A Look at the Medical and Social Aspects of Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease typically afflicts patients during the later years of their lives, and is most commonly associated with a general loss of cognitive function. For example, there is often progressive memory loss and a general decline in the patient's ability to reason, solve problems, and maintain an even emotional keel. Recent research has led to speculation that as many as 80% of all Alzheimer's cases are genetically transmitted, although environmental factors can lead a patient to contract the disease and also may influence how quickly the patient develops symptoms (Alzheimer's disease may, 2006). Genetically-linked Alzheimer's is transmitted in an autosomal dominant mode, which means it is not sex-linked and it will develop even in if the gene is heterozygous (Mullan, et.al., 1995 and Tanzi, 1999). In short, Alzheimer's can be expressed when genes are either homozygous dominant or heterozygous dominant. A number of things occur in the brain that cause a person to develop Alzheimer's symptoms. Many Alzheimer's patients experience a sharp decrease in the production of acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter, and over-production of the protein B-amyloid, which can cause obstructive neuritic plaques to form (Alzheimer's disea
Former US president Ronald Reagan is probably the most famous American to contract Alzheimer's, but actors Charlton Heston and Charles Bronson, as well as singer Perry Como, also brought attention to the disease after they became afflicted. The study found that the typical caregiver may spend 10-15 years caring for an Alzheimer's patient, and that the average caregiver was significantly more likely to face psychological problems such as depression, anxiety and even substance abuse (Stanford study focuses, 2002). Clearly, caring for an Alzheimer's patient can present enormous psychological and physical burdens. All of the gene mutations seem to result in the over-production of B amyloid, which is a protein commonly found in neuritic plaques (Alzheimer's disease, No date). A groundbreaking study by Stanford researchers in 2002 showed that Alzheimer's places a strain on family members and caregivers that is often even greater than that faced by the Alzheimer's patient. Recent studies have shown that environment can play a strong role in encouraging or discouraging the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms. It places a terrible burden on their shoulders. Scientists are hard at work on treatment and detection options that may shape the future of how Alzheimer's is treated. The Alzheimer's Foundation of America has also found that American businesses lose $60 billion a year in productivity because primary caregivers often are forced to miss work (About Alzheimer's, No date). Because patients suffer from Alzheimer's for years, it becomes hard to remember them before they had it. In fact, the prevalence of Alzheimer's and its increasing profile during the 1990s led scientists to dub it the "disease of the 20th century" (Whitehouse, et. It's almost a feeling of unrequited love, and although you tell yourself not to take it personally, it is difficult. Early detection can provide numerous benefits, as adults can try to avoid the other risk factors that can lead symptoms to develop faster, such as lack of exercise or poor eating habits.
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