Alzheimer’s Disease -> The Disease of Darkness

Lindsay Logan – Health 11/12 GOLD

Alzheimer’s Disease

• Alzheimer’s Disease is a FATAL progressive degenerative disorder that attacks brain nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in the loss of memory, thinking, language skills, and behavior.

http://www.alz.org/index.asp

Alzheimer’s – Who is Affected?

• Older people are affected. Chances of getting Disease increases with 65 + age.

• Family History plays a big role in disease development

• Comes in three stages, diagnosed second most of the time.

Sociology Alzheimer’s Packet.

Alzheimer’s Disease

•We have 100 million brain cells. With Alzheimer’s, brain cells stop working and are broken down causing damage. As damage spreads, cells lose their ability to do their jobs well. It reverses the age of the patient mentally and eventually physically. Eventually, they die from the damage.

Alzheimer’s - Causes

• Family Genetics! = Development of Family Genetics! = Development of DiseaseDisease

• Other than that, Scientists are Other than that, Scientists are struggling to find out just what struggling to find out just what causes the trigger of the disease.causes the trigger of the disease.

http://alzheimers.about.com/od/whatisalzheimer1/a/causes.htm

Stage One:

Warning Signs!-Difficulty with familiar tasks

-Memory Loss ( most commonly known)

-Language Difficulty

-Disorientation

-Mood/Behavioral/Personality change

-Misplacing objects, & cannot trace their steps

-Difficulty of harder thinking

-Poor Judgment

Stage Two :NURSING HOME

- Increase in memory loss

- Shortened Attention Span

- Difficulty in recognizing Loved ones

- Difficulty learning new things

- Difficulty organizing thoughts

- Reduced Impulse control ( walking, eating, etc.)

- Paranoia & More behavioral change

Alzheimer’s Stage Two (Cont.)Alzheimer’s Stage Two (Cont.)

•Many of the victims of Alzheimer’s feel frustrated, hurt, depressed,

alone, and scared in this stage. Most are put into nursing homes or care centers due to their inability to take care of themselves anymore. The

danger of them getting hurt or causing harm grows higher with the

progression of the disease.

Stage Three

BACK TO INFANCY-Entire Loss of language, memory, bladder, bowel,

and physical coordination

-Difficulty Swallowing

-Noise Making, CANNOT SPEAK

-Weight Loss. Usually severe…cannot eat!

-Increased Sleeping

* DEATH RESULTS IN THE INABILITY TO EAT, USE THE BATHROOM, AND BREATHE.

Alzheimer’s – Diagnosis

• Consult a Doctor if one has worries of progressive memory loss, and other

symptoms as mentioned earlier. Earlier Diagnosis is the KEY!

• time to make choices that maximize quality of life

• lessened anxieties about unknown problems• a better chance of benefiting from treatment

• more time to plan for the future

Alzheimer’s Treatments/Cures

• There is NO cure for Alzheimer’s to this day• Herbal Remedies & Vitamins can help

promote a healthy brain• Diet can help promote a healthy brain and

body• Medications

• Memory Exercises• Stem Cell Research & Brain Mapping is

being done to try and reach a cure

Alzheimer’s Preventions

•Stay Active!!!

•Mentally, Socially, Physically, And Eat Well