In this paper, we try to explore the concept of Alzheimer's disease. In the Research Paper cover the following content specifications: Identify a chronic disease or condition. Describe the disease or condition from the medical perspective. Research, identify, and discuss psycho -social challenges of the afflicted patient population. Include the location of the research projects, and the numbers of people/patients involved in the research studies. Research, identify, and describe two successful community based programs that help in meeting the needs of the population. Research identifies and describes a minimum of two interventions that could be suggested to assist in minimizing the impact of the illness/condition. Finally, the paper gives justification and implementation of the two interventions that, I have recommended.
Table of Content
Abstract2
Introduction4
Mild Alzheimer's disease4
Moderate Alzheimer's disease5
Severe Alzheimer's disease5
Thesis Statement5
Discussion5
Describe the disease or condition from the medical perspective. Provide statistics/data on the numbers of people dealing with/afflicted by the condition5
Facts and Figures7
Identify, and discuss psycho -social challenges of the afflicted patient population7
Include the location of the research projects, and the numbers of people/patients involved in the research studies.8
Research, identify, and describe two successful community based programs that help in meeting the needs of the population9
Identify and describe a minimum of two interventions that could be suggested to assist in minimizing the impact of the illness/condition.10
Reduce Symptom Severity and Slow Disease Progression10
Maintain Optimum Physiologic Status and Reduce Risk for Complications11
Justify implementation of the two interventions you are recommending11
Helping people with Alzheimer's disease to maintain their mental functioning11
The Management of behavioral symptoms12
Conclusion12
References13
Alzheimer's disease
Introduction
Alois Alzheimer first described the hallmark features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in 1907 (Alzheimer, 1907). AD is the most prevalent form of dementia. It is estimated that by the year 2050, over 13 million people in the US will have AD (Hebert et al., 2003). AD is a heavy burden economically, costing over 100 billion dollars a year in the US alone. Patients with AD suffer from gliosis (accumulation of astrocytes) and loss of synaptic tissue that leads to brain atrophy (Fig. 1).
Figure 1 Brain atrophy seen in AD brains
Thesis Statement
Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease which causes a progressive decline in cognition and memory.
Discussion
Describe the disease or condition from the medical perspective. Provide statistics/data on the numbers of people dealing with/afflicted by the condition
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incurable, progressive dementia characterized by cognitive deficits in language, speech, memory, and the ability to perform motor skills. It causes significant impairment in social and occupational functioning that presents serious difficulties to the patient and family members. Disease progression is variable, but AD, due to the associated neurodegenerative complications, is always fatal. Changes in brain structure and function characteristic of AD include amyloid plaques (i.e., deposits of b-amyloid protein), neurofibrillary tangles (i.e., abnormal collections of twisted protein threads inside neurons), synapse deterioration, and brain cell death, particularly in the frontal and temporal lobes. Production of neurotransmitters (e.g., acetylcholine) is decreased.