Symptoms Of Alzheimer's Disease example essay topic

... 's disease is usually characterized as mild, moderate, or severe, depending upon the severity of symptoms. It is difficult to place a patient with Alzheimer's disease in a specific stage. However, symptoms seem to progress in a recognizable pattern and these stages provide a framework for understanding the disease. It is important to remember that they are not uniform in every patient and the stages often overlap. The First Stage, or mild dementia, lasts approximately 2 to 4 years, leading up to and including diagnosis.

Symptoms of mild dementia including: recent memory loss which affects job performance, confusion about places (gets lost on way to work), loses spontaneity (the spark or zest for life), loses initiative (can not start anything), mood / personality changes (anxious about symptoms, avoids people), poor judgment, makes bad decisions, takes longer with routine chores, and trouble handling money. The Second Stage, or moderate dementia, lasts approximately 2 to 10 years after diagnosis. The second stage is usually the longest stage of the disease process. Symptoms of moderate dementia include: increasing memory loss with confusion, shorter attention span, problems recognizing close friends and family, repetitive statements and movements, restless (especially in late afternoon and at night), occasional muscle twitches / jerking, perceptual motor problems, difficulty organizing thoughts, cannot think logically, can not find right words (makes up words to fill in blanks), problems with reading / writing /numbers, may be suspicious / irritable /fidgety / teary /silly, loss of impulse control, trouble dressing, will not bathe or is afraid to bathe, and / or may see or hear things that are not there. A patient in the second stage, moderate dementia, often requires full-time supervision. Terminal Stage, severe dementia, lasts approximately 1 to 3 years.

Usually the patient can no longer recognize family or own self image, loses weight even with a good diet, cannot care for self, cannot communicate with words, cannot control bowels or bladder, may have seizures, experience difficulty with swallowing and / or skin infections. Alzheimer's disease exacts a terrible price, both in human and monetary terms. Alzheimer's costs the United States between $80 billion and $100 billion a year. In 1996, the federal government spent $325 million on research. Which means, Alzheimer's cost society $308.00 for every federal dollar spent for research.

Alzheimer's disease creates a financial burden not just on a nation but also on a family. Nineteen million people have a relative with AD. The Alzheimer's Association, has created local chapters in every state of the country. There is nothing yet available that can stop the deterioration associated with the disease. Several research breakthroughs have helped to slow the progression of the disease process. A series of experiments reported in 1997 has shown that Vitamin E can modestly change the course of AD.

Vitamin E was able to delay the admission into nursing homes by almost seven months. While no one understands exactly why this positive result occurred, the logic for testing Vitamin E has a sound scientific basis. Vitamin E is in a class of molecules called antioxidants, such molecules have the ability to fight free radicals. Some symptoms of Alzheimer's disease may be caused by an overabundance of free radicals.

If so, then taking some kind of antioxidant may perhaps slow the age of onset of AD. Another result that shows promise as an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease in postmenopausal women is the use of estrogen. This hormone has been shown to have many different effects on brain neurons. Estrogen may even be able to improve higher mental functions such as memory and learning. There are health risks associated with taking estrogen (for example, an increased risk for breast cancer).

Nonetheless, the data with estrogen, as with Vitamin E, represents a milestone in Alzheimer's research. They provide the first hope the disease may be significantly slowed. Some researchers believe Alzheimer's is intimately associated with the immune system. Symptoms may appear because of an ongoing inflammatory response. If true, then antiflammatory medications might slow the effects of AD.

Ibuprofen (Advil) is an example of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that seems to provide protective effects in some cases. (Medina 151) The Food and Drug Administration has given approval for certain medications for the treatment of Alzheimer's. One medicine is called taurine (Connex), another is called donepezil (Aricept). Unlike Vitamin E or estrogen, these medications work by inhibiting a molecule which normally breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. There can be some improvement of symptoms with these medications though the underlying deterioration of the brain continues. A new medication, Exelon is available for treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

It has been tested in thousands of patients and has been proven to have a positive effect on the three main areas of overall functioning which includes: behavior, cognition, and activities of daily living (dressing, bathing, toileting, eating). Exelon may help patients maintain function longer than they would without therapy. Currently, there is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease. The goal of physician and caregivers is to help maintain patient's abilities for as long as possible, and keep them safe and comfortable.

Alzheimer's disease, or any other form of dementia, is a personal tragedy for the patient and for those who love them and bear the burden of caring for them. It is a slow, progressive disease with no known cure. As our population ages, Alzheimer's is a tragedy that is affecting more and more people.

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