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ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
Term Paper ID:13930
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Essay Subject:
Senility-like ailment primarily affecting elderly. Causes, incidence, symptoms, effects & treatment.... More...
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7 Pages / 1575 Words
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Paper Abstract:
Senility-like ailment primarily affecting elderly. Causes, incidence, symptoms, effects & treatment.
Paper Introduction:
Research into the subject shows that the threat and problem of Alzheimer's disease still represents on of the most serious
medical hazards of the aging process (Dilks, 1985, p. 68). At one time, before the advent of the large body of research on the subject, "senility" was believed to be one of the typical and common characteristics of people as they grew older. The problem with this common belief was that not all older people became "senile" at the same time in life, or was there a real degree of predictability of the problem from individual to individual. These facts gave rise to questions about who became senile, when, and why. As investigation into these problems relating to senility continued it became clear that the degree of variation in the incidence of this condition must be attributable to something beyond simple individual differences. Ultimately, of course, it was d
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. 17-18). Statistically, it has been estimated that Alzheimer's disease occursin about eleven percent of the population of the United States over the ageof sixty-five (Otten and Shelley, 1976, p. . . "Atpresent, the treatment approach to help the person afflicted witAlzheimer's is to help him maintain the maximum of dignity and comfortpossible" (Powell and Courtice, 1983, p. . Another, moresignificant factor in the incidence of Alzheimer's disease, is a geneticbasis. suffered an impairment in gait and . Subsequently, she became pathologically jealous of her husband, took to hiding objects . thenervous system apparently does have the potential to oppose markeddeterioration with aging" (Galton, 1979, p. . depression, delusions,or delirium may occur . . Increasingly self-absorbed, the impaired person seems totally insensitive to the needs and feelings of other people . The Truth About Senility--An How to AvoidIt. Infact, it is one important agent, which performs this communication functionwhich has been suggested as the primary cause of Alzheimer's disease--acetylcholine: "It is believed that a deficiency in the synthesis ofacetylcholine is a major reason for the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease"(Powell and Courtice, 1983, p. . Of course, while the effects of thedisease are producing increasingly abnormal behavioral and mental effectswithin the affected individual himself, the effect upon his family are alsodevastating. disturbance and impairment of memory,intellectual function or comprehension, judgment, orientation, or thepresence of emotional instability" (Silverstone and Hyman, 1982). little warmth to people with whom he has had close relationships . Ultimately, of course, it was determined that the problem ofsenility in the elderly was by no means a common problem, and that thecondition was not the result of the individual's age alone--that, in fact,it was a form of disease. Otten, Jane and Florence D. Because of this it has been theorized that there may be somerelationship between a decreased blood flow to the hippocampus and thereduced number of neurons which, in turn, produces the ill effects in thememory function typically recognized as Alzheimer's disease. "He identified a presenile form occurring in people as young as45, but it is actually the same disease as that found in the olderpopulation . has reportedfinding a greatly reduced number of neurons in the hippocampus" (Galton,1979, p. . . There is another theory that the development of Alzheimer's diseaseis in some way related to high or continuing stress in middle aged or olderindividuals: Clinical evidence suggests that catastrophic life circumstances can lead to unremitting stress . The individual ". . (1982). Thus, as a causative factor,genetic or family relations tend to show patterns of the incidence of thediseasesif it occurs at all. . The person . When Your Parents GrowOld. While the symptoms demonstrated by this early diagnosed case ofAlzheimer's disease are not the same for all who suffer from this disease,they are reasonably typical of it. 26 ). over theage of sixty-five (Silver-stone and Hyman, 1982, p. apathetic, unable to findhis way around a familiar house or apartment . Thus, the disease takes its course in the individual'spersonal, family, and social life. the possibility has been raised that stress may play a role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease (Powell and Courtice, 1983, p. To some degree, ofcourse, this decision depends upon the physical health or mentaldeterioration of the victim himself. 12). 89). It ". . memory of recent events fails . a rapid . The difficulty increased. The first of these phases is characterized by behaviornot terribly different from the ordinary. In the third phase of the disease, the impairment and effects of itsprogress have become more evident: Obvious disability . . . With eachindividual they vary somewhat, but generally fall within these lines in behavior and symptoms. . Problems for the close family membersrange from the emotional to the philosophical, such as in questions like:"Should we send him to the "Old folks" home? There is, unfortunately, at this time in single medication which maybe used with assurance to improve the deteriorating effects and conditionsof Alzheimer's disease. The first clear-cut medical description of this condition, in fact,took place in the early 19 's by a German doctor whose name was AloisAlzheimer. may seem tohave less energy, drive, and initiative and be slower to react and to learnnew things. (1979). . Each has its own particular benefit--but also itsparticular drawback. . 24). ." (Galton, 1979, p. . decline in her mental and physical state (Galton, 1979, p. Some of these are ant-psychotics, others are stimulants of brain blood flow, while yet others aremerely tranquilizers. he behaves in unexpected ways and expresses . The impaired person may become incontinent"(Powell and Courtice, 1983, p. And the questions come down to the practical,in dealing with incontinence or the sexual problemsoften accompanying the disease. . It is the purpose of this paper to examine thissignificant contemporary medical problem which most often strikes theelderly--Alzheimer's disease, its causes, symptoms, effects, and treatment. And very recently, one investigator . . . 13). . . . prefers familiar people,places, and things" (Powell and Courtice, 1983, p. 17). References Dilks, C. From the very outset itshould be recognized that, as such, there is no "cure" for Alzheimer'sdisease. ." (Powell and Courtice, 1983, p. "For the families the most upsetting aspect of advancedorganic brain disease may occur when an elderly relative no longerrecognized anyone, even those who have always nearest and dearest"(Silverstone and Hyman, 1982, p. Contrary to the opinions that used to hold that mental deteriorationand senility is a common problem resulting from the aging processes, recentresearch has discovered that, "In theabsence of disease, impoverished environment, or poor nutrition . 15). Galton, Lawrence. . New York: Pantheon Books. 17). is continuing to function but may need some supervision (Powell and Courtice, 1983, p. . At one time,before the advent of the large body of research on the subject, "senility"was believed to be one of the typical and common characteristics of peopleas they grew older. Therefore, the families of seriously afflicted Alzheimer's diseasevictims must confront the fact that they will have to either keep theindividual at home, and treat him and deal with his problems as best theycan or send him to a convalescent home or the hospital. . . 89). 2 ). New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1976. When this important chemical agentresponsible for communication from neuron to neuron is abnormal in some wayor another, the brain cells themselves do not operate appropriately, andabnormal thought and behavior patterns are the result. Silverstone, Barbara and Helen Kandel Hyman. New York: Thomas Y. 199). 14). Shelley. . The proteins are controlled by genes all on a singlechromosome . The most seriously affected requirehospitalization, but the less afflicted may be kept at home--if the familymembers are willing to deal with the problems and make the sacrifices, asoften they are willing to do. . Briefly put, these differing symptomsmay be indicated as " . In regard to treating the Alzheimer's disease victim, there are anumber of factors and approaches to be considered. Is it right for us to do so?Should we keep him at home? (1976). has been found to cluster in some families three bloodproteins, called haptoglobins, (are) . . He may misunderstand what he hears, lose the thread of a story, or miss the punchline of a simple joke . You and YourAging Parent: The Modern Family's Guide to Emotional, Physical, andFinancial Problems. . Behaviorally, there have been four distinct phases of Alzheimer'sdisease, which may or may not be progressive, nor may they always show upin every case of the disease, but they arecommon enough to be recognizable to indicate that it may be likely that thedisease is at work. As with mostdiseases, the first clue as to the presenceof some problem was the appearance in an individual of some abnormality. In the fourth phase, the victim of Alzheimer's disease be-comesunmistakably and seriously debilitated; ". especially prevalent in senilitypatients . . 68). She died just a short time afterward, at the age of 51. 23). The person in the beginning . The precise causes of Alzheimer's disease have yet to be definitelyestablished. Reading: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. In the secondphase, problems become more apparent: The patient's speech slows. Research into the subject shows that the threat and problem ofAlzheimer's disease still represents on of the most seriousmedical hazards of the aging process (Dilks, 1985, p. . . The most important one in the past was that thecondition was one of the results of arteriosclerosis, the hardening of theblood vessel walls, or atherosclerosis, the narrowing or closing of theblood vessel walls resulting from a buildup of fatty deposits. . Regardless of what the problems may be,there are problems, which the family must eventually confront and deal within relation to the individual afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's Disease: AGuide For Families. (1983). The victim loses his orientation to time and place, and he is not able to identify familiar people or events . . and Katie Courtice. . "Alzheimer's and Your Employees,"Nation's Business, 73, 68. . . . Inthe case of Alzheimer's disease, one of this early diagnoses of thismedical problem centered around a female patient in her late 4 's: The woman at first showed signs of difficulty in thinking, remembering, and speaking. In recent years a number of differing drugs havebeen utilized in treating thedisease, with varying effects and degrees of success. . At the present time, however, there are several theories beingconsidered and examined. In any case,it seems to be the general opinion that Alzhemer's disease is the productof some chemical, neural, or physical disturbance or upset in the brain,and specifically in the parts of the brain having to do with memory andrelated functions. Research is continuing, however, and the potentialityfor some form of positive treatment, if not a cure, is growing. . Further, it seems to be in the area of the communica-tional links between the neurons in the brain that abnormal functioningtakes place, and that, in turn, affects thought processes and behavior. 26). (1985, April). . Crowell, Publishers. . . Powell, Lenore S. (Powell and Courtice, 1983, p. . . More graphically, theestimate has been placed at more than a million people in the U.S. The problem with this common belief was that not allolder people became "senile" at the same time in life, or was there a realdegree of predictability of the problem from individual to individual.These facts gave rise to questions about who became senile, when, and why.As investigation into these problems relating to senility continued itbecame clear that the degree of variation in the incidence of thiscondition must be attributable to something beyond simple individualdifferences. Very recentresearch, however, has demonstrated that no more than ten percent of theAlzheimer's disease maybe attributed to this cause. This realizationemphasizes the fact that medical research has shown that the senilitybelieved to be typical of aging is the result of the onset of a form ofillness or disease which, although its incidence in the elderly is high, isby no means strictly limited to them. Yet other theories of causation are related to specific physicaleffects in the brain which have been found to accompany the disease: "Thereis an area of the brain, the hippocampus, which is known to be involved inmemory storage.
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