Alzheimer

Definition: “Alzheimer’s is the death of the mind before the body”. (1) This definition of Alzheimer’s is very simple, but very true; it sums up the disease in one simple statement. Scientifically Alzheimer’s is a progressive, neurological disease, in which plaque and tangles, composed primarily of protein, build up on and in neurons respectively, in the hippocampus and interfere with memory, thinking, language skills and behavior. (2) It is still unclear whether these structures cause the disease, or if they are a byproduct of it. The disease is named after a German physician, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906 he did a case study on a 51-year-old woman who suffered from a brain disorder, and her brain autopsy showed the same plaques and tangles that are used to diagnose Alzheimer’s today. Research: The cause of Alzheimer’s is still unknown. (2). However current research is finding that there can be several contributing factors such as genetics, head injuries, age, neuron damage from free radicals, brain inflammation, and environmental factors. Age being the most important risk factor. There are also two types of the disease: sporadic and familial. Familial Alzheimer’s follows an obvious inheritance

The National council on the Aging has released a study saying that exercise slows development of Alzheimer"tms-like brain changes in mice. Short-term memory is affected first, because it is only stored in the temporal lobe, and not through extensive nerve cell networks as the long-term memory is. This is the final stage of Alzheimer"tms and is usually when the diaphragm muscle fails and the patient stops breathing. Conclusion:In conclusion, Alzheimer"tms is a very scary disease affecting 4. These two symptoms of the disease are often the scariest one for the individual and the loved ones. Someone in this stage might forget familiar words or names, or where they set down keys or eyeglasses; however this is not recognized as a major problem. For example the individual may not recognize familiar objects or sounds. Tacrine (Cognex) was introduced in 1993, donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept) has been on the market since 1996, rivastigmine (Exelon) was released five years ago in 2000, and lastly galantamine hydrobromide (reminyl) was approved in 2001. The first "A", amnesia, is memory loss. Scientists have made great advancements on the genetic front of the disease. 8 million Americans, with an annual bill of 100 billion. These stages are helpful as frames of reference for doctors and loved ones. For example they might nod in agreement even though they truly don"tmt understand what is being said. (5) These drugs interfere with the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, which is what causes Alzheimer"tms symptoms.