ALZHEIMER DISEASE

Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer Disease

Introduction

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a slowly progressive form of dementia, which is a progressive, acquired impairment of intellectual functions. Memory impairment is a necessary feature for the diagnosis. The rate of progression is different for each person. If AD develops rapidly, it is likely to continue to progress rapidly. If it has been slow to progress, it will likely continue on a slow course. It is also called Senile dementia/Alzheimer's type (SDAT). The cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not known, but it is not a part of normal aging. Prior theories regarding the accumulation of aluminum, lead, mercury, and other substances in the brain have been disproved. Brain tissue shows "neurofibrillary tangles" (twisted fragments of protein within nerve cells that clog up the cell), "neuritic plaques" (abnormal clusters of dead and dying nerve cells, other brain cells, and protein), and "senile plaques" (areas where products of dying nerve cells have accumulated around protein). (Phelps, 2003, pp 12-13)

Although these changes occur to some extent in all brains with age, there are many more of them in the brains of people with AD. The destruction of nerve cells (neurons) leads to a decrease in neurotransmitters (substances secreted by a neuron to send a message to another neuron). The correct balance of neurotransmitters is critical to the brain. Three neurotransmitters commonly affected by AD are acetylcholine, serotonin, and norepinephrine -- with acetylcholine being the most affected. By causing both structural and chemical problems in the brain, AD appears to disconnect areas of the brain that normally work together.

Symptoms

In the early stages, the symptoms may be very subtle. Symptoms may often include repeating statements frequently, frequently misplacing items, trouble finding names for familiar objects, getting lost on familiar routes, personality changes and becoming passive and losing interest in things previously enjoyed. Some tasks that the person usually does well can become difficult at this stage. Examples of these are balancing a checkbook, playing complex games (such as bridge), and learning new and complex information or routines. (Phelps, 2003, pp 12-13) In a more advanced stage, the deficits are more obvious. Some of the symptoms are a decrease in knowledge of recent events forgetting events in life history, essentially losing awareness of who you are, problems choosing proper clothing hallucinations, arguments, striking out, and violent behavior, delusions, depression and agitation.

The most common form of illness, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain, causing impaired memory, thinking and behavior. The person with AD may experience confusion, personality and behavior changes, impaired judgment, and difficulty finding words, finishing thoughts or following directions. It eventually leaves its victims incapable of caring for themselves.

Screening

Alzheimer, the disease of the degeneration of the brain, was identified in 1907 by German physician Alois Alzheimer. Four million Americans suffer from the disease which deprives the victim of the ability to remember, think, reason, and eventually coordinate movement.

This most common form of dementia is caused physically by the gradual change in nerve ...