Exploring Alzheimer's Disease With My Grandmother

Because I have observed Alzheimer’s disease with my grandmother, I feel compelled to research and learn as much as I can about this dreadful disease. My grandmother was always the most kind-hearted, full of humor and sharp as a tack kind of woman. She would never say a cross word to or about anyone and she always loved to joke around with everyone. She was always very punctual and didn’t forget much of anything and just like the old saying, had a memory like an elephant. My family began to notice changes in her that we couldn’t explain.
There were times she would get angry and agitated at the smallest of things. We noticed she was forgetting appointments, and everyday activities which was very out of character for her. Her personality seemed

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Sixty to eighty percent of dementia cases are Alzheimer’s making it the most common type of dementia (Morrison & Lyketsos, 2005). Alzheimer’s is a brain disorder. It progressively destroys brain cells which leads to the loss of memory and changes in thought processing. Symptoms of this impairment can include forgetfulness, difficulty with time, language problems or the lack of ability to recognize loved ones. While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, research methods are underway to develop effective treatments and possible ways to prevent the disease (Morrison & Lyketsos, 2005).
Alzheimer’s is not completely understood but the effect it has on the brain is pretty straightforward. It is clear that Alzheimer’s disease damages and kills brain cells. When brain cells continue to die, the brain shrinks. (McKhann, et al., 1984). Alzheimer brain tissue has two
AN OVERVIEW OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE types of abnormalities; Plaques and Tangles. Plaques are abnormal clusters of protein fragments that build up between nerve cells. Tangles are made up of twisted strands of another

The exact roles of plaques and tangles in Alzheimer’s is unknown but experts believe that they block communication among nerve cells (Yamasaki, Muranaka, Kaseda, Mimori, & Tobimatsu, 2012).
Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German physician and neuropathologist first identified
Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of a 55 year old woman who showed symptoms of severe dementia with the characteristics of pathological features (Chuyi, Chu, Muheremu, &
Aikeremujiang, 2015). At this point, scientists do not know exactly what causes Alzheimer’s disease. The likely causes may be a mix of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Several risk factors are associated with Alzheimer’s disease which could include: (Forsythe & Ritzline,
1998)
 Family History (Hereditary) – A person is at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s if family members have had it.
 Gender – More women are affected than men.
 Age – More common in elderly people
 Genetics – Two categories of genes: Risk Genes and Deterministic Genes. Both categories have been identified in Alzheimer’s genes by researchers.
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease entails histopathologic confirmation. The