Alxzheimer the Elderly Disease

Alzheimer the Elderly Disease

Sherri O. Chisolm

Professor Theresa Pavone

Psychology 100

Strayer University

Abstract

One important health factor in elderly adults is dementia. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer. The meaning of Alzheimer is described as an irreversible disorder of the brain. Scientist has discovered the symptoms of Alzheimer, potential and future therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, and caring for someone with Alzheimer.

Definition of Alzheimer’s disease

Approximately 4 million adults in the United States have Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer disease is defined as a progressive, irreversible disorder that is characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and eventually physical functioning (Santrock, John). The clinical hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease are progressive impairment in memory, judgment, and orientation to physical surroundings. A working diagnosis of Alzheimer disease is usually made n the basis of the neurologic examination. A definitive diagnosis can be made only at autopsy. On a cellular level, Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by unusual helical protein filaments in nerve cells (neurons) of the brain. These odd twisted filaments are called neurofibrillary tangles. On a functional level, there is degeneration of the cortical regions, especially the frontal and temporal lobes, of the brain.

The average time of survival from the initial diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease was found in a (in a study reported in 2004) to be 4.2 years for men and 5.7 years for women. Men had poorer survival across all age groups compared with women and survival was decreased in all groups compared with the life expectancy of the US population.

The German psychiatrist and pathologist Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915) first describe this form of presenile dementia in 1907. (German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin named the disease in his honor.)(Online source page1).

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

The onset...