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Insight of Alzheimer's Disease
Definition
Alzheimer Disease is the most common form of dementia in elderly population. While dementia itself is brain disorder that manifest in declining of cognitive function and affects person's ability to carry out daily activities.
In Alzheimer, cognitive function primarily memory, judgment and reasoning, movement coordination, and pattern recognition. In advanced stages of the disease, all memory and mental functioning may be lost.
The condition predominantly affects the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, which lose mass and shrink (atrophy) as the disease advances.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, about 5.2 million people in the United States suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 10% of all people over the age of 65 and as many as 50% of those over the age of 85 are diagnosed with the condition, which is the seventh leading cause for death.
Pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease
Based on recent researchs and knowledges, Alzheimer is the disease of the nerve cell in the brain. That leads into degeneration process in the brain.
The degenerative process of alzheimer disease is accelerated because there are formations of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Neuritic plaques, or patches, are commonly found in brains of elderly people, they appear in excessive numbers in the cerebral cortex of Alzheimer's disease patients. A protein called beta amyloid occupies the center of these plaques.
Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are twisted remnants of a protein called tau, which is found inside brain cells and is essential for maintaining proper cell structure and function. An abnormality in the tau protein disrupts normal cell activity.
Both of them, leads to dysfunction and degeneration of nerve cell in the brain, especially in Cholinergic neurons. Depletion numbers of cholinergic neurons, impaired dramatically brain function, especially in parts of memory and learning. Thus manifests in memory impairment, recalled difficulties, naming difficulties, etc.
Risk Factors for Alzheimer
The risk for developing Alzheimer's disease can be classified into modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors.
Non-modifiable risk factors in alzheimer disease such as age, sex, family history, and certain genetic abnormalities.
Alzheimer risk increases with each decade of adult life. People with a family history of Alzheimer's have a greater risk, implying that a genetic factor is involved in the development of the disease. A clear inherited pattern of AD exists in less than 10% of cases.
While, the modifiable risk factors of having alzheimer disease such as chronic high blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol, they are identified as risk factors for loss of mental function in older people. Treatment for those conditions may reduce the Alzheimer's risk. Adults who have had head injuries are three times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Studies also have shown that diabetes may increase the risk for Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease
Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, such as memory loss, may be attributed to the forgetfulness associated with ageing. Gradually, the loss of cognitive function disrupts the patient's ability to perform common daily activities, such as paying bills, driving, and housekeeping. Some people remain unaware of their symptoms, while others are painfully aware of the fact that they are losing mental function.
In end-stage Alzheimer's disease, patients may become bedridden and need help with eating and getting out of bed to use the bathroom. Patients also may experience convulsions and seizures and may become incontinent.
In order to establish the alzheimer's disease. Usually a patient will have to undergo several examinations including history taking, physical examination, and laboratory examinations. One of the important examination in alzheimer's disease is a mental status examination. This involves asking questions to evaluate mental functions and making observations of the patient's behavior, appearance, and attitude. Questions are designed to assess orientation, memory, attention and concentration, insight and judgment, general intellectual functions (e.g., calculation; common knowledge, such as What is the capital of the United States?; identifying similarities and differences between words).
Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease
There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease until now. Recent treatment of alzheimer's disease is aimed for preventing or slow down the degenerative process.
Most of the treatment is aimed to increase the acetylcholin level in the brain, thus will help the cognitive function of the brain.
Memory aids, such as notepads and reminders posted in specific locations, often are helpful for patients who have Alzheimer's disease. A careful evaluation of the home is essential for safety, especially the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Some therapists and social service workers are trained to perform this service. People with Alzheimer's are often afraid to be alone or fear they'll be forced to leave their homes.
Alzheimer Disease is the most common form of dementia in elderly population. While dementia itself is brain disorder that manifest in declining of cognitive function and affects person's ability to carry out daily activities.
In Alzheimer, cognitive function primarily memory, judgment and reasoning, movement coordination, and pattern recognition. In advanced stages of the disease, all memory and mental functioning may be lost.
The condition predominantly affects the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, which lose mass and shrink (atrophy) as the disease advances.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, about 5.2 million people in the United States suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 10% of all people over the age of 65 and as many as 50% of those over the age of 85 are diagnosed with the condition, which is the seventh leading cause for death.
Pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease
Based on recent researchs and knowledges, Alzheimer is the disease of the nerve cell in the brain. That leads into degeneration process in the brain.
The degenerative process of alzheimer disease is accelerated because there are formations of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Neuritic plaques, or patches, are commonly found in brains of elderly people, they appear in excessive numbers in the cerebral cortex of Alzheimer's disease patients. A protein called beta amyloid occupies the center of these plaques.
Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are twisted remnants of a protein called tau, which is found inside brain cells and is essential for maintaining proper cell structure and function. An abnormality in the tau protein disrupts normal cell activity.
Both of them, leads to dysfunction and degeneration of nerve cell in the brain, especially in Cholinergic neurons. Depletion numbers of cholinergic neurons, impaired dramatically brain function, especially in parts of memory and learning. Thus manifests in memory impairment, recalled difficulties, naming difficulties, etc.
Risk Factors for Alzheimer
The risk for developing Alzheimer's disease can be classified into modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors.
Non-modifiable risk factors in alzheimer disease such as age, sex, family history, and certain genetic abnormalities.
Alzheimer risk increases with each decade of adult life. People with a family history of Alzheimer's have a greater risk, implying that a genetic factor is involved in the development of the disease. A clear inherited pattern of AD exists in less than 10% of cases.
While, the modifiable risk factors of having alzheimer disease such as chronic high blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol, they are identified as risk factors for loss of mental function in older people. Treatment for those conditions may reduce the Alzheimer's risk. Adults who have had head injuries are three times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Studies also have shown that diabetes may increase the risk for Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease
Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, such as memory loss, may be attributed to the forgetfulness associated with ageing. Gradually, the loss of cognitive function disrupts the patient's ability to perform common daily activities, such as paying bills, driving, and housekeeping. Some people remain unaware of their symptoms, while others are painfully aware of the fact that they are losing mental function.
In end-stage Alzheimer's disease, patients may become bedridden and need help with eating and getting out of bed to use the bathroom. Patients also may experience convulsions and seizures and may become incontinent.
In order to establish the alzheimer's disease. Usually a patient will have to undergo several examinations including history taking, physical examination, and laboratory examinations. One of the important examination in alzheimer's disease is a mental status examination. This involves asking questions to evaluate mental functions and making observations of the patient's behavior, appearance, and attitude. Questions are designed to assess orientation, memory, attention and concentration, insight and judgment, general intellectual functions (e.g., calculation; common knowledge, such as What is the capital of the United States?; identifying similarities and differences between words).
Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease
There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease until now. Recent treatment of alzheimer's disease is aimed for preventing or slow down the degenerative process.
Most of the treatment is aimed to increase the acetylcholin level in the brain, thus will help the cognitive function of the brain.
Memory aids, such as notepads and reminders posted in specific locations, often are helpful for patients who have Alzheimer's disease. A careful evaluation of the home is essential for safety, especially the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Some therapists and social service workers are trained to perform this service. People with Alzheimer's are often afraid to be alone or fear they'll be forced to leave their homes.
