HISTORY OF DEMENTIA: The human brain is extraordinary organ. It stores our memories, vision, hearing, speech, and capable of executing executive higher reasoning and functions setting us apart from animals. Today we know more about the human brain because of medical advances and the development of technology. These brain disorders have been studied for years and many others would classify dementia as a mental illness because it causes cognitive impairments. The following paragraphs will discuss what dementia is, what the types of dementia are, perspectives of patients with dementia as well as the perspective of a caregiver to a dementia patient. The first case of dementia was discovered in 1906 by a German physiatrist Alois Alzheimer. It was first observed in a female patient and she was forty-one years old her name was Auguste D. Dr. Alzheimer observed a decline in the patient’s cognitive abilities. She lost her memory, she exhibited behavioral issues, and she suffered from hallucinations, lost the ability to comprehend language, disorientation and lost her speech. After Augusta’s passing Dr. Alzheimer preformed an autopsy that showed the classic triangles and knots we associate today with Alzheimer. Those triangles and knots are a proteins and plaque. The brain is self looked smaller and had distinct characteristics. Still with modern medicine the only way to diagnose a person with Alzheimer is after their death with an autopsy. (THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT, 2014). While there is little difference between dementia and Alzheimer it is important to distinguish the two. Dementia is, “ a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life” (Alzheimer Association, 2014). While Alzheimer is, “is a ... ... middle of paper ... ...ve-09-04-13-revised.pdf Diagnosing Alzheimer's disease: Patient History, Exams, and More. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved May 3, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/making-diagnosis Glass, J. (2012, March 13). Diagnosing Alzheimer's disease: Patient History, Exams, and More. WebMD. Retrieved May 3, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/making-diagnosis HBO. (n.d.). The First Discovery. HBO: Documentaries: The Alzheimer's Project: Hope in Science: Understanding How the Brain Changes. Retrieved May 3, 2014, from https://www.hbo.com/alzheimers/science-the-first-discovery.html Nerney, C. (2014, April). Dementia. Lecture conducted from Massachusetts’s College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, MA. Weekly, Alzheimer. (2012, August 21). Experience 12 Minutes In Alzheimer's Dementia. YouTube. Retrieved May 3, 2014, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL_Gq7Shc-Y
While at the present time little is known about the causes of Alzheimer’s and there is no existence of a cure, current research combined with the latest in technology is hopeful for a breakthrough. Not only are new drugs being developed, but also the possibility of vaccines are on the horizon. Keeping up with the latest clinical trials, findings and treatment options can be a challenge, but doing so can arm patients and caregivers with a powerful tool. Only through education and progress in research can this deadly disease become extinct.
While the average life expectancy of the world’s population has increased, the number of detected dementia cases has commensurately risen to astonishing levels. Along with improved discovery of this disorder, new causes and treatments have been found, from which many innovative techniques have been developed towards the prevention of future incidences and reduction of the effects of this condition; however, the quest for these solutions have raised more questions than it has answered. Why do some develop this disorder, while others do not? Can early detection be achieved to reverse the processes or limit its effects? Further specifics on these topics have been categorized into three main sections, which include:
Outcome 3 Know the most common types of dementia and their causes The learner can:
In the 17th and the 19th century dementia was synonymous with insanity. Still many knew that people with this disease suffered from permanent damage that was irreversible unlike mental disorders where the brain remains intact (2006). Dementia was often known as senile which is common with old age. Studies through the years have shown that it is much more serious and causes damage to areas of the brain. Alois Alzheimer in 1910 noticed tangles, plaques, and arterio...
Everyday a new disease or treatment is being discovered. There are always many questions left unanswered and many answers that are still trying to be figured out. Doctors, along with medical treatment centers and every day people are trying to figure out what Alzheimer’s disease really is or what it is about. Alzheimer’s disease has many common symptoms and effects in both men and women. The common, but confused name for Alzheimer’s disease is Dementia. People commonly confuse these two names because of the effects or symptoms that relate back to the name. Not many people know exactly what Alzheimer’s disease is or what causes it. But there are significant warning signs that lead people to conclude that is it a sad uncontrollable disease.
After reading these articles, I feel a lot more confident with my understanding of Dementia and how it can affect a person’s life physically, mentally, and emotionally. I know more about normal aging memory loss versus symptoms of Dementia, how families cope with a loved one suffering from Dementia, and the difference between Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is a very serious brain disorder that drastically changes the life of the person diagnosed along with their family. I hope that in the near future there will be a cure for not only Dementia, but for Alzheimer’s disease too so that someday no one will have to suffer from these debilitating diseases.
What Dr. Alzheimer discovered in the brain of Auguste were small clumps of hard proteins and tangle fibers called beta-amyloid peptides and tau tangles respectively, at the end of nerve cells. The peptides bundle up on the exterior of brain nerve cells and disrupt the flow of electrical signals between neurons, while the fibers choke neurons to death. This is why Alzheimer’s slowly progresses unlike a brain injury such as a stroke that immediately destroys brain tissue. An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can only be confirmed by a post mortem examination under a microscope just like Dr. Alzheimer’s discovery of the diseases. However with current technology and differential diagnosis by a physician, they can provide, with confidence whether dementia is due to Alzheimer’s. The physician will order a battery of test and will take a medical history to eliminate other possible preventable and reversible causes for dementia like, overuse of alcohol, drug interactions, or thyroid
In Conclusion, Dementia is the progressive loss of cognitive function. People who suffer from this group of symptoms deal with memory loss, disorientation, and fluctuating feelings. The brain of a person who suffers from Dementia is different in many ways from a healthy brain. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease take a toll on the brain causing shrinkage and tissue loss that accounts for the loss of brain function in some parts. Dementia has been separated into 5 stages from No Impairment to Severe Impairment as Dementia progresses the affected person become very dependent on someone’s help. As of now there is no known treatment for Dementia but there are research studies being preformed to help find one. Dementia is not just forgetting something sometimes; it is a lot more serious and dangerous and should be taken seriously if ever around it.
Alzheimer’s disease comes from the last name of a neuro-psychiatrist from Germany, Alois Alzheimer. The disease was first diagnosed when a woman in her early fifties began experience memory problems. “Alzheimer recounted the now famous case of ‘Auguste D.’ a 51-year-old housewife who had been failing mentally for several years. As a result she had been admitted to his care in the Asylum for the Insane and Epileptic…” (Maurer and Maurer 1). After her death, he continued to examine her brain to find causes and explanations for her behavior. He discovered “…classic neuro-pathological signs of plaques and tangles” (Maurer and Maurer 1). “Plaques are chains of amino acids that are pieces of the amyloid precursor protein…tangles are aggregates of the protein tau” (Secko 1). As plaques develop they produce tangles and “these two abnormalities ultimately lead to loss of cognitive function” (Secko 1) Alois Alzheimer’s research has allowed many specialist to conclude that the apolipoproetein E gene may contribute to the disease.
Dementia is a disease effecting nearly thirty-six million people worldwide (Whiteman, 2014). Even with so many elderly suffering from the disease, there are many people who don’t know what dementia truly is. People often jump too quickly to the conclusion that dementia is a disease that only effects the memory. They may believe that dementia is inevitable and cannot be cured in any case. They may also believe that dementia is something the majority of elderly will experience when they get older.
There is no quick and easy way to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. In fact a diagnosis can only be conclusively arrived at following autopsy of the ...
The word Dementia is adapted from combination of two Latin terms: “mens”-translating as mind, and “de”-translating as away from. According to R. Halgin and S. K. Whitebourne (2009), dementia is a form of cognitive deficiency, which involves progressive, generalized memory and learning deficits, which affects ability to communicate, to judge, and motor coordination. Dementia affects following brain functio...
... and duration varies from person to person. It depends on multiple factors, including the age of diagnosis and other medical conditions. The signs and symptoms start with cognitive disturbance as all other forms of dementia begin. We should refrain from being prejudiced and judgmental because of not taking the time to truly understand this disorder and how it may affect one’s life. Education and patience are the best ways to tackle this issue. In this paper, relevant topics involving dementia were discussed. Part one covered the pathology and staging of dementia. Part two explained the most common types of dementia that many people are diagnosed with. Part three summarized the treatment methods used to manage the disorder. We should apply a professional, respectful, and empathic approach while maintaining specific culture traditions to achieve a successful outcome.
“About Alzheimer’s Disease.” National Institutes of Health. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2012.
KS Santactuz, M. a. (2011, January ). Dementia | Overview. Retrieved November 2013, 2013, from Dementia: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/brain/disorders/662.html