Alzheimer's Disease Outline

Alzheimers Disease
Anne Harrison

Description
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Alzheimer 's disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder that affects the brain 's nerve cells, or neurons, ending up in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes.

Cause
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Plaques: clumps of a protein that damage and destroy brain cells. ●

Tangles: Strands that ruin cell transport made of proteins.

Most Affected
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Age: 65-80 is the usual age
Sex: More women are affected than men (Alzheimer.org)
Race and profession are not determinants of the disease.

History
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Alois Alzheimer first founded the disease in 1906
Founded with a confused patient that had memory loss and had shrinkage of the brain, and abnormal substances around the nerve cells.
Emil
Kraepelin, named “Alzheimers Disease” in his book “Psychiatrie”.

Alois Alzheimer

Emil Kraepelin

Symptoms
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Memory loss that disrupts daily life
Challenges in planning or solving problems
Difficulty completing familiar tasks
Confusion with time or place
Difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast
New problems with words in speaking or writing
Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
Decreased or poor judgment
Withdrawal from work or social activities
Changes in mood and personality

How it Affects the Body
Alzheimers Disease Affects:
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Central Nervous System
Digestive System
Neuromuscular System
Brain

Affects Daily Life
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Pay attention to nonverbal cues and facial expressions
Difficulty remembering good hygiene and may refuse to bathe
Have trouble dressing and choosing outfits
Driving can be very dangerous, person may not know where they are going or may forget how to drive
Mealtime is sometimes tough for there people may forget how to eat and if food is hot or cold.
Sleep patterns change
Toileting is very aggravating for the person, they may not know if they have to go or they may have to go and not remember how.
People seem to start to wonder

Cures and Treatment
There is no cure for Alzheimer 's and no treatment to reverse or stop it, there are medicines that help treat symptoms:
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Cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne).
Aricept
Razadyne
Namenda
Glutamate

Citations
Info:
"Alzheimer Europe - Dementia - Alzheimer 's Disease - Who Is Affected by Alzheimer 's Disease?" Who Is Affected by Alzheimer 's Disease? N.
p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2015. <http://www.alzheimer-europe.org/Dementia/Alzheimer-s-disease/Who-is-affected-by-Alzheimer-s-disease>.
"Memory Loss & 10 Early Signs of Alzheimer 's | Alzheimer 's Association."Memory Loss & 10 Early Signs of Alzheimer 's | Alzheimer 's
Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. <http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp>.
"What Body Systems Are Affected by Alzheimer Disease?"LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 16 Aug. 2013. Web. 01 Feb. 2015. <http:
//www.livestrong.com/article/177220-what-body-systems-are-affected-by-alzheimers-disease/>.
"Everyday Life with Alzheimer 's Disease." Everyday Life with Alzheimer 's Disease. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2015. <http://www.brightfocus. org/alzheimers/livingwith/everydaylife.html>. Pictures: http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/treatmentoverview http://www.genderandhealth.ca/en/modules/dementia/imageContent/DH9SC81F.jpg http://www.prevention.com/sites/default/files/images/thumbnail/brain-games-memory-298x232.jpg https://leahrolson.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/screen-shot-2012-12-10-at-9-22-05-pm.png?w=356&h=330 http://comps.gograph.com/getting-dressed_gg62903291.jpg http://livhomeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/PrioBlog-Health-Find-Your-Peace-without-Medication.jpg