We are currently living in the age of technology. Our advancements in the
past few decades overshadow everything learned in the last 2000 years. With the
elimination of many diseases through effective cures and treatments, Canadians
can expect to live a much longer life then that of their grandparents. In 1900
about 4% of the Canadian population was over the age of 65. In 1989 that figure
tripled to 12% and the government expects that figure to rise to 23% by the year
2030 (Medical,1991,p.13). This increase has brought with it a large increase in
diseases associated with old age. Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is one of the most
common and feared diseases afflicting the elderly community. AD, once thought to
be a natural part of aging, is a severely debilitating form of mental dementia.
Although some other types of dementia are curable or effectively treatable,
there is currently no cure for the Alzheimer variety.
A general overview of Alzheimer's disease including the clinical
description, diagnosis, and progression of symptoms, helps one to further
understand the treatment and care of patients, the scope of the problem, and
current research.
The clinical definition of dementia is "a deterioration in intellectual
performance that involves, but is not limited to, a loss in at least 2 of the
following areas: language, judgement, memory, visual or depth perception, or
judgement interfering with daily activities" (Institute,1996, p.4).
The initial cause of AD symptoms is a result of the progressive
deterioration of brain cells (neurons) in the cerebral cortex of the brain. This
area of the brain, which is the largest and uppermost portion, controls all our
thought processes, movement, speech, and senses. This deterioration initially
starts in the area of the cortex that is associated with memory and then
progresses into other areas of the cortex, then into other areas of the brain
that control bodily function. The death of these cells causes an interruption of
the electrochemical signals between neurons that are a key to cognitive as well
as bodily functioning.
Currently AD can only be confirmed at autopsy. After death the examined
brain of an Alzheimer victim shows two distinct characteristics. The first is
the presence of neuritic plaques in the cerebral cortex and other areas of the
brain including cerebral blood vessels....
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...is composed of many subgroups. This assimilation has caused the erosion of most cultural differences among the Hispanic and the Native Americans (Arreola 13). Therefore, these two cultures only compare in terms of their traditional aspects rather than their modern settings.
Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky are two of the most well known cognitive psychologists who addressed cognitive development and learning among children and youths. While there are similarities, contrasts do exist between the two theories, and those contrasts are vital to the comprehension and application of the theories, especially in an educational setting.
The Canadian population is graying at a steady pace, adding thousands of seniors above the age of 65 in the population charts year after year. This segment of the population needs special attention due to its social, emotional, health, and dwelling needs. Continued growth in the size of aging population is putting pressure on the economy, health care system, and living space for seniors. Planners and policy makers need to pay immediate attention to the issue as it is going to affect all Canadians in the years to come.
In this day and age, it seems as though almost everyone has experience a loved one taken away form a very serious disease known as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is unbelievably devastating for everyone affected by it. This disease is causing major economical problems such as less occupancy in the nursing homes, and hospitals due to the rising population of elderly men and women being diagnosed with it everyday. Because there is not yet a cure for this disease and the percent of the population being diagnosed keeps rapidly rising, more time and money needs to go towards Alzheimer’s research.
Alzheimer's Disease Introduction to Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain. It was first described by the German neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915). in 1905. This disease worsens with advancing age, although there is no evidence. that it is caused by the aging process.
...elp the working middle class from falling into poverty or to help the working poor rise out of poverty. Furthermore the working poor themselves lack the knowledge and power to demand reform. David Shipler says it best when he writes, “Relief will come, if at all, in an amalgam that recognizes both the society’s obligation through government and business, and the individual’s obligation through labor and family —and the commitment of both society and individual.” (Shipler 5786-5788) It is time for America to open its eyes and see the invisible working poor.
The Spanish eating, drinking and dancing culture steps up a gear (if that's possible), when there's a festival on. Every town or village has a local fiesta, at which point the locals don't just eat and drink because it's fun, they do so because it would be un-Spanish not to.
In today’s society, what was once said to be true and taken as fact regarding older people is no longer the whole story. As Laslett states, “At all times before the middle of the twentieth century and all over the globe the greater part of human life potential has been wasted, by people dying before their allotted time was up.” (1989a), and to a great extent a lot
It is said that memory declines as people age, and this can be just a natural part of life. However, in many cases as people grow older, they develop a mental disorder known as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes problems with memory, thinking, and overall behavior, and progressively becomes a bigger problem. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and is a very common disease in people over the age of 65. This terminal disease puts tremendous stress on the victim and the victim’s family. A cure for Alzheimer’s has yet to be discovered; however, through healthy and constant use of the brain and the aid of certain drug treatments, Alzheimer’s disease can be both naturally and medically prevented.
For the concept of intelligence, Robert Sternberg’s “Triarchic Theory of Successful Intelligence” and Gardner’s “Theory of Multiple Intelligences” were focused on for this particular self-assessment. Sternberg’s theory of intelligence divides total intelligence into analytic, creative and practical components (Woolfolk 117). According to Sternberg, analytical intelligence involves “the mental processes of the individual that lead to more or less intelligent behavior”, creative intelligence involves “coping with new experiences”, and practical intelligence involves emphasizing “the importance of choosing an environment in which you can succeed, adapting to that environment, and reshaping it if necessary” (Woolfolk 118).
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, terminal, degenerative brain disease. It is the fourth leading cause of death in adults and currently affects over four million people in the United States. This number is expected to increase over the next several years as the baby boomers age, until it reaches fourteen million by the year 2025.
Piaget And Vygotsky are two new psychologist that forces on the influential theory of cognitive development. Cognitive development is the growth of mental abilities from early childhood to the adult age. This process can help children learn about life skills and language to have a better cognitive development. They both took roles in children, roles of people in society to develop different skills. Both theories affect education in various ways for substantial growth. In this essay, I will focus on the difference in each approach, similarities and gain the better understanding of each theory standpoint.
One beneficial way Piaget’s theory helps the children is it creates an environment of support for the students. This is a key point in Piaget’s cognitive theory which is called scaffolding. Scaffolding is a teaching style that provides assistant from peers, teachers and family members. This allows students to be assisted by well-educated adults, or peers, to provide clear direction and decrease students’ confusion. Another useful technique Piaget’s theory is being used in the classroom is group activities. He wanted students to be more involved with hands on activities, social interaction and to explore different scenarios of the environment when it came to learning. In the article, Duckworth gives an example of how Piaget wanted kids to interact and experiment with each
Intelligence is commonly measured through the use of a number of scales and quantitative measures, like the Intelligence Quotient (IQ), developed by Alfred Binet in early 20th century to identify which French children needed more attention from their educators. The use of IQ tests progressively spread to all parts of the world. The use of these tests has raised controversy among psychologists and educators, with supporters of IQ tests assuming that the tests produce measure of genetically transmitted intelligence. On the other hand, critics of the tests have pointed out that IQ test provides a measure that defines intelligence through the use of cultural deterministic concepts. The ethnocentrism embedded in the assumptions of many commentators, has generated into a justification for a number of theoretical approaches, like those by Charles Murray and others (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/850358.stm).