The Alzheimers Disease - Essay Example

Alzheimer’s disease. Number: Email Address: School/Department: Unit: Lecturer: Due Content 0 Introduction………………………………………… 2.0 Alzheimer………………………………………… 3.0 Conclusion…………………………………………. 1.0 Introduction Alzheimer is the most common form of dementia, accounting for over seventy percent of the reported cases, according to the Australian Alzheimer association. Alzheimer is defined by the National Institute of Aging, U.S as a form of dementia that affects a person’s memory, thinking and behavior. It is taunted by scientists as a mystery to modern day medicine and is expected to be the most expensive disease to treat in most developed countries in decades to come (Gale, 2005). Currently there is no known cure of the disease, however depending on the stage symptoms can be treated. Early diagnosis is known to be the surest way to help deal with the symptoms. The myth that needs to be dispelled is that Alzheimer is a disease for old people. Although the infection rates are higher in the age bracket of sixty five and above, younger people also get diagnosed , and at this stage is referred to as younger onset dementia. 2.0 Alzheimer Due to the fact that many people from the baby boom generation are getting old, we have are reason to be worried. The table below shows the increase in thousands of new diagnosis of Alzheimer disease in the country. YEAR NEW CASES 1995 377,000 2000 411,000 2010 454,000 2020 491,000 2030 615,000 2040 820,000 2050 959,000 Source: Herbert et al (2001) Currently prevention is the best option towards the management of Alzheimer disease (Gale , 2005). This is because although studies are ongoing, there is no proven medication of the disease as earlier stated. Studies have shown that various preventive methods can be used to manage the symptoms exhibited or, to delay the onset of the disease manifestation. Review of international materials provides the following factors as helpful in the management of the disease; physical activity or exercise, intelligence stimulation, engaging in leisure activities ,lowering cholesterol and limiting alcohol intake ( Brown,2003). For centuries the surest way of finding out if someone has Alzheimer, it is through carrying out an autopsy of the brain. This disease can be easily confused with other medical disorders (Gale, 2005). Due to his reason, it is important to carry out a thorough clinical examination. The stages of the examination are; thorough medical checkup, neurological examination and psychiatric evaluation. There are other ways of diagnosis, which keep getting better with advancement in science. When a person exhibits symptoms of Alzheimer such as persistent loss of memory, they are taken to the specialists (Brown, 2003). Clinically, Alzheimer can be diagnosed in three main ways; the first is dementia where one continues to lose intellectual abilities, the second is onset of symptoms where the conditions continue to deteriorate and finally eliminating other causes of dementia, which is referred to as diagnosis by exclusion. They exclude factors which could show symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer including brain injuries, tumors, infections, side effects of drugs among many other factors. According to the National Institute of Aging, U.S, the main neurological examinations are imaging techniques which enable scientists to monitor the functioning of the brain in people who are alive. The main ones are ;the computer assisted tomography which shows scans to determine if the brain has shrunk or enlarged, the magnetic resonance imaging which basically uses external magnetic fields to check the functioning of the brain and finally the position emission tomography scan which can reveal the presence of Alzheimer’s. These are the main methods approved by the National Institute of Neurological and Communication Disorders and the Alzheimer’s disease and Related Disorders Association. No one specialist can diagnose Alzheimer; it is a multidisciplinary field which requires the expertise of various specialists. The top specialists are geriatrician, neurologist, and psychiatrists among many others. Geriatricians are medical specialists who mainly deal with diseases and characteristic s that accompany old ages, Alzheimer being the common one. It is a job description deals with both patients and family, and apart from medication they also give counsel on living arrangement and quality of life. Neurologists are the medical doctors involved in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nervous system. Psychiatrists on the other hand are medical professionals who specialize in treatment of mental disorders. Because Alzheimer is a mental condition that mostly affects old people, incorporating various professionals is the surest way of effectively diagnosing and treating the disease. As mentioned earlier there is no treatment for Alzheimer. Current medications in the market are for the treatment of the symptoms (Brown, 2003, Cayton and Graham, 2002). Tranquilizers are used to control agitations and aggression. The available forms of treatment for this dementia are memantine which is a new form of therapy and cholinergic treatments which provide relief, by inhibiting production of enzymes which destroy neurons (Brown, 2003). All this are for treating the symptoms of the disease. Other factors such as stress, medication and lifestyle choices such as smoking usually make the disease unbearable. Other options such as reassuring the patient, removing stress factors and engaging in intellectual activities make coping with the disease easier, can increase the lifespan a person can live with the disease. Once one is diagnosed with Alzheimer several options exist towards the care of the patient. Most patients have caregivers who are usually a relative. Studies have however proven that most caregivers report stress especially when the patients reach the critical stage where they are wholly dependent on them. Most patients with mild conditions usually opt for homecare. According to Alzheimer Australia, the institution charged with managing the disease in the country, patients can opt to stay in nursing homes especially for those who require extensive daily care or can live in retirement communities. Payment for the treatment of Alzheimer is very high, and is projected to be the most expensive disease to treat in the next few decades. In the initial stages patients usually use their savings or family money for treatment. This is usually a trying moment financially, because most insurance companies do not offer premiums to people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer. People can get insurance packages that will be friendly in the treatment of the disease such as medicare; government assistance is very necessary which is made through community and social services. Financial payments are usually made by local authorities towards the patient and caregiver. Support can be found at community level and through support groups usually drawn from the church or hospital. The population of the baby boom is approaching the age of sixty five. This means that the number of old people in the country is expected to soar. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the amount allocated towards the treatment of Alzheimer will be one billion dollars. Majority of the Australian population does not believe that the effects of Alzheimer’s can be reduced through preventive measures, mainly dietary and lifestyle changes. This however needs to change. The government realized that preventive measures are the key element in healthcare planning. It has shown its commitment through the formation of the National Health Promotion and Preventive Agency. In the past few years such efforts have been shown to be a step in the right direction. Having the right statistics will enable the government to plan properly. 3.0 Conclusion The changing population demographic mans that the number of old people will comprise majority of the population. Alzheimer is a form of dementia that mostly affects people above the age of sixty five. There is no treatment for Alzheimer and its symptoms usually progress and become worse. This disease continues to be a mystery to scientists and is projected to be the leading killer disease besides being the most expensive to treat in the next few years. The number of new infections is expected to reach millions if current diagnosis rates are anything to go by. Early detection and change in lifestyle is the only way of increasing survival rates from Alzheimer’s. References Brotchle, J. (2003). Caring for Someone with Dementia. Age Concern Books. Bryden, C. (2005). Dancing with Dementia. Cayton,H, Graham,N.&Wamer,J.(2002). Dementia : Alzheimer’s and other Dementics.Class Publishing. Harvard Health Publications. (2009). A Guide to Alzheimers disease .Harvard :Harvard Health Publications. Gale, C (2005) .Understanding Forgetfulness and Dementia .Family Doctor Publications. Brown, J (2003) Dementia your Questions Answered .Elsevier Health Sciences.Norfolk. Strock, M (2004) Alzheimers disease:Diagnosis, cause and Treatment.Diane Publishing Company. Joen, Y.et al. (2008).Broadening our understanding of person centered care Approaches-A Randomized Control Study. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 27(S1), A16. Read More