ipl-logo

Alzheimer's Disease Case Study

988 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Alzheimer's introduction

INTRODUCTION
Approximately 36 million individuals have Alzheimer’s disease (AD) worldwide which is the common cause of dementia in the range of higher ages (Alzheimers.net, 2014). About 5% to 8% of people aged above 65, 15% to 20% of people aged above 75 and 25% to 50% of those aged above 85 are affected by Alzheimer’s disease (Duthey, 2013). Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversibly progressive disease of the brain characterised by gradual loss of memory, change in personality and a decline in cognitive functions such as language, perception and reasoning. An individual with Alzheimer’s disease would lose all mental and memory abilities in later stages (National Institute of Aging, 2011). It is believed that Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the …show more content…

One of the principal treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Alzheimer’s disease is a drug named Rivastigmine (Exelon®). The beginning of this essay starts with how the neurons relay messages in the central nervous system followed by the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease then illustrates the function of Rivastigmine to reduce the effect of Alzheimer’s disease.

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Neurons communicate with each other by relaying electrical and chemical signals across the synapses (Stufflebeam, 2008). Synapses are places usually formed between the axon terminals and dendritic spines. The presynaptic neuron is the neuron that transmits the signal whereas the postsynaptic neuron receives the signal. For transmission of signal across a chemical synapse, neurotransmitters are produced and stored in vesicles in axon terminals …show more content…

Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the low levels of concentration of neurotransmitter acetylcholine which aids in neurotransmission as a chemical messenger due to the two hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease which are the accumulation of beta amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. There is yet for a cure to be found for Alzheimer’s disease however the use of the drug Rivastigmine has been verified to help relieve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase so that the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is not

Show More
Related
982 Words | 4 Pages

In Tiana Peele’s “Alzheimer’s: The Forgotten Issue” published by the University of Delaware Peele attempts to raise awareness of the forgotten issue of Alzheimer’s. Undoubtedly, Peele is drawn to this subject at matter because her grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. This disease happens to be a form of Dementia and causes memory and intellectual abilities to deteriorate. Some of the early symptoms include short-term memory loss, and behavior changes. Furthermore, as one progresses into the later stages of this disease they become increasingly confused and become suspicious of loved ones.

Read More
793 Words | 4 Pages

Introduction Alzheimer’s is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and gets worse over time. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events or short memory loss. As the disease advances, symptoms can include difficulty with language, disorientation, mood swing and behavior problems. As a person 's condition progressed, they often withdraw from friends and family. Slowly, bodily functions deteriorated and eventually death occurs.

Read More
737 Words | 3 Pages

This disease has killed lots of people and so far, scientists have not found out the reason for people getting it or how to cure it the only drug known to help slow down the disease is called riluzole (“ALS”). No other drug has been able to stop ALS from

Read More
623 Words | 3 Pages

The education should include information on any new medications and their possible side effects. Detailed information should also be given about the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and include information about how to best keep the patient safe. Any information provided should be presented verbally and in writing. It would be helpful to provide written information in both English and Mrs. Ocampo’s native language. Mr. Ocampo’s should be provided with support information.

Read More
1113 Words | 5 Pages

Alzheimer’s disease causes changes in the chemistry and structure of the brain resulting in death of brain cells. Lewy body dementia causes the degeneration of brain tissue inside the nerve cells. Vascular dementia is the result of a stroke or a series of small strokes and Frontotemporal dementia is an accumulation of proteins in the brain. 3.2 -Describe signs and symptoms of

Read More
433 Words | 2 Pages

Villegas Although it was not that long ago that I started doing research, Dr. Villegas has given me the privilege of working in his lab. He is currently conducting research on a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Working with Dr. Villegas has allowed me to learn new scientific methods and facts. Such methods and facts include, but are not limited to, tissue sectioning, electrode implantation, and recording data.

Read More
401 Words | 2 Pages

End They shape their argument in the end by saying how the government does not put nearly as much money as they do towards other diseases and that there is a possible cure in testing. “In March, biotechnology company Biogen unveiled an anti-amyloid called aducanumab, or "adu" — the first drug that has substantially reduced the brain plaque associated with Alzheimer 's in a human trial”. 4. The author uses a serious tone by giving facts that portray the need for a cure.

Read More
652 Words | 3 Pages

Alzheimer’s disease is a specific cognitive impairment that falls under the dementia umbrella. Currently there is no cure and researchers are still looking to find the cause for diseases like Alzheimer’s. It is important, as the baby-boomer generation ages, to make sure the general public is educated on common myths and misconceptions about dementia. 1.

Read More
1394 Words | 6 Pages

Along with the patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, support groups can greatly assist their families. In several support groups, patients that are in the early stages of Alzheimer 's disease benefit. The support groups can help to maintain their quality of life and decrease the amount of behavioral treatment that they may require. Other groups help patients with the physical performance and their memory impairment. The support groups usually help the families prepare for the decline of the patient 's mental thinking abilities from the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (“World Alzheimer

Read More
448 Words | 2 Pages

What is storytelling? Well, according to the National Storytelling Network storytelling as an ancient art form and a valuable form of human expression; that is why many would consider Beast of the Southern Wild a perfect example. Beast of the Southern Wild movie is about passion, pain, survival and adventure which all can be transpired throughout the movie; free spirited folks that refuse to leave the folktales they believe in for the realism of the world. Let me introduce Hushpuppy and her father Wink, the amazing dysfunctional duo, but all on how one chooses to look at it. Let me begin by explaining that the people living in the bathtub are not like everyone else; the bathtub is its own culture, a different way of life for the few that decide

Read More
1615 Words | 7 Pages

Dementia is a natural mind disorder which brings about worldwide subjective debilitations. Dementia can happen as an

Read More
873 Words | 4 Pages

Dementia is a tenacious disorder which causes the loss of one’s mental ability; affecting their speech, shrinking of the hippocampus (dictates movement between long term and short term memories in the brain, this engenders a myriad of problems: being certain that memories have already occurred, and confusing two memories with each other and the people within it. Dementia is a slow, obnoxious disease that eventually kills the patient. There are an estimated 850,000 civilians living in Britain that have Alzheimer’s disease: most common type of dementia. Despite those bewildering figures, there is still no cure for any type of dementia. Why is not enough done?

Read More
576 Words | 3 Pages

The human mind: an intricate labyrinth of neurons and cells, a perplexing organ that solves insuperable problems, and a host for grievous disease. Alzheimer’s, the aforementioned disease, embeds itself into the human nervous system, diminishing memories and cognitive functions. Possessing a plethora of riveting complexities, the disease seizes my attention and fuels my interest in neurology. Frequent visits to see my great-grandmother with Alzheimer’s fostered my gradual interest in this neurological malady. Throughout my elementary and middle school years, my grandmother took my brother and I to a nursing home in Fond du Lac, WI: with the same sterile hallways, the same unpalatable food, the same defective elevator, and the same great-grandmother.

Read More
593 Words | 3 Pages

In intense political competition for federal dollars for medical research, and other diseases come out far ahead of Alzheimer’s. Additional support from the federal government could cut down on the death rate of one out of every three seniors; thus, decreasing Alzheimer’s from one of the top six leading causes of death. Back in the early 1900 ’s we did not have information about Alzheimer’s disease but that it was something that an old person gets and that is why we have so many people diagnosed in the year 2015.

Read More
1381 Words | 6 Pages

Introduction Dementia is a chronic and progressive syndrome that affects the elderly resulting in the deterioration of intellect and cognitive function such as memory, judgement, orientation and the ability to process thoughts. Dementia is estimated to affect 50 million adults worldwide every year [1]. In Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported that dementia affected approximately 20,000 Singaporean elderly in 2010, corresponding to a prevalence of 5.7% among elderly aged 65 years and above [2]. More recently, a cross-sectional survey done in 2015 reported that the prevalence of dementia had increased to 10% in the elderly population of Singapore [3]. Given the high prevalence of dementia in the elderly population, it is no surprise

Read More

More about Alzheimer's Disease Case Study

Related Topics

Open Document