Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of presenile dementia that is almost similar to senile dementia except that it usually starts in the 40s or 50s. Among the first symptoms of the disease are impaired memory, which is followed by disturbed thinking and reasoning skills and impaired speech, and eventually complete helplessness. Dementia may have different stages of severity, i.e. from mild stage in which only the person’s normal functioning are affected to the severe stage in which a patient depends completely on others for basic care. Some people may also show anger, worry, or violence. It is important to note that Alzheimer’s disease is not a part of normal aging. Alzheimer’s is currently considered as the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., where, according to estimations, the disease has affected more than 5 million people (NIH, nihseniorhealth.gov).
The risk of getting the disease increases with age, and in most of the people, the disease starts in their mid-60s. However, the disease can also start in younger ages, i.e. in the 30s, though it is a rare case. Symptoms of the disease and its severity may vary from person to person as, for example, if the patient is more than 80 years old, the symptoms can appear and can become severe in as little as 3 years, whereas in younger population, it may take more than 10 years for the symptoms to become severe. Mild forgetfulness occurs normally with aging, but some people may feel that it takes longer for them to learn new things and that could be a memory decline, which is one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease in many patients. Similarly, mild cognitive impairment is among the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease (NIH, nihseniorhealth.gov).
Researchers found abnormal clumps, also known as amyloid plaques, as well as tangled bundles of fibers, also known as neurofibrillary, or tau, tangles in the brains of the patients of Alzheimer’s disease. Loss of connections between the nerve cells in the brain is also an important feature of Alzheimer’s disease. It appears that the damage to the brain may begin about 10 years or more before thinking or memory problems (NIH, nihseniorhealth.gov).
Prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
Prevention of the disease can be considered as the best strategy. According to a research, about a third of the cases of Alzheimer’s disease are caused by potentially changeable risk factors (Norton 788). For example, memory problems in the disease are caused by treatable issues such as vitamin B12 deficiency, side effects of medicines, head injuries, and/or kidney or liver disorders. Similarly, sometimes, emotional problems such as anxiety, stress, or depression can make a person forgetful and can be considered as dementia. In order to improve memory issues, these problems can be considered (NIH, nihseniorhealth.gov). Researchers are of opinion that improved access to education as well as the use of effective methods can help in reducing incidences of the disease (Norton 788).
Presently, Alzheimer’s disease has no cure, but it can be treated symptomatically (NIH, nihseniorhealth.gov). Most of the medicines are used either to slow down the progression of the disease or to treat symptoms. Most commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease are Rivastigmine, Donepezil, Galantamine, and Memantine. The first three of these drugs are cholinesterase inhibitors, which are used for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s, and memantine is NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) Receptor Antagonist, which is used to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease (UMM, umm.edu).
Works Cited
NIH. "Alzheimer’s disease". NIH Senior Health. National Institutes of Health. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2016 <http://nihseniorhealth.gov/alzheimersdisease/whatisalzheimersdisease/01.html>.
Norton, Sam, et al. "Potential for Primary Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease: An Analysis of Population-Based Data." The Lancet Neurology 13.8 (2014): 788-94. Print.
UMM. "Alzheimer’s disease". University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). University of Maryland Medical System, 2012. Web. 11 Mar. 2016 <http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/alzheimers-disease>.
