl?ns ?n f?nd?ng out ?f this tissue found ?n th? nose deteri?r?tes ?t th? same r?te ?f th?t found ?n Alzheimer p?tients. ?f so this could lead t? th? e?rly diagnosis ?f Alzheimers. Tre?tment ?f Alzheimer’s Disease Currently tre?tment is focus?ng ?n slow?ng progressi?ns ?nd cop?ng w?th sympt?ms. ne drug, THA, is ? drug th?t helps t? boost levels ?f acetylchol?ne, ? chemical th?t is ?nvolved ?n mem?ry. Two FDA approved drugs bng tested ?re Tacr?ne ?nd D?nepezil th?se drugs ?re also t? help mem?ry. Although, th?se drugs cause side affects, D?nepezil is found t? cause nausea, cramps ?nd lose ?f appet?te. Estrogen f?r women has b?en found t? have ? pos?tive affect ?n Alzheimer p?tients mental decl?ne. ?t helps mem?ry, l?nguage skills, ?nd th? abil?ty t? c?ncentr?te. Nicot?ne has also b?en found t? slow th? f?rm?ti?n ?f senile plaque, improve mem?ry, le?rn?ng ?nd c?ncentr?ti?n.Doct?rs do not suggest this use ?f tre?tment ?t ?ll; nicot?ne causes lung c?ncer, emphysema, high blood pressure, he?rt ?ttacks ?nd strokes. Currently 4 milli?n people ?n America have b?en diagnosed w?th Alzheimers Disease. ?t is projected w?th th? ag?ng Baby Boomers th?t 14 milli?n people will b? diagnosed ?n th? upcom?ng ye?rs. (Salib, 2008, p12-43) Drugs t? Aid ?n th? Tre?tment Th?re ?re currently two drugs t? aid ?n th? tre?tment ?f Alzheimer’s disease. Th?se drugs ?re ?nly effective dur?ng th? first couple ye?rs ?f th? disease. Th? drugs ?re c?lled Cognex ?nd ?ricept.Both ?f th?se drugs w?rk by ?ncreas?ng ? chemical ?n th? bra?n th?t w?rks w?th mem?ry. Th?y do not cure th? disease, but th?y do produce some improvement ?n p?tients. This disease is obviously ? h?r rible ?ne. ?t c?n rip ? family ap?rt, ?nd th?re is noth?ng th?t c?n b? d?ne about ?t. Hopefully, ?ne day ? cure will b? found, but ?n th? me?n time, Alzheimeraâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s disease has t?tal c?ntrol over ? pers?n who is afflicted w?th ?t. ?t also has c?ntrol over th? family ?f th? pers?n afflicted w?th ?t. Almost every?ne ?n this country has some s?rt ?f tie t? this disease, ?nd this is why m?re rese?rch should b? d?ne ?n hopes ?f f?nd?ng ? cure.This disease affects 10% ?f those over 65 ye?rs old ?nd 50% ?f those over th? age ?f 85. ?ne-Half ?f those liv?ng ?n nurs?ng homes ?re liv?ng w?th Alzheimers. Seven out ?f 10 p?tients live ?t home; family memb?rs c?re f?r 75% ?f th?m; th? oth?r 25% ?f th?m ?re c?red f?r by hired c?regivers. ?t has also b?en found th?t 55% ?f c?regivers show some signs ?f depressi?n. Alzheimers occurs m?re ?ften ?n women ?nd ?n Afric?n Americ?ns ?r Hisp?nics. (Slo?ne, 2007, p98-132) Alzheimer’s Disease – ? Costly Disease Alzheimers Disease is ? very costly disease; ?t is th? third most costly disease ?fter he?rt c?nd?ti?ns ?nd c?ncer. n 1998 th? U. S. G?vernment spent approxim?tely $90 billi?n ?n medical c?re ?nd $400 billi?n t? rese?rch. This disease costs ? family $174,000 ? ye?r ?n c?re giv?ng ?nd ?noth?r $42,000 ? ye?r ?n nurs?ng homes. Medic?re is ? retirement b?nef?t t? those over 65 ye?rs old. Medic?re does cover some th? costs t? provide help t? th? p?tient such as nurs?ng homes. Th? extent ?f help v?ries by st?te. When se?k?ng help people f?nd th?mselves ask?ng, Where should ? g When should ? g When you feel th?t ? family memb?r may have th? disease ?r ?n need ?f mental ?ttenti?n you should first se? you family physici?n.Th? physici?n will determ?ne ?f th?y b?lieve th? problem t? b? Alzheimers. You should also br?ng medical rec?rds ?nd ? list ?f ?ll medic?ti?n th? p?tient is ?n b?cause certa?n medic?ti?ns ?r th? comb?n?ti?ns ?f medic?ti?ns may resemble Alzheimers. ?n every commun?ty th?re ?re services ?ffered t? assist those people affected by Alzheimers, f?r p?tients, family ?nd c?regivers. Th? Illness ?nd Th? C?regivers Alzheimer’s disease affects th? pers?n w?th th? illness ?nd th? c?regivers. ?t is estim?ted th?t 1-4 people ?re c?regivers. Th? disease has ? l?ng dur?ti?n which impacts m?re ?n th? c?regivers. t c?n cause ? gre?t deal ?f emoti?nal stress t? c?regivers. ?t also has ? f?n?ncial impact ?n those who provide c?re f?r p?tients suffer?ng from Alzheimer’s disease. ?t is estim?ted th?t th? n?ti?nal costs ?f c?r?ng f?r p?tients w?th Alzheimer’s disease is $100 billi?n. ?t c?n also ?ndirectly cause loss productiv?ty, absenteeism ?nd w?rker replacement. (Edw?rds?n, 2007, p361-362) M?ny people w?th Alzheimer’s disease do well ?t home dur?ng th? ?n?tial stages. However eventu?lly th?re is th? need f?r l?ng term c?re facil?ties. L?ng term c?re is def?ned as help from family ?nd friends. t c?n also me?n regul?r vis?ts by home health aides. ?t might also me? n mov?ng th? p?tient t? ?n assisted ?r nurs?ng home th?t c?n provide twenty four medical ?ttenti?ns. Th?re ?re two maj?r types ?f l?ng term facil?ties f?r Alzheimer disease p?tients. ?ne ?f th?m is Nurs?ng home which provides room ?nd bo?rd w?th twenty four hour skilled c?re. ? licensed nurse provides this type ?f c?re. Th?re ?re special un?ts f?r people w?th Alzheimer’s disease. Th? envir?nments, activ?ties, philosophy ?f c?re ?nd staff tra?n?ng ?re based up?n th? needs ?f Alzheimer’s disease p?tients.Nurs?ng homes usu?lly have tra?ned ?nd supp?rtive staff who have knowledge about how t? adjust t? th? p?tient. Th?y have ?nf?rm?ti?n about each p?tient t? ?ndividualize c?re ?nd t? elim?n?te b?havi?ral sympt?ms. Th?re ?re special activ?ties which reduce ?nxiety ?nd ag?t?ti?n. ? nurs?ng home has pleas?ng sights, sounds ?nd smells. Th?y also have ? low noise level ?nd n?n gl?re light?ng. Some facil?ties also have secur?ty measures t? prevent w?nder?ng. ?noth?r type ?f l?ng term facil?ty is assisted liv?ng. This type ?f facil?ty is su?table f?r people who require pers?nal c?re ?nd general guid?nce but do not require ?ny specialized medical c?re.Th?y ?re g?od f?r people w?th moder?te functi?nal impairment. This type ?f l?ng term c?re promotes self directi?n ?nd p?rticip?ti?n ?n decisi?ns. ?t also focuses ?n ?ndependence, privacy ?nd dign?ty. ?t ?ttempts t? cre?te ? home based envir?nment. ?t is ?n ?ttractive opti?n f?r p?tients who se?k assist?nce ?nd ?ndependence ?t th? same time. (First, 2008, p56-88) Conclusion ?n c?nclusi?n Alzheim?r’s d?se?se ?s ? v?ry s?rious c?nd?ti?n th?t affects m?ny people. Th?y do n?t kn?w wh?t causes th?s d?se?se ?r why people get ?t, due t? th? fact th?t th?re ?s ? ch?nce f?r ?ny?ne t? get th?s d?se?se.People must take precauti?ns ?nd se?k th? advice ?f healthc?r? pr?fessi?nals t? b? tested f?r th?s d?se?se. Th?s way th?y have ? ch?nce t? g? ?n liv?ng th?re lives f?r ?s l?ng ?s possible. ?f th?y do n?t se?k c?r? th? n th?y have ? less?r ch?nce ?f liv?ng ? l?ng?r l?fe. Obviously, kn?wledge reg?rd?ng Alzheim?rs d?se?se h?s progressed f?r from th?nk?ng th?t ?t ?s just ? loss ?f mem?ry. Choos?ng th? b?st type ?f l?ng term c?re c?n b? d?fficult f?r c?regivers. Assisted liv?ng facil?ties ?re th? b?st opti?n f?r people w?th e?rly stages ?f th? disease. Nurs?ng home facil?ties ?re b?st f?r p?tients who suffer from adv?nced stages ?f th? disease.Th?s d?se?se produces ? full-blown dementia ?n ?ts p?tients ?nd affects milli?ns ?f people ?nd th?ir families. Th?se people ?nd th?ir families have special needs. C?nsequently, programs, envir?nments, ?nd c?r? approaches must reflect th?s uniqueness. Develop?ng ?n effective c?r?/s?rvice pl?n f?r ? p?rs?n w?th dementia requires c?r?ful ?ssessment ?f th?t p?rs?n, ? detailed pl?n, ?nd ?ttenti?n t? th? ?ndividualized needs ?f p?rs?ns w?th dementia. Alzheimer’s disease c?n cause emoti?nal ?nd f?n?ncial stress t? th? p?tient ?nd th? c?regivers. However th?re ?r e m?ny choices available which c?n improve th? qual?ty ?f l?fe.