Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's Disease

History

Progressive mental decline in old age has been documented and discussed since the past umpteen years. Nevertheless, it was only in 1906 when Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German physician explicitly identified a group of brain cell abnormalities as an illness. One of Dr. Alzheimer's patients died following years of relentless memory issues, complication and trouble in understanding questions. Upon her demise, whilst performing a brain autopsy, the doctor saw thick deposits near the nerve cells. Within the nerve cells, he saw curled bands of fibers. In the present day, this degenerative brain disease is named after him, and when discovered in an autopsy, these plaques along with twists suggest a certain diagnosis of this disease. This disease came to be known as Alzheimer's disease (AD).

There have been continuous developments in the AD research ever since it was found around hundred years back. In the 1960s, scientists found a relation linking cognitive decline with the number of plaques as well as twists in the brain. The medical society subsequently formally accepted Alzheimer's as an illness and not a normal disorder associated to old age. In the 1970s, scientists took concrete steps in developing their understanding of the entire human body, and AD appeared as a pivotal area of research concern. This amplified awareness led in the 1990s to remarkable discoveries along with an enhanced understanding of complicated nerve cells in the brains of those suffering from AD. Additional research was carried out on AD inclination genes, and more than a few drugs were agreed to treat the cognitive indicators of the disease (Capriani et.al, 2010).

During the past decade, scientists have significantly improved in understanding probable environmental, inherited 'as well as other risk factors intended for AD'. Moreover, they have also enhanced their understanding of the methods resulting in ...