Alzheimers Disease and its Effects essays

Alzheimers Disease and its Effects essays Memory is an essential part of everyones daily life; therefore, memory loss can be a stressful and sometimes frightening experience. However, for so many people, memory loss reaches to far greater extents than where someone left his or her wallet or where one parked their car in a parking lot. It is thought by scientists that as many as 4.5 million Americans suffer from the severe form of dementia, Alzheimers disease (AD). Alzheimers disease is a progressive brain disease that affects a persons ability to remember, speak, learn, or even do simple tasks such as brushing ones teeth or combing ones hair. Being a form of dementia, it not only targets memory, but mood and behavior changes as well. As AD progresses, its symptoms impact every part of a persons life. Eventually, such common tasks as bathing and getting dressed become troublesome and stressful activities. Sadly, as the stages of AD worsen, the person suffering with the disease eventually will require complete care in order to live in normal day to day life. Though scientists continue to research Alzheimers disease, there is yet to be a known cause or cure. It is known that deposits, known as plaques and tangles, form in the brain and thus disrupt the flow of messages through the brain. AD is most commonly found in people over the age of 65. Along with increasing age, family history of AD greatly increases a persons chance for developing AD. Women are also at higher risk for developing AD along with people that have suffered a traumatic head injury. Because little is known about the onset of Alzheimers disease, a diagnosis can be hard. AD can, however, be correctly diagnosed ninety percent of the time in specialized centers. Tests of memory, problem-solving, counting and language are all examined. Urine and blood tests may also be run to find other possible causes for the patients symptoms. Drug-reacti...