Alzheimer’s Disease

1. Alzheimer’s Disease By: Azadeh Myers Period 2

2. Definition • A common form of dementia of unknown cause usually beginning in the late middle age, characterize by progressive memory loss and mental deterioration associated with brain damage. • It means that as people get older (depending on their family history/blood line) they will develop the disease. It usually happens in the late middle ages for some and for others, it might happen in the late ages.

3. Associated Features • Some behaviors are: • Memory loss • Disorientation • Decline of judgment • Deterioration of social skills • Extreme flatness or changeability of affect

4. Associated Features (cont.) • Other symptoms include: • Agitation • Wandering • Hallucinations • Delusions • Aggressiveness • Insomnia • An inability to adapt to new routines or surroundings.

5. Associated Features (cont.) • Researchers and clinicians have devoted their time and energy to the development of the behavior test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease in its initial stages. • A diagnose can only be made in an autopsy by studying the changes that was happening in the brain tissues. • Alzheimer’s disease based on the NINCDS/ADRDA criteria involves thorough medical and neuropsychology screenings in order to diagnose it. • Brian screenings are being made in order to diagnose Alzheimer’s

6. Etiology • Some of the causes of Alzheimer’s are: • Substance induced persisting dementia • Pick’s disease • Parkinson’s disease • Lewy body dementia • Frontotemporal dementias • Huntington’s disease • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease • Vascular dementia

7. Prevalence • The prevalence rises among those over 85 to about 29 percent. • Analyses of data from the United States as we as U.S mortality records, place the prevalence at 1.7 to 1.9 million cases, which is closer to 5 to 7 percent of the over-65 population. • Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent cause of dementia, accounting for between 55% to 65%.

8. Treatment • There are 2 types of medication that can be used for this disorder: • Tacrine • Aricept

9. Treatment (cont.) • There is a great deal of optimism in the scientific community that this treatment, when it is found, will also benefit those who suffer from other degenerative diseases of the brain. • Tacrine can produce toxic effects in the liver, and the required doses are too high for some people. • Aricept is an effective as tacrine in targeting cognitive symptoms, although it has gastrointestinal side effects relate to the effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors ( diarrhea and nausea). • However, it required dose is lower, and is does not interfere with liver function. • Alzheimer’s disease consist of medication that is not based on non-medication.

10. Prognosis • The average life expectancy is for someone with Alzheimer’s is 8 to 10 years after the onset symptoms. • Some individuals live up to 20 years after the first signs emerge. • The disease might be fatal for some based on their health history and their age. • Those with a bad health record, will die sooner than what the one’s with a good health record. • People with Alzheimer’s disease often die of a medical complication such as pneumonia or the flu.

11. References Halgin, R. P., & Whitbourne, S. K. (2005). Abnormal psychology: clinical perspective on psychological disorders. New York, NY: McGraw Hill. Hill, C. (March 4,2009). Prognosis for People With Alzheimer's Disease. http://alzheimers.about.com/od/whatisalzheimer1/qt/prognosis.htm Crystal, H. (n.d.). Alzheimer’s diseases causes, stages, and symptoms. http://www.medicinenet.com/alzheimers_disease_causes_stages_and_symptoms/page7.htm#tocj

12. Discussion • How does it affect you and you family/friends?