Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes gradual loss of memory as well as the loss of language skills, and eventually the inability to care for oneself. This disease affects about 10 percent of the American population over the age of 45, and approximately 45 percent of America's population over 85 may have the disease.Alois Alzheimer, a German psychologist, discovered the disease in 1906. Until recently, scientists hypothesized that Alzheimer's disease only affected young people, but now it has been proven otherwise. Today researchers know early-onset Alzheimer's affects people in their 30's through 50's, accounting for only 10 percent of the estimated 4 million cases in the
Scientists have discovered neurons in the brains of Alzheimer's patients shrink and die, occurring first in the language and memory centers. The onset of this disease is very progressive. The dying neurons leave gaps in the communication paths of brain cells causing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Geneticists are intrigued by this mutation because it occurs on the gene involved in Down's Syndrome. There is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease. Patients also have lower levels of neurotransmitters, chemicals that carry complex messages back and forth between nerve cells. Not surprisingly, caregivers of Alzheimer's patients frequently experience some form of emotional and even psychological problems because of their ongoing stress. Patients become frustrated and frightened when mundane tasks become unfamiliar. This also causes symptoms of the disease. The causes of Alzheimer's disease are still unknown. However, the level of neurotransmitter in the brain may be increased by drugs that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In the early stages, patients diagnosed with this disease may have difficulty learning new information or performing routine tasks such as locking the door. The other cases are considered late-onset Alzheimer's, which affects people age 65 and older.
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