Alzheimers Essay Example for Free

Alzheimers EssayAlzheimers affection is an irreversible, progressive brain infirmity that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to melt out the simplest tasks. In most people with Alzheimers, symptoms first appear after age 60. Alzheimers disease is the most common cause of lunacy among former(a) people. Dementia is the loss of cognitive consortingthinking, remembering, and reasoningand behavioural abilities, to such(prenominal) an extent that it interferes with a persons everyday life and activities. Dementia ranges in severity from the minorest stage, when it is just beginning to affect a persons functioning, to the most implike stage, when the person must depend completely on others for introductory activities of daily living. What are the stages of Alzheimers?There are five stages associated with Alzheimers disease preclinical Alzheimers disease, mild cognitive impairment, mild dementia due to Alzheimers, moderate dementia due t o Alzheimers and severe dementia due to Alzheimers.1.Preclinical Alzheimers diseaseAlzheimers disease begins long before any symptoms become apparent. This stage is called preclinical Alzheimers disease. You wont notice symptoms during this stage, nor depart those around you. This stage of Alzheimers can last for years, possibly even decades. Although you wont notice any changes, new imaging technologies can now identify deposits of a substance called amyloid beta that collapse been associated with Alzheimers disease. The ability to identify these early deposits whitethorn be especially important as new treatments are create for Alzheimers disease. 2.Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimers disease hatful with mild cognitive impairment have mild changes in their memory and thinking ability. These changes arent significant passable to affect work or relationships yet. People with MCI may have memory lapses when it comes to information that is usually easily remembered, such as conversations, recent events or appointments. People with MCI may in addition have trouble sound judgment the amount of time needed for a task, or they may have difficulty correctly judging the number or sequence of steps needed to complete a task. The ability to makesound decisions can become harder for people with MCI. Not everyone with mild cognitive impairment has Alzheimers disease. In some cases, MCI is due to depression or a temporary medical complication. The same procedures used to identify preclinical Alzheimers disease can uphold determine whether MCI is due to Alzheimers disease or something else.3.Mild dementia due to Alzheimers diseaseAlzheimers disease is often diagnosed in the mild dementia stage, when it becomes undefendable to family and doctors that a person is having significant trouble with memory and thinking. In the mild Alzheimers stage, people may experienceMemory loss for recent events. Individuals may have an especially hard time remembering ne wly learned information and repeatedly ask the same question. Difficulty with problem-solving, complex tasks and sound judgments. Planning a family event or balancing a checkbook may become overwhelming. Many people experience lapses in judgment, such as when making financial decisions. Changes in personality. People may become subdued or withdrawn especially in socially challenging situations or show uncharacteristic biliousness or anger. Decreased attention span and reduced motivation to complete tasks also are common. Difficulty organizing and expressing thoughts. Finding the right words to describe objects or clearly express ideas becomes increasingly challenging. Getting lost or misplacing belongings. Individuals have increasing trouble finding their way around, even in familiar places. Its also common to lose or misplace things, including valuable items.4.Moderate dementia due to Alzheimers diseaseDuring the moderate stage of Alzheimers, people grow more prorogued and sh ort(p) and begin to need help with daily activities and self-care. People with moderate Alzheimers disease mayShow increasingly poor judgment and deepening confusion. Individuals lose incubate of where they are, the day of the week or the season. They often lose the ability to recognize their own belongings and may inadvertently take things that dont belong to them. They may confuse family members or close friends with one another, or mistake strangers for family. They oftenwander, possibly in search of surroundings that feel more familiar and right. These difficulties make it unsecured to leave those in the moderate Alzheimers stage on their own. Experience even greater memory loss. People may forget details of their personal history, such as their address or phone number, or where they attended school. They repeat favorite stories or make up stories to fill gaps in memory. Need help with some daily activities. Assistance may be required with choosing proper clothing for the occa sion or the weather and with bathing, grooming, using the bathroom and other self-care. about individuals occasionally lose control of their urine or bowel movements. Undergo significant changes in personality and behavior. Its not unusual for people with moderate Alzheimers to adopt unfounded suspicions for example, to become convinced that friends, family or professional caregivers are stealing from them or that a spouse is having an affair. Others may see or hear things that arent sincerely there. Individuals often grow restless or agitated, especially late in the day. People may have outbursts of aggressive physical behavior.5.Severe dementia due to Alzheimers diseaseIn the severe (late) stage of Alzheimers, mental function continues to decline and the disease has a growing impact on movement and physical capabilities. In severe Alzheimers, people generallyLose the ability to communicate coherently. An individual can no longer converse or speak coherently, although he or she may occasionally say words or phrases. Require daily assistance with personal care. This includes total assistance with eating, dressing, using the bathroom and all other daily self-care tasks. Experience a decline in physical abilities. A person may become unable to walk without assistance, then unable to sit or hold up his or her head without support. Muscles may become rigid and reflexes abnormal. Eventually, a person loses the ability to swallow and to control bladder and bowel functions. discourseAlzheimers disease is complex, and it is unlikely that any one intervention will be found to delay, prevent, or cure it. Thats why current approaches in treatment and research focus on several different aspects, includinghelping people maintain mental function, managing behavioral symptoms, and slowing or delaying the symptoms of disease.Maintaining mental functionFour medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat Alzheimers. They may help maintain thinkin g, memory, and speaking skills, and help with certain behavioral problems. However, these drugs dont change the underlying disease process, are effective for some but not all people, and may help only for a limited time.Managing Behavioral SymptomsCommon behavioral symptoms of Alzheimers include sleeplessness, agitation, wandering, anxiety, anger, and depression. Scientists are learning why these symptoms occur and are studying new treatmentsdrug and non-drugto sleep with them. Treating behavioral symptoms often makes people with Alzheimers more comfortable and makes their care easier for caregivers.Slowing, Delaying, or Preventing Alzheimers DiseaseAlzheimers disease research has developed to a point where scientists can look beyond treating symptoms to think about addressing underlying disease processes. In ongoing clinical trials, scientists are looking at many an(prenominal) possible interventions, such as immunization therapy, cognitive training, physical activity, antioxidan ts, and the effects of cardiovascular and diabetes treatments.Alzheimers Referenceshttp//www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp http//www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet http//www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers-stages/art-20048448?pg=1 https//www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asphttp//umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/alzheimers-disease