ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Alzheimer's Disease



Contents

I. Introduction1

A. Definition of Alzheimer's disease1

B. Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease3

C. Statistics of Affected People4

II. Diagnosis & Treatment4

A.Care4

B.Drug Treatment5

C.Clinical Trails5

III. New Options6

1.Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC)6

2.Vitamone E6

3.Phosphatidyserine7

4.Ginkgo7

5.Huperzine8

IV. Financial cost of Alzheimer Disease8

A.Financial burden on family9

B.The annual direct and indirect costs of caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease is $100 billion9

C.Legal and financial planning10

D.The average lifetime cost of care for someone with Alzheimer's disease10

V. Priorities and concerns of the stakeholders11

A.Prevention11

B.Detection11

C.Treatment12

VI. Benefit of Stakeholder groups12

VII. Conclusion13

Alzheimer's Disease

I. Introduction

Alzheimer's disease is considered to be the most dangerous disease of the central nervous system. This disease has characteristics of mental ability loss (memory, speech, logical thinking). The main symptoms of increase in Alzheimer's disease arise after the age of 65. It is the fact the rate of people suffering from this disease is no too much but still is the essential reason of elderly dementia (Patterson, 2008). This disease brings psychological pressure among the family members.

A. Definition of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and is becoming increasingly prevalent as demographics shift toward an older population. Early and sensitive diagnosis of the disease would make treatments designed to slow the disease maximally effective. Several biomarkers already exist to assess the hallmark processes of AD including amyloidal deposition (CSF Aß42 of PIB PET), synaptic dysfunction (FDG PET) and neurodegeneration (anatomic MRI). Understanding how each of these biomarkers relates to AD would allow for more sensitive diagnosis and even in vivo disease staging. Alzheimer's disease continues to be the most common form of dementia. Risk factors include gender, educational attainment, ethnic background, and advancing age.

B. Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease

Memory problems are one of the first signs of Alzheimer's. Some people with memory problems have a condition called mild cognitive impairment which is amnestic type (often called as MCI). People affected by this deterioration face more problems as compared to the people who are normal. On the other hand, these symptoms are not as severe as those who have the disease. It has been said that the memory problems is the major sign of the very early stages of the disease. These results must be supported by other studies as they have shown promising results. Recent studies have found some links between movement problems and MCI (Chelsea, Martinson, Muwaswes, 1994). Some major symptoms of this disease are: • Oblivion• Depression• Lack of awareness and no sense of place and time• Inability to concentrate or communicate with others• the inability to control urination and defecation• Loss of memory• Changes in personality and mood• Quick deterioration of health and work

C. Statistics of Affected People

They usually appear after age 60. On average, once the disease occurs, the life expectancy is 8 years to 12 years. As the disease occurs at an advanced age, the more it tends to deteriorate rapidly. When it occurs around the age of 60 years or 65 years, life expectancy is about 12 years to 14 years when it occurs later in life expectancy is only 5 years to 8 ...