Alziehemers

Crystal A Dolcy

Anatompy & Physiology I

Research Paper

Alzheimer’s Disease

Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain and is most common cause of dementia among people 65 years or older. Alzheimer’s is a neurological disorder in which death of the brain cells causes memory loss and decline in cognitive function. It’s chronic disease that usually starts slowly and gets worse over time. The most common symptom is when a person has difficulty remembering most rescent events or familiar names. In the first stages patients experience confusion, anxiety, some memory loss and poor judgement. As the disease progresses symptoms can include problems with language, disorientation, mood swings, loss of motivation, not managing self-care and behavioral issues. Gradually, functions of the body are lost and ultimately leads to death. However, the speed of progression can vary from patient to patient, the average life span can last three to nine years with Alzheimer’s disease. This research paper will discuss the causes, signs/symptoms and treatment/prevention of the Alzheimer’s disease.

Abstract

Scientist believe that in most common cases with advancing case, result from a combination of genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain over time. Less than 5 percent of patient have contributed Alzheimer’s through specific genetic changes that grantee a person with contract the disease. Even though the causes of the disease has yet to be fully understood its effect all the brain is pretty much the same in all cases. Alzheimer’s damages the all brain cells causing the brain to shrink. Patients with disease have more damaged cells in the brain as opposed to more function healthy cells. Almost as if the brain cells degenerating. There are two specific abnormalities associated with Alzheimer’s as view under the microscope; plagues and tangles. Plaques in the brain are clumps of a protein called beta-amyloid...