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TRANSCRIPT
WHAT IS AD?
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder.
It related to changes in nerve cells that result in the death of brain cells.
It is a disease that forms plaque in the brain. It forms abnormal clumps called amyloid plaques and
tangled bundles of fibers called neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Nerve cells die in areas that are important for memory and simple tasks that need to be performed.
The levels of the chemicals which carry the messages across the synapses from neurons decrease.
THE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
It was discovered by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German doctor, in 1906.
It is believed 4.5 million older Americans have AD. The average age that people get Alzheimer’s is after the age
of 60. For every 5 years over the age of 65 the risk doubles. Nearly half over 85 may have the disease, yet it is not a
normal part of getting older.
WHAT CAUSES AD?
Age Family history High blood pressure(hypertension), Diabetes Possibly elevated blood cholesterol. An accumulation of the protein A-Beta.
INITIAL SYMPTOMS
The initial symptoms include mild forgetfulness and having trouble remembering recent events, activities names of people. The AD patient might not be able to solve simple math
problems. These symptoms may not be enough to cause alarm.
ADVANCED SYMPTOMS
As the disease progresses the symptoms are more easily noticed.
They may not be able to think clearly and may fail to recognize familiar people or places.
People with AD can become
anxious or aggressive or wander away from home.
ADVANCED SYMPTOMS
Patients may wander, be unable to engage in conversation, erratic in mood, uncooperative, lose bladder and bowel control. In late stages of the disease, persons may become totally
incapable of caring for themselves.
HOW IS AD DIAGNOSED?
Someone who thinks they may have AD can go to a specialized center where doctors can diagnose “probable” AD using tools such as:
Asking questions about the person’s general health, any past medical problems, and the ability to do daily activities
Memory tests, problem solving strategies, attention, counting, and language
Tests of blood, urine, or spinal fluid Brain scans
HOW DOES AD AFFECT THE BODY?
The brain literally deteriorates, which can affect a person’s ability to speak, be independent, balance themselves, and understand directions.
For older people, AD can cause falling, which can be serious and damage the brain even more.
Some patients are unable to control basic bodily functions and can need fulltime care.
HOW IS THE PERSON’S DAILY LIFE AFFECTED BY AD?
Walking, getting out of bed or a chair, writing, and using utensils are no longer easy to perform for a person with AD.
Their sense of smell can be damaged and they may lose their appetite as a result.
Daily and simple tasks might have to be performed with the help of a caregiver.
A NORMAL BRAIN AND AN AD AFFECTED ONE
In the normal brain there is a lot of healthy brain tissue in the language area. In the AD affected brain there is little in that area.
There are many differences between the two brains including the memory, sulcus, gyrus, ventricle, and language areas. In the AD brain, these are either shrunken or stretched out to unhealthy measures.
CURES OR TREATMENTS
There really is no cure or treatment for AD but there are some things that can slow it down or prevent it. Those include exercising daily, being intellectually active, having positive emotions, playing games, reading, dancing, and more.
CURRENT RESEARCH FOR A CURE OF TREATMENT
According to a recent study, diet may affect the risk of getting AD.
A study showed that Americans who followed the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi), consisting of lots of fruits and vegetables, legumes, cereals, some fish and alcohol, and little dairy and meat, had a significantly reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease as they got older.
GENERAL SAFETY CONCERN
The following general principles may be helpful,
Think prevention: Checking the safety of your home will help you take control of some of the potential problems that may create hazardous situations.
Adapt the environment : It is more effective to change the environment than to change most behaviors.
Minimize danger :By minimizing danger, you can maximize independence. A safe environment can be a less restrictive environment where the person with AD can experience increased security and more mobility.