Alzheimer’s Disease
Introduction
Alzheimer's disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German doctor. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of Auguste Deter, a woman previously in his care who had died of an unusual mental illness. A dissection of the brain had revealed many abnormal clumps and tangled bundles of fibers (Mo). Plaques and tangles in the brain are two of the main indicators of Alzheimer’s disease. The third is loss of connections between nerve cells in the brain.
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disease that slowly destroys memory, thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out even the simplest of tasks. It is a progressive disease with no know cure. Experts suggest that as many as 5.1 million people in the United States may have Alzheimer’s disease. Symptoms usually begin after age 60, and the risk of developing the disease increases with age (NIH).
In terms of per case costs, Alzheimer’s is the country’s most expensive medical condition. It is estimated that $203 billion is spent annually in direct healthcare costs, with an additional $536 billion in indirect losses to the economy (Ernst). Alzheimer’s is also the sixth leading cause of death in the nation (alz.org), although the disease itself is usually not the direct culprit.
Symptoms and signs
There are various symptoms and signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Early symptoms can easily be mistaken for normal, age related issues and can present themselves for up to 20 years before a more severe progression, or a diagnosis, occurs. According to alz.org there are several warning signs of Alzheimer’s that fall into this category;
• Memory loss that disrupts daily life – This is one of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking for the same information over and over, increasingly needing to rely on memory aids such as electronic devices or family...