Research Needed for Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Disorder (AD) is a progressive brain disease whichprimarily affects older people. The parts of the brain that control memory,language, and even thought gradually decline (ADEAR, date). While ADdevelops most commonly after the age of sixty, there is a rarer form thatcan develop at a younger age. Experts estimate that between the ages of 65and 75, 5% of the population may have AD. By age 85, however, nearly halfmay have AD (ADEAR, date). In spite of how common the disease is amongpeople who have lived a very long time, AD is not considered a normalconsequence of age but a disease process to which one becomes more While scientists are just beginning to untangle the mystery of exactlywhat causes AD, some facts have been established. The disease was firstnoticed by a German doctor, Alois Alzheimer. Although doctors had noteddementia in elderly people, Dr. Alzheimer examined the brain of a woman whohad died of an unusual mental illness. In the brain he found clumps ofmatter that should have not been there (called amyloid plaques). He alsofound tangled figers, now called neurofrbrillary fibers (ADEAR, date). Thepresence of these formations are defin
5 million Americans may have AD(ADEAR, date), with 360,000 new cases diagnosed every year (Griffith,2002). Today wehear the words "Alzheimer's Disease" and think of an ex-president, orperhaps a famous actor such as Ava Gardner, who died of AD. itive signs of Alzheimer's, but sincecurrently they can only be detected after death, their presence is notdiagnostically useful. They may struggle with simple arithmetic. If a patientis diagnosed early in the course of the illness, he or she can participatein both financial and legal decisions that must be made. Eventually, patients with AD need 24 hour a dayspecialized care resulting in placement in some sort of nursing facility(Griffith, 2002). Diagnosticians can now distinguishbetween the mild kinds of memory changes that are normal in old age and themore devastating effects and more serious outcome of Alzheimer's Disorder(ADEAR, date). The best we can currently do is toslow its progress (Griffith, 2002). These symptoms may notbe enough to cause concern (ADEAR, date). Researchers assume that the combination of diminishedneurotransmitters and loss of nerve cells contribute to the disruption ofthought processes in the patient with AD. During that time, the patient will incur significant medicalexpenses, ending with nursing home care or intensive professional supportcare at home, sometimes for many years. While some interest in somediseases tend to wax and wane, it unfortunately seems reasonable thatinterest in AD will continue, because AD strikes in all classes of societyand among those who hold prominent jobs or play influential roles. In itsearliest states, the person will seem mildly forgetful. They may also undergo personality changes. The patient canassign power of attorney, make sure assets have been invested as well aspossible, and write a living will (Griffith, 2002).
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