ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PATIENT PLANNING

Alzheimer's Disease Patient Planning

Alzheimer's Disease Patient Planning

Introduction

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neuro-degenerative disease. During its course, neurons die progressively because of the accumulation of neurotoxic proteins that form Aß-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Unlike other cells, neurons do not self-renew; consequently, the number of functioning brain cells in an AD patient's brain decreases as the disease progresses. The decrease in the number of brain cells accounts for the severity of AD symptoms at moderate and late stages of the disease. The accumulation of Aß-amyloid plaques and NFTs begins years before the disease symptoms become apparent. Several drugs that prevent or slow the accumulation of Aß-amyloid plaques are in development for treatment of AD, and we expect two of these drugs to launch in the United States during the next 10 years. However, to be most effective, these treatments must be initiated in patients as soon as possible. Early intervention will preserve a higher number of functioning neurons and help maintain patients' cognitive function - but early intervention requires early diagnosis of AD, and no AD diagnostic marker is currently available. As the US population ages, AD will become a significant public health burden because currently, no therapy is available to alter the course of the disease. By the year 2050, if AD is left untreated, its prevalence in the United States is expected to reach 13.2 million (Hebert et al., 2003).

Pathology

Pathology is a both a science and the branch of conventional medicine that seeks to correctly understand and diagnose diseases. The term pathology describes the study of the effects of disease on bodily tissues, cells, organs, functions, and the causes of death. The term pathology is a compound of the Greek word for suffering (pathos) and the Anglicized form (-ology) of the Greek word logos meaning the knowledge, reason, or study of something.

All of the ways that a disease affects the structure and function of the body are part of the subject matter of the science of pathology. It focuses on the nature of the functions of pathogens, and on the way that abnormal functions develop in the human body (or in animal bodies in the study of veterinary pathology).

Forensic pathology is the work of forensic pathologists who work in the area of forensic medicine. Forensic pathology can study DNA testing to aid the legal system with legal problems. DNA testing can be used by pathologists to establish paternity. It can also be used to identify criminal suspects. Or it can be used to exonerate persons suspected or accused of a crime. With DNA materials, such as hair, skin, saliva, semen, of other bodily fluids left at a crime scene forensic pathologists can establish the DNA identity of the likely perpetrator of the crime.

If a person dies without a physician present an autopsy will reveal the cause. This is especially important it if reveal an accidental cause or that the death was caused by misadventure, even if caused by an ...