Alzheimer's Disease - Essay Example

Alzheimer 's Disease A Dr. Alois Alzheimer first discovered Alzheimer's disease in 1906 when he found abnormal changes in the brain cells of a female patient. According to the National Institute of Aging, Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common forms of dementia. It is a disease that occurs mostly in older people and adversely affects various parts of the brain, which subsequently results in a loss of memory, thought and speech. Recent studies have shown that approximately 4.5 Americans suffer from this progressive illness, for which a cure still has not been found. (http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm) There are various definitions for the Alzheimer's disease present on the internet. Some of which have been provided as follows. Alzheimer 's disease is a form of dementia that is, "associated with the breakdown of the nervous tissue in the brain." (http://bse.airtime.co.uk/defb.htm) According to the ALS Therapy Development Foundation, Alzheimer's disease is, "a form of degenerative brain disease resulting in progressive mental deterioration with disorientation, memory disturbance and confusion. It leads to progressive dementia, often accompanied by dysphasia and/or dysphasia. The condition may also give rise ultimately to spastic weakness and paralysis of the limbs, epilepsy and other variable neurological signs." (http://www.als.net/als101/glossary.asp) The online site of the Medaus Pharmacy states that only in a few cases does Alzheimer's exist before the age of fifty. This disease results in a complete eventual breakdown of speech-patterns and results in disorientation and apathy in the patient. Other symptoms include the loss of intelligence, memory, judgment and the ability to think abstractly. In addition, diverse changes in the personality and behavior of the patient can often be seen as well. (http://www.medaus.com/p/147.html) It is natural for a person with Alzheimer's to remember things that may have happened years ago clearly and to forget those of the present. Any form of dementia (be it Alzheimer's or otherwise) does not occur all of a sudden; rather it is a slow process that often occurs over the course of months or years. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/) The number of people with Alzheimer's disease is likely to increase to 34 million by the year 2050. 350,000 new cases of the disease are diagnosed annually and the approximately 50,000 patients die from the disease each year. It has been found in literature that life expectancy is directly proportional to Alzheimer's. In other words in every country where the life expectancy its citizens has increased (this would mostly include the developed nations around the world) so has the prevalence of Alzheimer's. (http://www.ahaf.org/alzdis/about/adabout.htm) In addition, it has been found that, "women have a slightly greater chance of developing Alzheimer's than men do at the same age". (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspxarticleId=14) There are basically two types of Alzheimer's disease; the early onset and the late onset. The early onset is the type of Alzheimer's that occurs before the age of 60. Though is not very common it is highly progressive and greatly degenerative. (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000760.htm) "To function properly, the brain must have a minimum number of healthy cells. In Alzheimer's disease brain cells progressively die. If the number of neurons is also suddenly reduced, the patient's mental state may deteriorate abruptly. Several conditions may be responsible for the loss of neurons, including: strokes, subdural hematomas and space-occupying lesions inside the skull." (Handy et al, 1998, pp.105) Though the symptoms of each patient are unique, there are some basic indicators, which are likely to be experienced by most patients. These are given as follows, (http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/disorders_dementia.shtml) Lack of concentration, Confusion about time & place(s), Negligence of one's own self, A tendency towards restlessness, A tendency to wander aimlessly & to say outrageous things, Anxiety, Depression & Agitation, Muddled and slow reasoning, Tendency to hallucinate and be delusional. The shrinkage of brain tissues is also takes place in the Alzheimer's disease. Sulci of the brain are visibly expands and on the other hand the gyri portion of the brain shrinks. In addition, the ventricles, or chambers within the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid, are perceptibly distended. During the preliminary phases of the illness, there is a decrease in the short-term memory of the patient as the hippocampus of the brain begins to degenerate. The ability to perform routine tasks subsequently declines. As Alzheimer's disease spreads through the cerebral cortex (the outer layer of the brain), judgment declines, emotional outbursts may occur and language is impaired. Development of the malady leads to the death of more nerve cells and consequent behavior transformation. The capacity to identify people and to converse is entirely lost in the absolute stages. Patients loose bowel and bladder control, and in due course need twenty-four hour nursing assistance. "This stage of complete dependency may last for years before the patient dies. The average length of time from diagnosis to death is 4 to 8 years, although it can take 20 years or more for the disease to run its course". Refer to Appendix-B for a diagram of a normal brain versus a brain with Alzheimer's. (http://www.ahaf.org/alzdis/about/BrainAlzheimer.htm) According to the Genetics Science Learning Center at the University of Utah, scientists are still unsure of how people get Alzheimer's disease. However, it is vastly believed that the illness is due to the occurrence of various genetics and environmental factors. The schematic diagram shown in Appendix-A helps to understand how Alzheimer's can be inherently transferred from parent to child. Though scientists have yet to find a cure for Alzheimer's, the goals in current research for the treating processes of this illness are to slow the progression of the disease, to be able to manage the behavior related problems of the patitents, to modify the surroundings (such as the home environment etc.) of the patient, so as the make it more condusive for the patien and to help support the family of the patient. "The most promising treatments include lifestyle changes, medications, and antioxidant supplements like vitamin E and ginkgo biloba". (http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/disorders/whataregd/alzheimers/) There are a number of myths that a caregiver/spouse/relative/patient need to be aware of. For example, it is often thought that, forgetfulness; confusion, anxiety and depression are normal of old age. In addition, they are often not linked to Alzheimer's until the situation has become highly progressive. Hence it is imperative that the disease not be confused with normal old age. In addition it is believed that a number of factors such as the lack of vision, inability to dress one's self in the morning etc. are all due to senility. Another myth that is prevalent in our society is that as Alzheimer's is a progressive disease it is believed that nothing can be done for the help and support of such patients and hence they should be left on their own. With the proper medical and psychological care, both the patient as well as the spouse, child (ren) of the patient, as well as other relatives and friends can be helped to deal with and cope with this illness. Proper medical help is required for such patients so as to prevent the use of such drugs that may have side effects that result in the enhancement of the dementia in the patient. (Gruetzner, 2006) A number of ethical issues have arisen with regards to patients with Alzheimer's disease. One of the foremost is the factor of genetic testing. Should the people be tested beforehand, at a younger age in order to determine if they have a defected gene that may ultimately result in the cause for Alzheimer's In addition, numerous concerns with regards to the testing of unborn children to determine the presence of a defected gene have also taken place. Another ethical issue that affects most of our every day lives is with regards to driving. That is, should a patient of Alzheimer's be allowed to drive a car There are a number of factors that need to be considered with regards to this, the spouse of patient may him/herself be so disabled as to be unable to drive. Or the patient may live alone and to drive by him/herself may be the only means of transportation available to the patient. There are numerous other ethical concerns such as the phase of the disease at which it would be appropriate for the patient to be admitted to a nursing home or should a patient with Alzheimer's be resuscitated in the case of a cardiac arrest or not (Edwards et al, 1998) In conclusion, though the exact cause and nor the cure for this disease is present; there are however, numerous preventive measure that may be adopted. It is believed that the consumption of a low fat diet, maintenance of a balanced diet and social & mentally stimulating activities greatly reduces one's chances of getting Alzheimer's in the later part life. Works Cited ALS Therapy Development Foundation, Taken from the Internet on Sunday, November 05, 2006 (http://www.als.net/als101/glossary.asp) Alzheimer Discourse: Some Sociolinguistic Dimensions. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1997. Questia. 4 Nov. 2006 (http://www.questia.com/PM.qsta=o&d=47615089). American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) Home, Taken from the Internet on Sunday, November 05, 2006 (http://www.ahaf.org/alzdis/about/adabout.htm) American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) Home, Taken from the Internet on Sunday, November 05, 2006 (http://www.ahaf.org/alzdis/about/BrainAlzheimer.htm) B.B.C. Health, Article first published on June 2000, Reviewed on September 2006, Taken from the Internet on Sunday, November 05, 2006 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/disorders_dementia.shtml) Gruetzner, Howard M.Ed. Alzheimer's: A Caregiver's Guide and Sourcebook. New York: Wiley, 2001. Questia. 4 Nov. 2006 (http://www.questia.com/PM.qsta=o&d=107376323). Handy, Ronald C, James M Turnbull, Joellen Edwards, and Mary M Lancaster, eds. Alzheimer's Disease: A Handbook for Caregivers. St. Louis, MO: Mosby, 1998. Questia. 4 Nov. 2006 (http://www.questia.com/PM.qsta=o&d=100529010). Learn Genetics, Genetics Science Learning Center at the University of Utah, Alzheimer's Disease, What is Alzheimer's Disease Reviewed on 2006, Taken from the Internet on Sunday, November 05, 2006 http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/disorders/whataregd/alzheimers/) Medaus Pharmacy, Anti-Aging Glossary, Taken from the Internet on Sunday, November 05, 2006 (http://www.medaus.com/p/147.html) Medline Plus, Medical Encyclopedia: Alzheimer's Disease, A Service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the Institute of Health, Taken from the Internet on Sunday, November 05, (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000760.htm) National Institute of Aging, Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center, Alzheimer's Disease, Taken from the Internet on Sunday, November 05, 2006 (http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm) NHS Direct, Taken from the Internet on Sunday, November 05, 2006 (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspxarticleId=14) Terms Used By Scientists and Explained as Simply as Possible Taken from the Internet on Sunday, November 05, 2006 (http://bse.airtime.co.uk/defb.htm) Appendix-A Source: (http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/disorders/whataregd/alzheimers/) Appendix-B Source: (http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/disorders/whataregd/alzheimers/images/AD_brain.jpg) Appendix-C The most common form of the disease, which strikes after age 65, is linked to the apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene on chromosome 19. Scientists don't know how apoE4 increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's. They do know that everyone has apoE, which comes in three forms. One of the forms (apoE4) increases a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's. The other two forms seem to protect against the disease. While people who inherit the apoE4 form of the gene are at increased risk for the disease, they will not necessarily develop it. Mutations in genes found on chromosomes 1, 14, and 21 are linked to rarer forms of the disease, which strike earlier in life. Source: (http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/disorders/whataregd/alzheimers/) Read More