The Issue of Alzheimers Disease and Its Treatment - Coursework Example

Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s is a serious mind illness that affects the memory, thus impacting negatively on the patients’ capability to think and behaves normally. It is characterized by symptoms that normally develop slowly and steadily with time until it gets worse to the extent that it interferes with the day to day tasks of the patient. It is a common kind of brain illness, accounting for approximately 60- 80% of the serious brain illness cases. Alzheimer’s is normally associated with aging even though it is an abnormal condition in ageing with those who suffer from being majorly 65 years old and above with an exception of approximately 5% who normally would have what is referred as younger onset Alzheimer at the age of 40s or even 50s. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s as per now, but symptoms, treatments are available and there is a continuing research to get the cure (Martin, 2013). Part 1: Issue Analysis Memory loss is one of the signs and symptoms that are associated with Alzheimer’s. This involves a situation where one can forget even the most recent of information learned. Patients can also forget dates and/ events that are important in their lives; ask the same thing several times even after being given the information needed; increase overreliance on aids that will help them remember or relatives for certain things that they could do on their own (Andrew et al, 2010). Memory loss is the mother cause of all the other symptoms like issues when it comes to solving problems, confusion, trouble when it comes to writing and speaking, losing things through misplacement among others. It therefore means that the emphasis on solving the effects of Alzheimer’s should be more focused on the memory functioning. Alzheimer’s erodes memory slowly but steadily and in the final end the patient may not have the ability to conduct even the simplest of tasks. Alzheimer’s normally leads to dementia as its common cause. It accounts for 50- 70% by approximation of all the cases that relates to dementia. Statistics show that approximately 5.1 million American citizens have Alzheimer’s, which is normally caused by aging, thus individuals’ risk increases with increase in age. The major cause of Alzheimer’s disease is the accumulation of beta- amyloid proteins that are found in the brain. This accumulation leads to the interaction the neurofibrillary and beta- amyloid thus making the neurons that are not healthy to be efficient in their work. This in turn leads to loss of communication among the cells and functions and later eventual death (Kevin et al, 2010). According to Bradley et al (2012), the major initiator of the disease is not yet known with some talking of the beta- amyloid proteins and others of the genetic theory, but what the experts are sure of is that one can live with the Alzheimer’s disease for a long time without symptom being shown. This initial stage is commonly known as the pre- symptomatic or pre- clinical level of the Alzheimer’s disease. Bradley et al (2012) does not oppose the fact that Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the beta- amyloid proteins, but holds that even though that is normally known to be the cause, what initiates the imbalance between the components of the proteins to make the imbalance is what is not known. According to Kevin et al (2010), the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s are characterized by mild memory loss that normally leads to mild confusion. At this given moment the person suffering from dementia may be in a position of knowing that there are changes that had occurred to him/ her that are not normal and frustration is normally the product of this. The patient will be more frustrated when he or she realizes that he/ she can’t recall events that happened recently; can’t make decisions or process whatever is said by other people. As times go by the dementia develops and there is severity experienced with the loss of memory with the person not being able even to recognize relatives, forget relationships; call their close relatives with other names. This may even lead to the person forgetting the functions of the common items such as a plate or soap. This is normally a painful experience for part of the family members and caregivers as they realize the person they have known for long is no longer the same person. It is a demoralizing situation in the lives of those affected. According to Bradley et al (2012), memory loss in the scenario of the Alzheimer’s patient is normally caused by the continuous damage of the brain cells and the diseases that are available cannot be used as a cure but as a depressant for the systems for a given period of time. Martin (2013) argues that the symptoms can fluctuate due to the condition of the situation that the patient is in, for example, changes in the arrangements of living can make the symptoms worse. To control this it is important for one to go through a medical evaluation whenever there is a change of behavior so that the causes can be identified. Katrin (2014), argues that the reason why there reason why people suffer from memory loss is due to the mass fall off of a different kind of brain cells, known as a microglia start to fall. The research shows that was done on mice shows that blocking the actions related to microglia restores the ability of the cells to get work done. This work also shows that through the same process, memory loss can be reversed. However, there is an essential component of acetylcholine that is known as Choline that can be used to retrieve and store memories (Andrew, et al 2010). The production of Choline in the brain can be enhanced through the introduction of beta amyloid which is a protein commonly found in the brain. Andrew et al (2010) describes Alzheimer’s disease as an accumulation of “beta amyloid” in the brain and reduction in the concentration level of acetylcholine since cells in the brain that produce acetylcholine have been dying due to the disease. Part 2: application This part will entail the recommendation that will see to it that loss of memory that is associated with the Alzheimer’s disease is controlled and/ or eliminated, thus enabling the patients to be free from the impacts that are related to memory loss. These recommendations include: The use of music to treat Alzheimer’s disease Music is a sound that expresses emotions and ideas in a given form that has melody, rhythm, color and harmony. Music can be used to treat individuals through a process known as music therapy. People normally link music to events that are important to their lives and a variety of emotions. Often than not the connection is normally very strong to the extent just a tune can develop a memory. Prior interaction with the music is normally the most important of the likelihood of the Alzheimer’s patient to respond. There is therefore need for mastering and collection of the music that the Alzheimer’s patient used to listen to while still in the healthy mood and play for them to see if they can recall. These pieces may be maybe those that they played during their wedding or other great occasion or the one that they often listened to and associated with something (Katrin, 2014). Music is important and successful in therapy more so in relation to Alzheimer’s disease since its rhythmic nature will need very little or no mental processing. This is because such rhythm is normally used motor center part of the brain as an influence that I able to respond directly to the rhythmic cues that are in audio form. The patient will have the ability to sing or play music because the activities associated with music do not rely on cognitive function to become successful (Katrin, 2014). If the therapy is one properly the patients’ mood can be shifted, stress controlled, positive interaction and cognitive function stimulated and motor movements coordinated. Use of Medication and Vitamin E to control memory lose There are several drugs in the market that cannot help stop Alzheimer’s damage to the brain cells, but can help in lessening or stabilizing of the symptoms for a given period of time. This is made possible due to the fact that this medication affects the chemicals that are involved in the information transfer among the nerve cells in the brain (Bradley et al, 2012). This is the same result witnessed in the presence of vitamin E in high doses. High doses of vitamin E ensures that there are cognitive changes in brain functioning. For memory loss, the recommended medicines are: cholinesterase inhibitors (Cognex, Exelon, Aricept, Razadyne) and an option is memantine (Nemanda). Cholinesterase inhibitors functions through breaking down of acetylcholine, which is important when it comes to memory and learning. Its side effects may include loss of appetite, nausea, stomach upset and vomiting. Examples of the latest cholinesterase inhibitors approved by the U.S “Food and Drug Administration” (FDA) are Donepezil, Rivastigmine and Galantamine. Nemanda can also be used in memory improvement. It can be used on its own or with cholinesterase as an addition. Memantine works through regulating the glutamate activity. Glutamate is also a chemical involved in memory as a messenger. Side effects include constipation, headache, dizziness and confusion (Kevin et al, 2010). This medication will see to it that the chemicals in the brain balance and therefore the chemical messengers can work efficiently when it comes to storage and passing of information. One of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s is memory loss that may lead to an individual life be disrupted and poor relations with family and friends as they may view the patient as no longer normal but a bother to them. Experiencing memory loss might be normal to certain scenarios, but one need to go for a check up to confirm that the loss of memory is not linked to any kind of dementia with Alzheimer’s included. The memory loss is caused by the tampering of the chemical in the brain that acts as messengers. The solutions are therefore the methods that will see to it that the chemicals in the brain balance, thus ensuring that the information can be transferred and stored in the brain. This can be achieved through music therapy and use of clinically prescribed medication and vitamin E. References Andrew J. S. et al (2010). Alzheimers Disease Neuroimaging Initiative biomarkers as quantitative phenotypes: Genetics core aims, progress, and plans. The Alzheimers Association, 6 (3), 265- 273 Bradley T. H. et al (2012). National Institute on Aging- Alzheimer’s Association guidelines for the neuropathologic assessment of Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimers Association, 8(1), 1-13 Katrin A. (2014). Blocking receptor in brain’s immune cells counters Alzheimer’s study show. Retrieved from http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2014/12/blocking-receptor-in- brains-immune-cells-counters-alzheimers.html Kevin A. Y. et al (2010). Beneficial effects of docosahexaenoic acid on cognition in age-related cognitive decline. The Alzheimers Association, 6 (6), 456- 464 Martin J. P. (2013). The global prevalence of dementia: A systematic review and metaanalysis. The Alzheimers Association, 9(63-75) Read More