ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Alzheimer's disease

Tahvia Rouse

Ashford University

SOC313: Social Implications of Medical Issues

Professor: Stephen Ulrich

Week Assignment 3

August 22, 2011

Abstract

In this paper, we try to explore the concept of Alzheimer's disease. In the Research Paper cover the following content specifications: Identify a chronic disease or condition. Describe the disease or condition from the medical perspective. Research, identify, and discuss psycho -social challenges of the afflicted patient population. Include the location of the research projects, and the numbers of people/patients involved in the research studies. Research, identify, and describe two successful community based programs that help in meeting the needs of the population. Research identifies and describes a minimum of two interventions that could be suggested to assist in minimizing the impact of the illness/condition. Finally, the paper gives justification and implementation of the two interventions that, I have recommended.

Table of Content

Abstract2

Introduction4

Mild Alzheimer's disease4

Moderate Alzheimer's disease5

Severe Alzheimer's disease5

Thesis Statement5

Discussion5

Describe the disease or condition from the medical perspective. Provide statistics/data on the numbers of people dealing with/afflicted by the condition5

Facts and Figures7

Identify, and discuss psycho -social challenges of the afflicted patient population7

Include the location of the research projects, and the numbers of people/patients involved in the research studies.8

Research, identify, and describe two successful community based programs that help in meeting the needs of the population9

Identify and describe a minimum of two interventions that could be suggested to assist in minimizing the impact of the illness/condition.10

Reduce Symptom Severity and Slow Disease Progression10

Maintain Optimum Physiologic Status and Reduce Risk for Complications11

Justify implementation of the two interventions you are recommending11

Helping people with Alzheimer's disease to maintain their mental functioning11

The Management of behavioral symptoms12

Conclusion12

References13

Alzheimer's disease

Introduction

Alois Alzheimer first described the hallmark features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in 1907 (Alzheimer, 1907). AD is the most prevalent form of dementia. It is estimated that by the year 2050, over 13 million people in the US will have AD (Hebert et al., 2003). AD is a heavy burden economically, costing over 100 billion dollars a year in the US alone. Patients with AD suffer from gliosis (accumulation of astrocytes) and loss of synaptic tissue that leads to brain atrophy (Fig. 1).

Figure 1 Brain atrophy seen in AD brains

Thesis Statement

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease which causes a progressive decline in cognition and memory.

Discussion

Describe the disease or condition from the medical perspective. Provide statistics/data on the numbers of people dealing with/afflicted by the condition

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incurable, progressive dementia characterized by cognitive deficits in language, speech, memory, and the ability to perform motor skills. It causes significant impairment in social and occupational functioning that presents serious difficulties to the patient and family members. Disease progression is variable, but AD, due to the associated neurodegenerative complications, is always fatal. Changes in brain structure and function characteristic of AD include amyloid plaques (i.e., deposits of b-amyloid protein), neurofibrillary tangles (i.e., abnormal collections of twisted protein threads inside neurons), synapse deterioration, and brain cell death, particularly in the frontal and temporal lobes. Production of neurotransmitters (e.g., acetylcholine) is decreased.

The etiology of AD ...