Alzheimers Disease in the Elderly Essay examples

Alzheimer is a disease that affects the elderly most. The disease was discovered by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in the year 1906 when he was examining a female’s brain. He found out that the woman displayed memory loss, language problems and some inexplicable changes in behavior. The disease was named after the doctor who was a German psychiatrist and a neuropathologist. Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder that leads to memory loss, personality changes, and language problems (Gilbert Julie 2). The disease is mostly diagnosed in people over the age of 65 years, though there is a small minority of people under the age of 50 who get the disease. Studies show that 1% of a whole population aged between the ages 65-75 have severe†¦show more content†¦However, some scientific studies show that Alzheimer disease occurs when nerve cells in numerous key areas of the brain are destroyed or damaged. The damaged or destruction of these nerve cells in the brain di srupts the information flow between the body and the brain. This disruption leads to a stable decline of both mental and physical functions. Scientists say that the destruction of the brain is most likely to be caused by the development of senile plaques (clumps) and neurofibrillary tangles (knots). These plaques and knots are usually found on the brain of a diseased person during after death biopsy. They are mostly found on the part of the brain that is associated with the memory and retention of information (National Institute Of health 10). According to most research, scientists, doctors and psychologists say that the causes of the brain damages are genetic factors, nutritional disorders, toxic exposure and radiation factors. In genetic factors, it is studied that Alzheimer’s disease can be caused due to hereditary. This is most commonly seen on patients who suffer the disease before the age of 50. In nutritional factors, scientists project some vitamin deficiencies can lead to Alzheimer disease. Symptoms and stages Alzheimer disease of the elderly has several stages. All the stages have various symptoms. Common early symptoms of Alzheimer disease include disturbances in short-termShow MoreRelatedAlzheimers Disease in the Elderly655 Words   |  3 PagesWalk into any senior home nowadays and there will be at least one person afï ¬â€šicted with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This progressive, neurodegenerative disorder affects more than ï ¬ ve million Americans and is projected to steadily grow in incidence every year (Alzheimer’s Association). While current research efforts have looked to determine how and why AD is caused, the pathogenesis of the disease in patients is affected by numerous factors. A variety of genetic mutations can inï ¬â€šuence the severity andRead MoreDisengagement Theory And Alzheimer s Disease901 Words   |  4 PagesDisengagement Theory and Alzheimer’s Disease There are three core theories’ that have been established in age related studies. There is the active theory which states that a person should remain active and social. There is the Continuation Theory and states that people who age successfully continue habits that lead to a happy life. Then there is the disengagement theory and this theory will be the focus of the paper. Disengagement theory is the idea that as people age it is expected for them toRead MoreThe Dangers Of The Elderly1582 Words   |  7 Pagespopulation, and this number is expected to double over the next 45 years. The effect of the elderly living longer is that the occurrence of illness and disabilities, as well as recovery time, is increased (Lovell, 2006). Associated with this is the increase in demand for health care resources, and the negative stereotype of the elderly being an economic burden (Lovell, 2006). The stereotype of the elderly being frail is perpetuated by the media’s promotion of you th and vitality, as well as the biasedRead MoreWhat Can You Tell About A Population By Looking At Its Population Pyramid?1392 Words   |  6 Pagesnormally and aging with a disease. Thus, disease such as diabetes, hypertension, and Alzheimer’s found among the elderly did not come about as a result of the aging process, but rather as a result of disease process that happened to take place within the elderly individual. In other words, disease is not a normal process of aging. Second, no two people of the same chronological age, age at the same level. There are more variations of change and development among the elderly than there is among theRead MoreMusic Affecting the Memory of Alzheimer’s Patients1080 Words   |  5 PagesAlzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States (Help End Alzheimers.). It is a common form of dementia categorized by a progressive decline in cognitive function (Simmons-Stern, 2010). According to the Alzheimer ’s Association, â€Å"More than 500,000 seniors die each year because they have Alzheimers disease†. Therefore Alzheimer’s disease kills more people than prostate and breast cancer together (Help End Alzheimers.) Although there is no cure or treatment to slow theRead MoreEssay on A Drifing Mind: Alzheimer ´s Disease602 Words   |  3 PagesUnits for Residents with Primary Degenerative Dementia: Alzheimers disease†. The reason I went with this article was because I wanted to focus on a different stage of life. I also have family that has had Alzheimer’s disease. I think this was one of the hardest things I have seen in my life. My aunt would remember my name one moment and forget I was even alive the next. The purpose of this article is to educate those interested in this disease to learn how to deal with them in nursing homes. The researchRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Alzheimer s Disease930 Words   |  4 PagesAlzheimer’s Disease Kevin Arnold from the Wonder Years said â€Å"Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, and the things never want to lose.† Memories are the things that are upheld, whether good or bad, those memories are imprinted in the mind and cannot be taken away that is, until later in life. As one ages it is natural for some memories to fade. Loss of memories and brain function deficits that occur and are not from normal aging may indicate a person is sufferingRead More Alzheimers Disease, Nursing Essay1477 Words   |  6 PagesUnderstanding of Alzheimer Disease Introduction nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Loss of memory, forgetfulness, personal change, even death, are common related disorders caused by a disease called Dementia or better known to most people as Alzheimer’s disease. This disease is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States in persons 65 and older. Alzheimer’s disease is, named for the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer, who first recognized the disease in 1907; Alzheimer’s disease is characterized byRead More Alzheimer’s Disease Essay1176 Words   |  5 PagesAlzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s Disease is a disease of the future. With the growing aged population, this disease, which affects primarily the elderly, will become of increasing relevance to the medical profession. Also, the high frequency of Alzheimer’s, and the high cost in labor, money, and material of caring for its victims shall put considerable burden on the society as a whole. Here, however, these issues are not going to be debated. Instead the pathology of Alzheimer’s will be reviewedRead MoreIbesity And Alzheimers Disease1315 Words   |  6 PagesOne cognitive defect affecting elderly patients is Alzheimers disease. This cognitive disease affects many populations around the world, but mainly aging individuals3. Though the quantity of life is extending with modern medical practices4, Alzheimers disease is still prevalent, with prevention and treatment not yet well defined5. The topic of interest is to determine if consumption of soy will improve cognitive memory in elderly individuals with Alzheimers disease. If soy isoflavones can specifically