Question

1. What is Alzheimer's disease?

2. What is the causes of Alzheimer's disease?

3. What are the signs of Alzheimer's disease?

4. Explain Alzheimer's disease stages

5. Describe the treatment for Alzheimer's disease

Answer 1

1.ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Alzheimer disease is a neurodegenerative disorderb that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills,and eventually the ability to carryout the simplest tasks.Alzheimer's is a most common form of dementia affecting more than 5 million americans per year.

2.CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Researchers believe there is not a single cause of Alzheimer's disease. It likely develops from multiple factors ,such as genetics, lifestyle and environment. Scientists have identified factors that increase the riskof Alzheimer's. While some risk factors- age,family history and heredity. Emerging evidence suggests that there may be other factors.

• AGE - The greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer's and other dementias is increasing age but it is mnot a direct cause of a Alzheimer's disease
• FAMILY HISTORY- Anotherstrong risk factor is family history.The risk increases if more than one family member has the illness. When diseases tend to run in families,either heredity (genetics), environmental factors,or boh,may play a role.
• GENETICS (HEREDITY)- Scientists know genes are involved in Alzheimer's.Two types of genesinfluence whether a person develops a disease.Risk genes and deterministic genes.Alzheimer's disease found in both categories. It is calculated less than 1% of deterministic genes causing Alzhiemer's disease.

Health, Environmental,and Lifetyle factors that may contribute to Alzheimer's disease

3.SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include

- Memory Loss- A person may have diffiulty taking in new information and remembering information.

-Cognitive deficits- A person may experierience difficulty with reasoning, complex tasks, and judgement.

-Problems with recognition - A person may become less able to recognise faces or objects or less able to use basic tools.

-Problems with spatial awarness- A person may have difficultywith therbalance,trip over,or spill things more often,or they may have difficulty orienting clothing to their body when getting dressed.

-Problems with speaking,reading, or writing - A person may develop difficulties with thinking of common words, or they make more speech,spelling , or writing errors.

4.STAGES OF ALZHEIMER DISEASE

The stages of Alzheimers disease usually folow a progressive pattern.

Preclinical stage- Chnages in the brain begins years before aperson showsany signs of the disease.This time period is called preclinical stage and it can last for years.

Mild, early stage -Symptoms at this stage include mild forgetfullness. This may seem like the mild forgetfulness that often comes with aging. But it may also include problems with concentration. The person may be aware of memory lapses and thier friends,family or neighbours may also notice these difficulties.

Moderate,middle stage-This typically the longest stage, usually lasts many years. At this stage,symptoms include;

increasing trouble remembering events,problems learning new things, trouble with planning complicated events, like a dinner,problems with reading, writing and working with numbers.

Severe ,late stage - At this stage, a person:

• Loses many physical abilities,including walking,sitting,eating.
• May lose bowel and bladder contrl
• May be able to say some words or phrase,but not have a conversation.
• Needs help with all activities all of the time.
• Is unaware of recent experiences and of his or her surroundings.
• Is more likely to get infections sucha as pneumonia

5.TREATMENT

Current Alzheimer's medications can help for a time with memory symptoms and other cognitive cahnges. Two types of drugs are curently used to treat cognitive symptoms.

• Cholinesterase inhibitors - these drugs workby boosting levels of cells to cells communication by presreving a chemical messenger that is depleted in the brain by Alzheimer's disease. Choline seterase inhibitors may also improve neuropsychatric symptoms such as agtation or depression.
• Memantine (Namenda)- This drug works in another brain cell communication network and slows the progression of symptoms symptoms with moderate to severe Alzeimer's disease.

Sometimes other medications such as antidepressants may be prescribed to help control the behavioral symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Adapting the living situation to the needs of a person with Alzheimer's disease is an important part of any treatment paln.For someone with Alkzheimer's ,estabblishing and strengthening routine habits and minimizing memory demanding tasks can make life easier.