The Causes Of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a deterioration of the brain that happens in middle or old age. It is the most common cause of premature senility and dementia, which is a loss of cognitive functioning (thinking, remembering, and reasoning). Dr. Alois Alzheimer discovered the disease in 1906 as he was doing an autopsy on a woman’s brain in which he discovered abnormalities. Alzheimer’s causes the brain to shrink in size, which causes all of the cognitive issues. Scientists today still do not fully understand the cause of Alzheimer’s but they suspect that it has to do with genetic mutations. Alzheimer’s is currently untreatable, but researchers are working on possible therapies. According to Alzheimer’s Association there are 5.4 million Americans struggling
with the disease. Although there is no specific treatment there are some ways to help with loss of memory, and that’s where my treatment comes in.

Loss of memory in patients with Alzheimer’s can be difficult for their family and friends.
It can be expensive and time consuming to care for loved ones. It can be hard when the Alzheimer patient can’t do simple tasks such a remembering names and reading a clock. In many studies it has been found that patients remember how to create art, even after many other functions in their minds have shut down. Art therapy provides a way to trigger memories for many Alzheimer’s cases. One patient, Mary Hecht who had severe dementia, was never able to remember simple things but when she was given a pencil and paper she was able to form pictures of people that she had met before. In another case, Lonni Sue Johnson, who lost all of her ability to create new memories (due to a virus) was able to play, read and learn new songs on her viola (Tatera). Despite not knowing who the people in her life were, she continued to be able to remember how to do art. Art therapy can be used to help Alzheimer’s patients to feel accomplished about their creations, to self express, to feel happy, and to explore a new
vocabulary.

Therapy #1: One way to help solve these problems can be for the patient to use photography and cameras to their advantage. For example there may be a patient who always forgets the name of his family members. So to try to remember their names they can take pictures and then create a journal or scrapbook with memories that they want to keep close. This way they can always go back and look to remember things and this can make it much easier for the family. Studies show that keeping a journal or scrapbook can help patients to “heal relationships, build self confidence, gain personal knowledge, increase ability to problem solve, enhance creativity, release emotions and improve cognition.” Journaling can be a simple way to have a patient be able to look back and remember small details that they may otherwise be forgotten. Also a journal with pictures can make patients feel less frustrated when they might forget things because they can always reference their journal. In addition patients can use journaling to write down feeling or emotions, share stories or remember happy moments.

Therapy #2: Another treatment for Alzheimer’s patients is music therapy.
In an article by AFA (Alzheimer’s Foundation of America) they said that “When used appropriately, music can shift mood, manage stress-induced agitation, stimulate positive interactions, facilitate cognitive function, and coordinate motor movements.” The reason that patients that have already lost most of their cognitive functioning but are still able to engage in music and art is because art and music are done with rhythmic responses and well-practiced responses. In some cases, music can help bring back memory because it may be associated with important events or emotions. Also according to the AFA the music that will cause the strongest response in a patient is music from when they were 18-25 years old. Playing fast music helps to promote movement and slow music can help people calm down and help prepare for bedtime in a relaxing manner, a time when many are very agitated. In conclusion, music can be used in many ways to help patients be calm, relaxed and even bring back
memories.

Therapy #3: A third therapy for patients is drawing, painting and sculpting. According to research from the Mayo Clinic they found that out of the 256 people they surveyed (average age of 87), the people who had taken part in arts were 73 percent less likely to have Alzheimer’s in their old age. There is a company (Cognitive Dynamics) which was founded by the family of a man who was greatly helped by taking part in art courses. Cognitive Dynamics “offers programs that foster dignity and validate Alzheimer’s patients in their current state, helping to honor their life stories, restore and preserve their sense of self.” Programs like this can be used to help patients feel accomplished, and show that their artwork is important and valued, which creates happiness for these patients. Art helps patients to find new ways to learn to communicate with the world and to master control over something. Another program called Art to Life, pairs three to four students with a patient. Then those students help the patient learn how to create and how creating can lead to discovering identity. Art therapy provides ways for patients to find new ways to communicate, to recognize accomplishments and to build relationships.