ALZHEIMER DISEASE

Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer Disease

Introduction

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological condition in which the nerve cells in the brain die. The onset of AD is normally gradual, and the first signs of it may be attributed to old age or ordinary forgetfulness. As the disease advances, cognitive abilities, encompassing the proficiency to make decisions and present everyday tasks, are decayed, and personality changes and tough behaviors may emerge. In its later stages, AD leads to dementia and eventually death (Garity, 2006).

Discussion and Analysis

An approximated four million people nationwide have been diagnosed with AD. Alzheimer's disease is most widespread in individuals who are over 65; although, it can furthermore happen in people much younger. The incidence of dementia increases quickly after age 65. In 1998, the percentage of older persons with moderate or critical memory impairment ranged from about 4 percent amidst people elderly 65-69 to about 36 percent amidst people elderly 85 or older. AD is the ninth leading origin of death amidst those elderly 65 and older. Nationally, direct and indirect costs of nurturing for patients with Alzheimer's have been approximated at $100 billion. The mean lifetime cost for an individual with AD is approximated at $174,000, as asserted by the Alzheimer's Association (Garity, 2006).

Symptoms

People with Alzheimer's reside an average of eight years after diagnosis, whereas some people may live for as numerous as 20 years after being diagnosed. To assist people understand the changes that happen as the disease progresses, AD is broken into stages: early, middle and late. It is significant to recall, although, that the development of symptoms will differ from person to person and that each stage will gradually progress over a period of years. It is furthermore not unusual for people with AD to have “good days” and “bad days.” As the symptoms of AD ...