Alzheimer's disease definition: "It is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes." (Alzheimer's Foundation of America)
It is the most common form of dementia, and is usually diagnosed with people ages 65 and older, although it is not a normal form of aging. The origin of the name Alzheimer's disease dates back to 1906 when German physician Alois Alzheimer presented a medical case of a 51 year old woman who suffered a rare brain disorder of that time.
The process of what happens is that the neurons, which produce the brain chemical, or neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, break connections and transmissions with other nerve cells and in the end ultimately leads to death after a certain threshold. The first symptoms are difficulty remembering certain events. As the disease progresses, the forgetfulness becomes more and more apparent.
The disease is as of now incurable and the causes are still not well understood. Current research shows that the disease is associated with plaques and tangles in the brain. There are current treatments available to help slow or deal with the disease, but unfortunately there are no treatments to stop or reverse the progression. Mental stimulation, exercise, and a balanced diet are common treatments.
Caregiving is usually given by a spouse or a close family member. Alzheimer's patients are known to give caregivers great burden. One of the greatest movies that depict this disease is "The Notebook".
Alzheimers and Dementia are heartbreaking and irreversible diseases that affect families all over the world. My grandpa suffers from dementia and it has been so sad watching things slip away from him. It went from him misplacing his car keys to not remembering my brothers wife or my niece and nephew. We can all hope there is a cure or prevention that can be discovered soon!
Alzheimer's truly is an awful disease. Your blog really helped clarify to me what is going on in the brain when someone has Alzheimer's. I didn't know that the disease was due to broken connections between neurons. It's amazing how much neurons do for us, and what can happen when the minuscule connections between them are destroyed.
This is a very interesting blog, and Alzheimers proves to be a very interesting disease. I researched a little more on the social aspects of Alzheimers and found out it is one of the most "expensive" diseases for Europe and the US. These costs take into account nursing home expenses, in-home daycare, and also indirect costs such as lost productivity not only by the patient, but the caregiver themselves. It is so sad that this disease not only ruins the lives of the people dealing with Alzheimers, but also puts an extreme burden on society as well.