Alzheimer's Research Paper

"We never think how great a gift is to think" (Gaskins). This is a quote that demonstrates the intensity of Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. I choose this topic to spread awareness about this cruel and deadly disease. I began my interest in Alzheimer's about three years ago, when I began volunteering for the association. My past involvements in the Alzheimer's Association began with a service event called "Walk to End ALZ 2k15." This was a marathon where all profits went to the Alzheimer's Association. Therefore, ever since this event, I've been hooked.
Alzheimer's is a strange and mysterious illness. There are many frequently asked questions that must be answered.
There is a plethora amount of people who are unaware of the many causes, symptoms, and other components of Alzheimer's Disease. This consequently leads to The topics discussed will include: other types of dementia, causes and symptoms of Alzheimer's, Younger-Onset, myths, preventions, and possible cures for Alzheimer's.
Dementia is a group of symptoms characterized by a decline in intellectual functioning severe enough to interfere with a person's normal daily activities.
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. According to George Krucik, M.D., Alzheimer's accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Alzheimer's is one of many forms of dementia. Other types of dementia include: Vascular Dementia, Mixed Dementia, Parkinson's Disease, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, Lewy Body Disease, and Huntington's Disease. Vascular Dementia is the second most common form of dementia. Some symptoms include impaired judgement or ability to plan steps needed to complete a task. Mixed Dementia is a condition in which characteristics of more than one type of dementia occurs simultaneously (Alzheimer's Association). Parkinson's Disease may cause tremors and stiffness. This is a disorder of the central nervous system that affect movement. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus affects walking, memory, and the ability to control urination. Lewy Body Disease is also known as "The Nightmare Dementia". This disease causes intense hallucinations that replicate many fears. For example, one with Lewy Body Disease may imagine spiders or snakes crawling all over the room. Next is Huntington's Disease, this is a progressive brain disorder caused by a single defective gene on Chromosome Four. Last is Vascular Dementia. Vascular Dementia is a form of brain damage caused by multiple strokes. This disease may last for years or it may be
life-long.
There are many causes and symptoms regarding Alzheimer's Disease. One of the greatest known risk factors for Alzheimer's is advancing age. The older you are, the more likely you are to develop this disease. Family history is another strong risk factor. Those who have a parent, brother, sister, or child with Alzheimer's are more prone to getting this disease. Lastly, genetics is the third and final cause of Alzheimer's. Risk genes increase the likelihood of developing a disease, but luckily does not guarantee it to happen. There are many irregular symptoms due to this disease. People with Alzheimer's usually experience difficulty remembering newly learned information, memory loss, challenges planning or problem solving, and difficulty completing regular tasks at home. Other symptoms include confusion with time or place, problems with speaking and writing, easily misplacing items, poor judgement/ descsion making, and finally changes in mood or personality. All these symptoms slowly cause a decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. Eventually, the brain shrinks dramatically, affecting nearly all its functions.
"Alzheimer's is not a disease of old age. Younger-onset (also known as early-onset) Alzheimer's affects people younger than age 65. Nearly four percent of the five million Americans with Alzheimer's have younger-onset" (Alzheimer's Association). Early-onset Alzheimer's has many of the same characteristics as Alzheimer's. The only difference is that early-onset affects much younger people. Many people with early-onset are in their 40s or 50s. In the United States there are an estimated 200,000 people who are diagnosed with early-onset. Early-onset is a very serious form of Alzheimer's and is hard to deal with do to the high amount of anger and aggression shown in the patients. Although Early-onset Alzheimer's may be a difficult disease for people to cope with, the best thing you can do is to have a positive outlook and stay as active and mentally engaged as possible (John Hopkins University).
Myth Busters is a show where people try to prove, or disprove, common myths. There are many myths about Alzheimer's that need to be resolved. One of the biggest myths is that memory is a normal part of aging. Yes, as people grow older they may forget simple things such as names or they may begin to loose items such as keys, but, Alzheimer's is more severe than this. For example, with Alzheimer's disease patients may forget the date or season, have difficulty during a conversation, or lose things over and over again. The second myth is that Alzheimer's is not fatal. In reality, there are no survivors to this deadly disease. Lastly, the final myth is that there are treatments available to stop Alzheimer's disease. Currently there is no cure to stop the progression of Alzheimer's (Alzheimer's Association). All of these myths are statements many Alzheimer's patients may believe, but each and every one of these statements just so happen to be false.