Alzheimers Disease Essay -- Alzheimers Disease Essays

Alzheimers DiseaseAlzheimers disease is a complex illness that affects the brain tissue directly and undergoes gradual stor long time and behavioral changes which makes it difficult to diagnose. It is known to be the most common function of dementia and is irreversible. Over four million over-the-hiller Americans have Alzheimers, and that identification number is expected to triple in the next twenty eld as much sight live into their eighties and nineties. (Johnson, 1989). There is still no cure for Alzheimers but throughout the past few years a lot of progress has been made.Doctors need a sure office to diagnose the disease onward treatment or studies can be done. The diagnosis is an autopsy of brain tissue examined under a microscope. In addition, medical floor, a physical exam, and mental status tests atomic number 18 utilize for diagnosis (Posen, 1995). Often, tests argon done to pattern out other authorization mystifys of the dementia. This allows the identificati on of other causes of idea and behavioral changes to be made before concluding that the patient has Alzheimers or another form of dementia. The tests that atomic number 18 requested to be done include CT and MRI scans to rule out strokes or brain tumors which could account for change in stock and behavior thyroid and psychological tests which can also detect thinking and behavior problems (Posen, 1995).Alzheimers is a result from a combination of factors that cause progressive brain deterioration that affects the memory and behavior of an individual. There are two known risk factors. The first risk factor is age. Alzheimers usually affects people older than 60, and rarely affects those younger than 40. The average age ALZHEIMERS 3 of diagnosis is about 80 years old (Johnson, 1989). The incidence is about the same for all races, but women are more likely than men to develop the disease, because they live longer. The second factor is heredity. Family history plays a role in about forty percent of people with early onset of Alzheimers (Johnson, 1989). If your parents or a sibling developed the disease, you are more likely to, as well. But there are cases of families with several people who have had this disease and other members are not affected. These two factors are the only telln factors, but environmental interrogation is being done to help with a possible protective core group for the disease. As of now, more research is needed to confirm any be... ...sion of the disease. In addition, the risk factors and preventive measures are quite clear. These can help those who are unaware of what Alzheimers disease is or how it progresses. Future studies may prove to be beneficial in preventing the occurrence of Alzheimers, or at least the severity of its progression. Informing people of this disease, the risk factors, and preventive measures at a younger age, can only prove beneficial in the lower or possible elimination of this physically and mentally alter ing disease. backup a healthy life now can only amplification your chances of having a healthier life in old age. ALZHEIMERS 6 Remember A rolling stone gathers no moss, So proceeding your brain now to reduce future loss.ALZHEIMERS 7ReferencesJohnson, Barbara S. (1989). psychiatrical mental health. (2nd ed.). New York. J.B. Lippincott Company.Posen, P.B (1995, Apr.). Alzheimers disease. www.document. (Visited March 12, 2000). URLHttp//www.mayo.edu/research/alzheimers.center.Wallace, Robert. (1998, March). Alzheimers disease. www.document. (Visited March 12, 2000). URL Http//www.alzheimers.org/pubs/adfact.htm).