| SolveYourProblem
eLearning Series: Mental Illness
Explain Mental Illnesses To Me
Alzheimer’s
is the Most Common Form of Dementia
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form
of dementia, as well as one of the most commonly diagnosed
degenerative diseases in the United States. Alzheimer's affects
nearly 4 million families in the United States, and it is estimated
that roughly twenty-five percent to fifty percent of all individuals
over 85 years of age will be stricken with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's is one of the most wrenching diseases that any
individual and their family can face. When Alzheimer's strikes,
family members are forced to stand by and watch as the memories
of a beloved family member slowly begin to fade. Alzheimer's
patients may become irritable, display feelings of paranoia,
and even act aggressively toward family members. On average,
death occurs roughly ten years after diagnosis.
Possible
Causes of Alzheimer's Disease
One of the aspects of Alzheimer's that makes it so difficult
for doctors and their patients to deal with is that we know
very little about Alzheimer's disease. It appears that Alzheimer's
is caused by a combination of factors. Most researchers believe
the disease is caused by a combination of genetic factors and
environmental factors. Researchers estimate that about half
of all diagnosed cases of Alzheimer's were caused by genetic
factors. Some researchers believe that a virus causes Alzheimer's
disease. If we can find the cause of the virus, it follows
that we can create a vaccine against it.
Diagnosing
Alzheimer's Disease
Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease rests on definitions provided
by two professional classifications. There are currently two
professional diagnostic tools to determine if an individual
is suffering from Alzheimer's, or some other form of dementia.
The first and most widely used diagnostic tool is the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The other
professional diagnostic criteria are derived from the National
Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke-Alzheimer's
Disease and Related Disorder Association (NINDS-ADRDA).
The criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer's include:
- Memory Loss. Alzheimer's patients will begin to lose short-term
memory. As the illness progresses, patients begin to lose memory
of familiar friends, family members, objects, and places.
- Loss of mobility, or impaired ability to perform everyday
tasks.
- Disorientation and wandering. Alzheimer's patients may become
disoriented in familiar places. Alzheimer's patients may also
roam and wander away from their home.
- Impaired language ability. Many Alzheimer's patients lose
the ability to converse with ease. They may grasp for words,
or find themselves incapable of telling a coherent story.
- Aggression, paranoia
- Chronic insomnia and depression
Many tests are also used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease.
Blood and urine tests are used to rule out other problems.
Imaging tests are also used, including magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI), computerized tomography (CT), and positron emission
tomography (PET) scans. These scans may reveal if brain tissue
has measurably shrunk, if protein deposits have appeared, and
if cavities in the brain have enlarged. These tests can give
physicians a good sense of whether a patient is suffering from
Alzheimer's. However, the only definitive tests involve the
autopsy and examination of the patient's brain cells.
The
Three Stages of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease manifests itself in three distinct stages.
In the first stage, the patient begins to demonstrate signs
of memory loss. They may forget where objects are located,
and may forget common words throughout the course of normal
conversation. The second stage, the patient begins to demonstrate
significant impairment in cognitive ability. They may be incapable
of carrying on a coherent conversation, and may begin to forget
familiar faces. In the third and final stage, the patient becomes
incapable of taking care of him or herself. They may become
physically impaired, increasingly irritable, and forget their
closest acquaintances.
Treatment of Alzheimer's
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's
disease. If diagnosed early, the patient can be prescribed
certain medications that may delay the onset of symptoms. These
medications include aricept, exelon, and reminyl. Medications
can also be used to treat symptoms of Alzheimer's, such as
the insomnia, anxiety, depression, and aggression that can
accompany the disease. Many Alzheimer's patients suffer from
other health problems that may exacerbate the symptoms of Alzheimer's.
Anemia, nutritional deficiencies, and thyroid disease are often
co morbid with Alzheimer's. These may also be treated with
medications to put the patient at ease.
# # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
> Home > Mental
Illness Articles : Main Page
|
