Alzheimer s Disease A Progressive Decline - 1240 Words

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive decline in cognitive function. It affects the brain by damaging brain cells resulting in a decreased in cognitive function, physical mobility, swallowing and fine motor skills. This disease approximately 5.1 million Americans aged sixty-five or older (Alzheimer s Association, 2015) of which approximately 700,000 will likely die this year (Alzheimer s Association, 2015) of related symptoms such as aspiration pneumonia due to decreased swallowing ability. The progression of this disease is consistent and cannot be cured or slowed (Alzheimer s Association, 2015). According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s is one of the most expensive chronic disease in the United States estimating a cost of 226 billion dollars per year (Alzheimer s Association, 2015). This debilitating disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States (Alzheimer s Association, 2015). Identify Alzheimer Disease is a form of dementia that is â€Å"a progressive, irreversible brain disorder that is characterized by a gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and eventually physical function† (Santrock, 2015). Dementia is a term that classifies a group of disorders that affect the brain resulting in a decline of cognitive function. Approximately 50 to 80 percent of dementia diagnosis can be classified as Alzheimer’s (Alzheimers Association, 2015). Historical Overview Discovered in 1906 by Dr. Alois Alzheimer due to his study ofShow MoreRelatedAlzheimer s Disease : Causes Progressive Physical And Cognitive Decline1066 Words   |  5 PagesAlzheimer’s disease (AD) can be described as a neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive physical and cognitive decline.1 AD which is mostly seen in the elderly, is the most common form of dementia. Dementia can be described as the loss of the brain’s ability to function in multiple ways in a person who is awake or alert. Dementia includes memory loss and also affects a person’s ability to speak, read, write, listen, and complete certain tasks.1 Dementia can have a tremendous impact on one’sRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : A Progressive Disease925 Words   |  4 PagesAlzheimer s disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other vital mental functions. Alzheimer s disease is the most common cause of dementia, a group of brain disorders that cau se the loss of intellectual and social skills. AD can eventually render a person unable to function in society and to even care for themselves. Since the disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States constant research is being done to try to prevent it and to find a cure. Alzheimer s diseaseRead MoreThe Disease Of Alzheimer s Disease1677 Words   |  7 Pagesone thing Alzheimer s cannot take away, and that is love. Love is not a memory - it s a feeling that resides in your heart and soul.† (Fade to Blank). The human brain is a remarkably complex organ that processes, stores, and recalls information. â€Å"Alzheimer s disease (AD) is a slowly progressive disease of the brain that is characterized by impairment of memory and eventually by disturbances in reasoning, planning, language, and perception. Many scientists believe that Alzheimer s disease resultsRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : The Most Common Form Of Dementia1427 Words   |  6 PagesDementia, known as one of the world s current pandemics, is estimated to be the fourth most common cause of death in the developed country, second only to cardiovascular, cerebrovascular diseases and cancer. With the aging population, dementia has gradually become a serious threat to the health of the elderly people in Australia. Alzheimer s disease is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer s disease usually occurs in a primary degenerative encephalopathy in senile and pre senior periodRead MoreDementia Is The Only Cause Death That Does Not Have A Cure972 Words   |  4 Pageswith a person s daily functioning. Dementia is not the name of a specific disease itself, but rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions. This is referred to as an umbrella term, a phrase that covers a broad interval or set of functions or items that all fall under a single common category. Dementia is a descriptive term for a collection of symptoms that can be caused by a number of disorders that affect the brain. These include Alzheimer’s disease, FrontotemporalRead MoreThe Mystery Of Alzheimer s Disease1537 Words   |  7 Pagesthinking, and behavior. The purpose of this paper is to discuss medical definition, etiology, signs and symptoms, stages of disease progression, risk factors, dia gnosis, and treatment. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is Ultimately fatal. Medical Definition. Alzheimer s disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain s nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes. These neuronsRead MoreNbsjd789 Words   |  4 PagesAlzheimer Disease Report Alzheimer s disease (AD) is a slowly progressive disease of the brain that is characterized by impairment of memory and eventually by disturbances in reasoning, planning, language, and perception. Many scientists believe that Alzheimer s disease results from an increase in the production or accumulation of a specific protein (beta-amyloid protein) in the brain that leads to nerve cell death. The likelihood of having Alzheimer s disease increases substantially afterRead MoreWhat Is Alzheimer s Disease? Essay1698 Words   |  7 Pagesis Alzheimer’s Disease? Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a type of dementia that is irreversible and it causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. The symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. (â€Å"Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia,† n.d.). Dementia is a term for a decrease in the intellectual ability which it can be severe enough to interfere with an individual’s day to day life. The German neurologist Alois Alzheimer was the firstRead MoreSymptoms Of Alzheimer s Disease1006 Words   |  5 PagesAlzheimer s disease is a severe illness that affects the brain and leads to gradual memory loss, reduced intellectual ability and deterioration function of thinking. Alzheimer s disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, is a progressive neurological disorder that increasingly robs individuals of cognitive, behavioral, and functional skills (Demakis, 2007). The reason for the appearance this disease is a collect ion of disorders in the brain due to which its cells are dying partially. In theRead MoreA Perspective On Alzheimer s Disease1610 Words   |  7 PagesALZHEIMER’S DISEASE Introduction Alzheimer s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting almost 500,000 people in the UK. The term dementia describes a loss of mental ability associated with gradual death of brain cells (NHS, 2013). This essay, provides an overview of Alzheimer’s disease, focusing on the amyloid hypothesis, which states that the accumulation and deposition of fibrillar -amyloid (beta-amyloid) is the primary driver of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline leading